After a shooting last month raised questions about student safety, the University and a group of dedicated students will continue their efforts to assist one West Philadelphia high school.
In the aftermath of the Jan. 18 shooting at Sayre High School, Penn officials faced questions about ensuring the security of Penn students who volunteer there on a regular basis.
But they say that despite the recent violence - in which a Sayre student was shot by another student outside of the high school - the University will not end its relationship with the school.
The University is extensively involved with Sayre, serving as a partner in providing both resources and students to volunteer in the West Philadelphia school.
"It takes the whole community working together to effect change," said Ira Harkavy, director of the Center for Community Partnerships. "Penn's response [to the shooting] is to be a partner throughout West Philadelphia."
That response includes several programs that the University and the West Philadelphia community are looking to implement in order to improve the safety of the area.
The community's biggest initiative is the safe-corridors program, in which businesses, school officials and area residents will provide additional supervision and safety for students as they travel to and from school.
The University will also drop off Penn volunteers closer to the school's entrance - one of many possible solutions being tested in order to prevent another incident.
Penn is trying to "ensure that students are as safe as possible," Harkavy said.
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell - who represents the district that contains both Penn and Sayre - will also be meeting this week with community officials to begin developing plans to implement these initiatives.
While there was speculation that the University might alter its relationship with Sayre following the shooting, Harkavy said Penn officials have always wanted to work with the community to correct safety issues rather than abandoning the school.
Van McMurtry, vice president of Government and Community Affairs, echoed Harkavy's sentiment, explaining that Penn must be one of many voices in West Philadelphia, not the dominant one.
"There must be a community-led understanding in which Penn can participate as a member of the community," McMurtry said.
And while it seemed as if the shooting deter further volunteer work from the University, the incident may actually strengthen Penn's ties with Sayre.
The shooting "has really helped redouble the importance of the work," said Cory Bowman, associate director of the Center for Community Partnerships. "Students have expressed interest in expanding their involvement."
College junior Amanda Rubenstein, who volunteers at Sayre, added that she and other students believe that the shooting is just another indicator that their work in West Philadelphia is necessary.
"I think it's very easy to say that because of shooting and gang violence, it's past the point of no return," she said. "But really this is exactly the time Penn can go in and show the influence it can have."
