Your Voice | A message of solidarity

As people deeply invested in religious life at the University of Pennsylvania, we are concerned and saddened by the recent reports regarding the NYPD’s targeted surveillance of Penn students involved with Muslim Student Association.

We stand together in solidarity with our friends and peers who were treated unfairly due to their religious affiliation.

This threatens the hard work of student leaders at Penn to create an environment that is tolerant and accepting of students from all backgrounds.

For the past 50 years, Penn’s MSA has been a vibrant, meaningful and philanthropic organization that is not only a crucial partner in religious life at Penn but also an integral member of the greater university and Philadelphia communities.

The assurance of religious freedoms on campus is essential to developing a diverse, open community and was undermined. When one student’s rights are threatened, we are all victims.*

Alexandra Fuchs
PRISM Co-Chair

Sean Nadel
PRISM Co-Chair

Umar Sheikh
PRISM Advocacy Chair

Gabby Abrishamian-Garcia
Penn Baha’i Association Chair

Robbie Berg
Kesher chair

Mia Garuccio
Penn Student Catholic Association President

Elizabeth Harbuck
Latter-day Saints Student Association President

Alexander Jefferson
University of Pennsylvania Hillel President

Hadi Kaakour
Faith Fund Co-Chair

Amrit Kaur Bhinder
Penn Sikh President

Ricki Notis
Orthodox Community at Penn Co-Chair

Benjamin Notkin
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Student Leader

Debra Okafor
New Spirit of Penn Gospel Choir President

Matthew Pershe
Penn Cru Campus Connection Rep

Lisa Sileo
Newman Center President

Vamsi Vuppala
Hindu Students Council and the Young Jains of America President

*
The signatories represent their own opinion and not necessarily the opinion of their organizations.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.