updated 2025 On May 13th, 1985, the Philadelphia government used military explosives to bomb the headquarters of MOVE, a radical Black environmentalist group, in the neighborhood of Cobbs Creek in West Philadelphia. As a result of this horrifying act of police violence, the bomb and resulting fire killed 11 MOVE members, including five children, andContinue reading “Remembering the MOVE Bombing”
Tag Archives: community
Lynching victims in the dissecting room: Penn’s record of desecrating Black human remains
Clipping from the Inquirer (1894) by Anonymous, 2025 The University of Pennsylvania’s history is a story of scientific racism and dehumanizing practices. In 2021, facing pressure from racial justice community organizers, the Penn Museum and the University issued long overdue apologies for displaying the skulls of enslaved Africans in a eugenist collection and for stealingContinue reading “Lynching victims in the dissecting room: Penn’s record of desecrating Black human remains”
Resources for FGLI Students: From Professional Connections to Textbook Access.
We’ve compiled a set of resources that FGLI students can use to make their transition to Penn as seamless as possible.
Off-Campus Organizations
There are countless Philly-based organizations doing transformative work in the city, whether that be in labor reform, housing advocacy, racial justice, or food security. Here are a few groups to get involved with!
Resources for FGLI Students: From Professional Connections to Textbook Access
We’ve compiled a set of resources that FGLI students can use to make their transition to Penn as seamless as possible.
Understaffed, Underfunded, Unsupported: Medical Services at Penn
Penn’s Student Health Services (SHS) is supposed to support students in both their physical and mental well-being However, changes in accessibility, insurance policies, and the quality of mental health services raise concerns regarding its commitment to student wellness.
Tying it All Together
We hope that, rather than being demoralized by Penn’s lengthy list of faults recorded in these articles, the DG inspires you to partake in collective action, and that the resources you can find at the end of this guide help you with your efforts. In the wise words of activist Mariame Kaba…“let this radicalize you rather than lead you to despair.”
The Reality of Mental Health Resources at Penn
by Anonymous Poor mental health is surging, especially among college students. Poor mental health seems to be a hallmark of the Penn experience as we’ve been ranked as one of the worst colleges in terms of mental health. Penn breeds a culture of toxic ambition and perfection, as a commonly held belief among Penn studentsContinue reading “The Reality of Mental Health Resources at Penn”
A Protestor’s Guide: How to Navigate Penn’s Administrators and Disciplinary System
Hidden in plain sight along Locust Walk is Penn’s very own Center for Community Standards and Accountability (CSA), right next to the Arts, Research, & Cultural House. Formerly known as the Office of Student Conduct (OSC), this office handles disciplinary cases at Penn, including multiple recent cases against peaceful protestors.
Penn’s Problematic History of Union-busting
As workers across the country demand better treatment and stronger representation, Penn stands in the way of organizing workers on campus and acts as a bystander while companies across Philadelphia implement similar union-busting tactics. Corporations, like Penn, use common union-busting strategies to keep workers divided, demoralized, and controlled.
Penn Disorientation Guide 