Penn Disorientation Guide - Fall 2017

aspect well-hidden.

If you would like another disturbing historical example of racism at Penn, look no further than ZBT’s suspension in 1988.

A Daily Pennsylvanian article from that year states that the Judicial Inquiry Office accused the fraternity ZBT of “hazing, harassment, alcohol use, open lewdness, prostitution and indecent exposure.” The fraternity allegedly hired two black women to perform at a rush event. While they were performing, ZBT brothers shouted racist remarks such as, “Where did you get them n*ggers?” and then sexually harassed the women and hazed ZBT rushes. The fraternity ended up facing several charges and was suspended for 18 months, but black campus leaders fought for a harsher punishment.

The then-president of the Black Student League, Traci Miller, argued that ZBT should have faced indefinite suspension, as 18 months was “inadequate.” Other black student groups expressed frustration with the administration and with the university’s judicial system.

PRESENT DAY This might come as a shock to some of you but-- racism isn’t dead. The past year alone at Penn demonstrates just that. In November 2016, right after DJT was named president-elect, Penn made national headlines when black freshmen were added to a racist and vulgar groupme, entitled “Mud Men.” The groupme included horrific racist and sexually violent images and messages, as well as events entitled “daily lynching.” After an investigation conducted by Penn in conjunction with the FBI, the university notified students that the person responsible for the groupme was a University of Oklahoma student. Though a Penn student did not create the groupme, the incident amplified an already frightening time in many students’ lives, and left students feeling angry, troubled, speechless, and even helpless.

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