A stand-off between University Police and Penn for Dead Religious Figures, the cult-like organization occupying House of Prayer tent on College Green, has entered its second week.
Investigators say that more than 20 students are holed up in the tent complex and possess a large stock of firearms.
University Police have called for the unconditional surrender of the group's leader, College senior David Karter, but so far have only been met with invitations to late night prayer sessions and renditions of the "Jesus" song with guitar and bongo accompaniment.
The House of Prayer tent has been surrounded since March 21, when four Penn Police officers were injured as they attempted to arrest Karter on firearms charges.
On March 20, investigators requested a search warrant for the prayer tent, but decided to make a surprise forced entry rather than serve the warrant.
University officials expressed their injured for the families of the deceased officers but stood by the course of action taken by the police.
"God only knows what they were planning in there," said Penn Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush. "When a situation like this arises, you've got to take pre-emptive action."
However, critics believe the University reaction was too heavy handed.
"Situations like this require a certain delicacy," Environmental Studies professor Shelley Krasnik said. "We may have been able to save lives."
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