philadelphia – Penn Disorientation Guide

Resources for International Students and Immigrant Rights

Resources for International Students from Penn vs. International Students What You Can Do to Support Immigrants: from ICE Out of Philly

A Letter from the Editor

Attendees of the vigil display a banner of names of people who died in the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 14. Credit: Chenyao Liu August 25, 2025 Today the University of Pennsylvania formally welcomes the Class of 2029. Today is the six hundred and eighty-eighth day of genocide. For six hundred and eighty eight days, theContinue reading “A Letter from the Editor”

A Recent History of Campus Organizing

All change is historically placed. Therefore, all organizing must be historically informed. Throughout the rest of the guide, we try to give in depth looks at various issues with Penn and in Philadelphia. In this, we try to give a broad overview and timeline of what organizing and agitation efforts have taken place over theContinue reading “A Recent History of Campus Organizing”

Remembering the MOVE Bombing

The MOVE bombing killed 11 people, including 5 children, and leveled two blocks containing over 60 homes. This image shows the massive destruction in the following days.

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”

ICE out of Philly

Immigration agents are seen on video as they arrest five Guatemalan men near 20th and Morris Streets in Philadelphia on July 6, 2025. Obtained by The Inquirer by Anonymous, 2025 Before I ever sat in a lecture hall at Penn, I cleaned the Alpha Tau Omega house on 39th St. That summer of 2019, rightContinue reading “ICE out of Philly”

How Penn Gentrifies

Mel Hairston, resident at the UC Townhomes, protests with Fossil Free Penn to save UC Townhomes on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. Photo by Siena Christopherson by Anonymous, 2025 Following a period of relatively cordial relations established by William Penn himself and ended by his death, his sons engaged in a legalistic swindle of the Lenape’sContinue reading “How Penn Gentrifies”

How Penn is Cheating Philly’s Public Schools

Protesters march on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania demanding the school and Drexel University pay PILOTS to support Philadelphia schools on March 30, 2021. A black student in a blue coat holds up a sign that says, "Pay your fair share PILOTs now!!" Another protestor in the background holds a sign that reads, "Fund our schools not police."

In Philadelphia, the poorest large city in the U.S., Penn is both the largest employer and largest private landowner. However, due to its federal status as a nonprofit institution, it does not pay property taxes.

Remembering the MOVE Bombing

In 1985, in what should be considered one of the greatest national tragedies in recent history, the Philadelphia government used military explosives over MOVE’s headquarters in the neighborhood of Cobbs Creek in West Philadelphia. Understanding both Philadelphia’s and Penn’s role in terrorizing the Black activists who were impacted by the bombing is crucial for any student who attends the University.

Mental Health Hotlines

A compiled list of mental health hotlines to call if you are in crisis.

Editors’ Letter

Penn students protest the construction of Meyerson Hall on campus. These protests were one of the many free speech cases that the University has dealt with in its history. Other instances include the “water buffalo” incident, race-based protests and, more recently, Occupy protests. Photo courtesy of The Daily Pennsylvanian.

Welcome to the Disorientation Guide (DG), where you get to read about all the things Penn doesn’t want to tell you.