What was intended to be a cozy fireside chat with the provost turned out to be more like a fiery battle of wills.
Yesterday's "Fireside Chat" with Provost Robert Barchi heated up when community members in attendance voiced their resentment at Penn's influence in their neighborhood.
Rev. Larry Falcon, pastor of the Covenant Community Church and leader of the activist group Neighbors Against McPenntrification, was present at the discussion along with fellow community member and Penn alumnus Richard Rogers.
In response to the discussion's advertised title "Civic Responsibility: What does it really mean to be a member of the Penn community," Falcon raised the questions of Penn's corporate involvement in West Philadelphia.
"What do you mean by the Penn community?" asked Falcon. "The institution or the indigenous community? I live on 43rd Street. I've always said we live next to Penn, and it's like living next to an elephant. In the past few years, the elephant seems to be rolling over us."
Barchi responded to the comments by attempting to steer the conversation in a more academically-based direction.
"It's a valid question," Barchi responded. "I think that the question was originally posed within the community of scholars. This particular University has one of the largest service-learning programs in the country."
And while the small crowd of students in attendance were largely overshadowed by the West Philadelphia residents -- less than 20 undergraduates were present at the discussion -- those that were there primarily followed Barchi's lead.
"Part of our education is engaging in these complex ideas," College junior Mei Elansarg said. "For one of my courses, I wanted to study community health, so I approached a professor and started the class. I do think Penn students are afforded a voice. I don't think Penn necessarily is in a bubble."
But students did not unilaterally agree.
"Every other day there's a ribbon-cutting ceremony," College senior Eugena Oh said. "You might see it as progress, but I see it as gentrification. Take the restaurant Pod. Just two blocks past the borders of Penn there are people starving."
Falcon agreed that students' involvement in the academically-based community service classes are commendable, but said he thinks that that work is negated by "Corporate Penn's" actions.
"We need a voice from the student body to rise up and say 'it's enough, it's enough,'" Falcon said.
Barchi did not directly respond to this line of discourse, instead choosing to focus on educational aspects of civic duty.
"A Penn education should combine both the specific training to allow you to do what you want as an individual, and a broad training to allow you to be an informed citizen," Barchi said.
The discussion took place as the first of the monthly installments of Fireside Chats. The event was held in the living room of the ARCH building on Locust Walk.
Event organizer and College senior Phill Geheb said he was surprised by the route the conversation took.
"I think the Provost kind of dodged a lot of issues raised," Geheb said. "I also don't think the community member's perspective was very helpful, but accusatory rather than constructive."
