Penn works very hard to present a favorable picture of itself and its engagement with the surrounding community. This guide attempts to present a more honest picture of our school. We discuss Penn’s refusal to pay money to support Philadelphia’s public school system, its modern-day project of gentrification, its harm to its own students and workers, and its place in the larger scheme of colonialism and imperialism. But this guide functions only as a starting point. It is the responsibility of all of us, as beneficiaries of the university, to work to undo the harm in which we are complicit.
Despite the changing experience of COVID-19, some things never change in the US. The pandemic disproportionately affected and continues to affect populations marginalized by race and economic status through the complications of vaccine access and financial support. This past year, the treatment of workers, their families, and their communities as disposable was thrown into high relief on our campus and across the country. Penn students lied to access the vaccine early without repercussions from the institution. Violent inequalities driven by racial capitalism are right in front of us. Will you join us in fighting to defeat them?
And as it has for centuries, the University of Pennsylvania still rests on the colonized land of the Lenape people. As people complicit in occupying this land, we must strive to put power into the hands of its original stewards and others who have been violently colonized.
This is not a new project. The DG has been published for many years before us. From year to year, a disheartening amount of material remains consistently true. However, we can only let that motivate us for change. Since last year, some articles have been left untouched, others rewritten, and others still added anew. The DG is written by a collection of direct-action oriented activist groups on campus, all striving for the shared goals of equity and liberation. Descriptions and contact information for these groups can be found here. Join us to make sure that the University of Pennsylvania does better for us, for the people of Philadelphia, and the world.
Note: Although we have returned to campus for the Fall of 2021, the guide will continue to be published online for environmental and economic reasons in addition to health concerns. This format saves hundreds of pages of paper in addition to encouraging continued engagement! This year, a newsletter will be published routinely detailing the continued efforts of the People’s Board and ways you can take action.
Penn Disorientation Guide 