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INSIDE: PENN RELAYS

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA • FOUNDED 1885

PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024

VOL. CXL

NO. 13

Penn community members divided on pro-Palestinian group ban, question University approach PAO’s ban has prompted Penn community members to express concerns about free speech and the University’s lack of transparency regarding the reasoning behind the decision EMILY SCOLNICK Senior Reporter

Penn community members expressed surprise and concern after the University revoked Penn Students Against Occupation’s status as a registered student group.

The Office of Student Affairs revoked the group’s registration on April 19 following an investigation conducted by the Center for Community Standards and Accountability last month. The deregistration marks the first instance of the University publicly disciplining a student organization. “This group has failed to comply with policies

that govern student organizations at Penn, despite repeated efforts to engage with the group and to provide opportunities to resolve noncompliance,” a University spokesperson wrote to The Daily Pennsylvanian when the deregistration occurred. A PAO statement published on Instagram on the night of April 19 said that the organization had its

registration revoked, adding that the group was forced to remove any affiliation with Penn — including its Instagram username and the ability to host events on campus. The statement cited ongoing tensions on See PAO, page 2

‘JUST SHATTERED’ Penn lightweight rowing accused of racism, prompting controversial University response WALKER CARNATHAN AND SEAN MCKEOWN Sports Editor and Deputy Sports Editor

Eight individuals close to the Penn rowing program described a pattern of racist remarks made by members of the men’s lightweight rowing team, as well as an allegedly inadequate response to these incidents by the University. In interviews with The Daily Pennsylvanian, sources directly familiar with the matter alleged that members of Penn’s lightweight rowing team used racist slurs to refer to Black women’s rowers during the 2023-24 season. One member of the lightweight rowing team repeatedly used the N-word in front of other players, the sources alleged, adding that there was an insufficient response to this rower’s behavior by the team’s coaching staff and Penn Athletics officials. The rower remains on the lightweight rowing roster.

All eight individuals who spoke with the DP asked to remain anonymous. “It’s pretty clear that [Penn] Athletics as a whole is lagging pretty significantly on appropriate responses toward athlete safety,” a source close to the women’s rowing program said. “… And that if [their] image isn’t called into question, it’s all going to go down quietly.” Another source directly familiar with the situation suggested that the racist remarks were consistent with an environment tolerant of offensive behavior. “Penn rowing is very much known to protect its boys,” the source said. One of the primary victims of the alleged verbal abuse was a Black member of the women’s rowing team. She recounted several specific instances of

alleged racism that took place during fall 2023. In this rower’s experience, which was corroborated by multiple sources directly familiar with Penn women’s rowing, the most frequent perpetrator of this alleged racist behavior was an individual lightweight rower. This rower had allegedly garnered a reputation for perpetuating verbal racism, including repeated use of the N-word. A source close to the lightweight rowing program also reported having heard firsthand the rower in question make “racist remarks.” The women’s rower described a specific incident that occurred last fall in which she and a friend, who is also on the women’s rowing team, were greeted by the lightweight rower while they were eating together at Hill House dining hall. Both the women’s rowers were confused by the interaction, as neither had

spoken with the lightweight rower previously. Later, they were informed by another member of the lightweight rowing team that after greeting them, the lightweight rower returned to a table where he was sitting with his teammates and made racist remarks about the women’s rowers’ appearances. “He made a joke to the whole table saying that I looked like I came off the ‘12 Years a Slave’ ship,” the women’s rower said she was informed by another lightweight rower. “The whole table heard it, and they said nothing about it — they didn’t shut it down. He’s been known to make these jokes … and they just foster this environment that allows him to keep on going.” See ROWING, page 7

Content warning: This article contains mentions of racial discrimination against Black people and racial slurs that can be disturbing and/or triggering for some readers. Please find resources listed at the bottom of the article. WEINING DING | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Muslim Students Association seeks referendum on whether Penn should divest from Israel

Penn students voice concern over Spring Fling concert safety following record attendance

The petition, which gathered the 500 signatures necessary to be sent to the undergraduate student body, came before the Nominations and Elections Committee for approval on Wednesday

Organizers said they were “definitely concerned” about students’ safety during the concert after attendees reported feeling uncomfortable due to inadequate crowd control

KATIE BARTLETT News Editor

EMILY PARK AND KELLY YANG Staff Reporters

Penn’s Muslim Student Association is seeking a referendum of the undergraduate student body on three questions related to the University’s response to the Israel-Hamas war. The petition, which was circulated by Penn MSA and reposted by Penn Students Against the Occupation, asks students whether the University should divest its endowment fund from companies and organizations that “profit from, engage in, or contribute to the government of Israel’s human rights violations.” The petition, which gathered the 500 signatures necessary to be sent to the undergraduate student body, came before the Nominations and Elections SEND STORY IDEAS TO NEWSTIP@THEDP.COM

ABHIRAM JUVVADI | PHOTO EDITOR

night, Elyoussef and UA President Ria Ellendula expressed support for the process of initiating a referendum based on student concerns. They wrote that given events at Penn and college campuses nationwide, they “want to give agency to students to voice their concerns to administration through a mechanism that is democratic, strategic, and fair.” “We understand that the MSA is proposing an unprecedented referendum and we want to

Penn students reported dissatisfaction with the University’s crowd control and safety protocols at last weekend’s Spring Fling concert — but several said that they enjoyed the event regardless. Over 10,000 students attended Spring Fling last weekend, which featured performances by Metro Boomin and Daya. Students who attended reported feeling uncomfortable and fearing for their safety — particularly in the entrance line and during the concert itself — due to a lack of adequate crowd control management, and the Social Planning and Events Committee’s leadership wrote to The Daily

See REFERENDUM, page 2

See SPRING FLING, page 2

College Hall on April 14.

Committee for approval on Wednesday night. The referendum is the “highest decision making instrument of student government,” according to Article X of the Undergraduate Assembly Constitution. NEC bylaws state that a referendum may be called by the presentation of a petition with signatures from 5% of currently enrolled undergraduates. NEC is responsible for administering the referendum, which requires participation of at least 15% of currently enrolled undergraduates to be validated. In a joint statement to the DP on Wednesday

ONLINE AT THEDP.COM