During his campaign, Trump made a statement that all Muslims should be banned from entering the U.S.
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This past month, Israel’s Execution and Collection Authority approved plans to demolish the homes of 20 Palestinians living in the Southern Negev to make way for a new Jewish town.
Guest Column by Ian Jeong | Dear students, don’t apply to that scholarship
“I’m sorry. I understand you’re frustrated, but it’s the policy,” said the financial aid advisor at Student Financial Services.
Guest column by Michaela Kotziers | Classroom politics: A letter to professors
Two weeks ago, I wrote an open letter to the English faculty about addressing current events in classroom spaces.
This past month, Israel’s Execution and Collection Authority approved plans to demolish the homes of 20 Palestinians living in the Southern Negev to make way for a new Jewish town.
Guest Column by Ian Jeong | Dear students, don’t apply to that scholarship
“I’m sorry. I understand you’re frustrated, but it’s the policy,” said the financial aid advisor at Student Financial Services.
Guest column by Steven Sun | Being stronger than the internet trolls irl
Based on my news feed, there’s been a lot more fear and stress at Penn than the usual. Some of it comes from Trump’s election, and some from the validation of bigotry some believe his election stands for.
The horrific racist attack targeting black students at Penn reminds us that we are living in an age of demagoguery that is not soon to end.
This past week has been one of the most difficult weeks of my life. Between the results of the election, the lives of members of the black freshman community being threatened, along with countless other acts of racism, islamophobia, homophobia, and xenophobia, I’m sad about the state of America.
Guest column by Loujeine Boutar | Reactions to the election by a student from Tunisia: I understand
Reaction of a Student from Tunisia: I Understand I am from Tunisia. I am part of a group that Trump does not want in this country.
Guest column by Jennifer Dailey | An open letter to our President-Elect from a fellow Penn alumnus
Dear Mr. Trump, You don’t know me and will likely never agree to meet me, despite my intense desire to sit down and speak with you.
Last Friday, President Amy Gutmann and Vice Provost Vincent Price emailed Penn faculty, students and staff to announce the creation of a new Task Force charged with combating sexual harassment and sexual violence. In the email sent out at 5:22 p.m. on Friday night, Gutmann and Price explained that the goal of the entity is to focus “collective attention and understanding on how best to promote a respectful and healthy campus environment and to ensure that students and their parents and guardians are aware of the high-risk behaviors – many of which violate University policy and would result in sanctions for a recognized student organization – engaged in by these groups.” While we commend university efforts, we believe that creating yet another task force, this time to target off-campus organizations, is not the sole answer.
This week Jeremiah Keenan reminded the Penn community of the question on whether people are really born gay or not (he forgot to mention other identities often roped with gayness like the L-B-T-Q-I-A of the queer alphabet). It came to us as a surprise because this issue seemed settled with the release of Lady Gaga’s iconic 2011 single — "Born This Way.” He attacks the central theme of her song, which is that “It doesn't matter if you love him or capital H-I-M ... 'Cause you were born this way, baby."
Over the last two years, I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer with a few organizations in West and South Philly, including Penn for Youth Debate, Urban Tree Connection, and HIAS.
Identity. Identity is a word that floats throughout life. It can be a badge of honor for some, something shiny and embossed.
A short preface: Penn, surely, is strengthened by its status as a progressive institution. It is diverse, eclectic, and empowers all to seek the resources and opportunities they deserve.
Guest column by Peter Thacher| An Unjust Decision Borne Of A Bad Faith Process
On Thursday, Sept. 22nd just after 3:00 p.m., I was flipping through my phone while waiting for the exams to be passed out in my Biology class.
As a student once active in minority politics at Penn, I often encountered discussions of micro-aggressions and privilege.
A couple of days ago, I read an opinion piece in the DP by a wonderful, thoughtful student —Titus Adkins — who used his powerful voice to posit some queries to me and to other members of the Penn community.
Guest column by Nathan Ausubel | Hillary Clinton, advocate for women and children
In November, I urge members of the Penn community to vote for Hillary Clinton as the next president.




