Penn’s Office of Religious and Ethnic Interests released a new training module on Jan. 30 for University students and faculty in response to recommendations from the University Task Force on Antisemitism and the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community.
The module — available to students through Canvas and faculty through Workday — was circulated in a University-wide email. The “nondiscrimination and anti-harassment” training consists of a series of videos describing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as Penn’s policies on equal opportunity, open expression, and non-discrimination.
“It is being rolled out as an important best practice in line with the report and recommendations of the University Task Force on Antisemitism and the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community,” OREI co-director Steve Ginsburg wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian.
He added, “This training is a critical step forward in our ongoing efforts to ensure that everyone who is part of UPenn feels safe and welcome, understands their rights to express their views at Penn, and knows how to make a report or find support.”
A request for comment was left with a University spokesperson.
The training outlines Penn’s Equal Opportunity Policy and Open Expression Guidelines, along with how the University will adhere to Title VI and civil rights laws.
“More recently, we have seen particular rises in harmful rhetoric, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and other forms of identity-based hostility,” the video training reviewed by the DP stated. “Title VI protections extend to any members of the Penn community … who experience discrimination.”
One video of the module included various examples of “the type of speech and conduct that may require an investigation or corrective action” — including a hypothetical scenario where “participants in a protest rally on campus repeatedly shout 'no zios allowed' at students and other passers by who are wearing yarmulkes or shirts with the flag of the State of Israel.”
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The training video described that, “because many Jewish people consider Zionism to be part of their Jewish identity, such conduct could be considered prohibited harassment under Title VI and Penn’s Equal Opportunity policy.”
Other examples of conduct prohibited under Title VI and Penn’s Equal Opportunity policy referenced in the video included encouraging harm to someone who expresses support for Palestinian rights, giving higher grades to students of certain races due to “assumed disadvantages,” and any negative comments about “protected classes.”
Penn created OREI in December 2024 in response to increased incidents of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other types of religion-based discrimination on campus. In October 2025, the Executive Committee of Penn’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors alleged OREI had overstepped its authority and threatened academic freedom, claiming faculty members were called in for meetings over “unsubstantiated accusations of antisemitism.”
The videos included statements from Penn President Larry Jameson and Vice Provost for University Life Karu Kozuma.
Jameson said the module allows Penn to “grow together, deepening our understanding and ensuring that we continue to build a university environment where everyone feels welcome, valued and supported.”
“It is essential to maintain an environment where everyone can thrive without fear of discrimination or harassment,” Kozuma said. “The good news is here at Penn, we build a culture of trust and caring for each other, and when incidents of discrimination or harassment occur, it is our collective responsibility to address them.”
The email — written by Penn’s vice provosts for Undergraduate Education, Graduate Education, and University Life — requested all students and faculty to complete the online training by March 6.
The module concluded by encouraging students to report incidents of discrimination that may fall under Title VI through OREI or Penn’s Bias Incident Report Form.
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Staff reporter Kathryn Ye covers central administration and can be reached at ye@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies biochemistry and philosophy.
