greek life – Penn Disorientation Guide

A Recent History of Organizing at Penn

The Penn community rallies in response to injustice on- and off-campus. Among some of the most notable events that occurred in the past year were pushes for unionization from multiple groups, organizing against Penn’s role in gentrification, large protests regarding climate justice, and student protestors facing disciplinary actions and arrests from the University.

Sexual Violence at Penn

While events such as Take Back the Night are effective at raising awareness, more transparent policies, prevention education, and accessible resources are crucial to tackling the issue of sexual assault from its core.

Queerness at Penn

Navigating college as a queer person can be particularly challenging, but we’ve written this article to break down some of the most important things to know.

How Frats Get Away with Shit

Walk down Locust and you’re just as likely to see a fraternity house as an academic or cultural building. In fact, 25% of Penn students belong to Greek life. Greek life’s ubiquity continues to be a point of contention even after its tumultuous and problematic history.

Sexual Violence at Penn

Unfortunately, like most universities, Penn has a poor record of supporting survivors of sexual assault. When individuals do try to hold perpetrators of harm accountable, they are often left retraumatized and unsatisfied.

How Frats Get Away with Shit: A History of Greek Life, Violence, and Impunity at Penn

Greek life commands university space and identity. In fact, a whopping 25% of students belong to Greek life at Penn. Not only are fraternities a physical force to be reckoned with on campus, they’re deeply embedded into University bureaucracy.

Cultural Houses at Penn: A Decades-long Deadlock

Photo of the ARCH Building and a portion of Locust Walk in front of it on a cloudy day. Currently, the three major race-based cultural centers are housed in the ARCH building's basement. Photo courtesy of The Daily Pennsylvanian.

For those who are not already aware, the University of Pennsylvania is a predominantly-white institution. This detail is overlooked by some who are aware of Penn’s strong history of establishing some of the nation’s first Cultural Resource Centers (CRCs) on college campuses. However, many remain unaware of the history behind these spaces and the war that their student leaders have continuously waged in their journey to advocate for students of color at this institutions.