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Forward-Focused

Implementing the Recommendations of the  University Task Force on Antisemitism and Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community. 

The University of Pennsylvania is predicated on excellence, freedom of inquiry and expression, and respect. These values are essential to a cohesive scholarly community where everyone can thrive and fully utilize Penn’s resources. Cultivating that community is Penn’s evergreen priority and includes implementing the recommendations of the University Task Force on Antisemitism and the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community. This critical work, reflected below, is ongoing and evolving, and the stories below demonstrate forward progress towards implementing these recommendations.

Perry World House experior

Perry World House event invites CEOs to discuss role of business community in combating hate

Perry World House hosted an event titled “The Role of Business Leaders in Addressing Bias and Hate” on April 22 featuring two prominent business leaders who discussed their role in combating hate in the modern world.

Colorful flowering trees on Coilege Green

Supporting a community for learning, research, and thriving

April 17, 2025
Four months after the launch of the Office of Religious and Ethnic Interests (Title VI), the office is combating discrimination in all forms while leading educational efforts about dialogue and adaptive leadership.

Natalie B. Dohrmann, associate director of the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Reframing historical narratives of Jewish sorrow

April 4, 2025
At the ‘Scales of Suffering: Neo-Lachrymosity and the Writing of Jewish History’ conference, historians and other scholars gathered to unpack and reimagine the place of suffering in Jewish history.

Aerial photograph showing a view of College Green with Penn Medicine building in background

Introducing the Office of Religious and Ethnic Inclusion (Title VI)

December 17, 2024 | PennToday
Office of Religious and Ethnic Inclusion is the first of its kind nationally, formed in response to recommendations from the Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism, as well as the reports of the University Task Force on Antisemitism and the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community.

Silfen Forum moderator and panelists on stage and engaged in a lively discussion.

2024 Silfen Forum: 'Waging Peace – Dialogue and Diplomacy in the Middle East'

October 28, 2024 | Penn Today
At the 2024 David and Lyn Silfen University Forum, former Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Salam Fayyad and former Israeli Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich spoke about dialogue and diplomacy in the Middle East.

Dahlia Scheindlin, Shay Hazkani, and Amal Jamal are the inaugural Distinguished Visiting Scholars in the Penn Global Middle East Distinguished Visiting Scholar Initiative.

Penn Global Announced Middle East Distinguished Visiting Scholar Initiative

October 28, 2024 | Penn Today
The Penn Global Middle East Distinguished Visiting Scholar Initiative brings regional senior scholars to the University of Pennsylvania whose expertise and experiences enable a critical examination of the charged and complex issues shaping events in the Middle East.

Portrait of Beth Winklestein, Deputy Provost

Deputy Provost Beth Winkelstein on implementation of recommendations

September 23, 2024 | Penn Today
Deputy Provost Beth Winkelstein discusses progress following the Task Force and Presidential Commission reports.

Students holding Penn Hillel banner

Highlighting Jewish life at Penn for prospective students

September 18, 2024 | Instagram: Previewing Penn
Prospective students learned about Jewish life at Penn from Admissions Vice Dean and Director Jordan Pascucci and Penn Hillel Executive Director Rabbi Gabe Greenberg.

Carved stone Penn insignia embedded into a brick arch entrance way to Franklin field

Upholding academic independence

September 10, 2024 | PennToday
Going forward, the University of Pennsylvania will refrain from institutional statements made in response to local and world events except for those which have direct and significant bearing on University functions.

President Jameson posing for portrait in College Hall

The words that guide us

September 10, 2024 | Penn Today
Penn introduces a statement on University Values, a priority recommendation advanced by the Task Force and the Presidential Commission.

Students going to class along Smith Walk on a sunny fall day, beneath Locust trees.

Establishing an Office of Religious and Ethnic Inclusion (Title VI) at Penn

September 5, 2024 | Penn Today
The new office ensures that Penn can continue fulfilling its responsibilities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect students, faculty, and staff from discrimination based on their religion, ethnicity, shared ancestry, or national origin.

Penn Hillel masthead

Announcing new Penn Hillel and University donor recognition agreement

August 30, 2024 | Penn Hillel
Unrestricted donations to Penn Hillel may now be recognized as donations to the University, if the donor wishes.

The entrance to Steinhardt Hall where Falk Dining Commons is located.

Penn Hillel unveils more accessible Kosher dining

August 30, 2024 | The Daily Pennsylvanian
Falk Dining Commons in Steinhardt Hall will remain open on weekends this year and is eliminating the $2.75 dining surcharge. 

Drone's eye view of the Class of 2028 class photo on Franklin Field

Fostering class connections and camaraderie at New Student Orientation

August 25, 2024 | Penn Today
With a newly redesigned New Student Orientation, the Class of 2028 and new transfer students built community and learned how to engage productively across differences. This year’s programs included a special Zoom workshop led by Interim President Jameson on the recommendations of the University Task Force and the Presidential Commission.

Interim President Jameson seated behind his desk in College Hall

The balance we seek: A start-of-year message from Interim President Jameson

August 23, 2024 | Penn Today
Interim President Jameson welcomes the Penn community to a new academic year, shares important updates, and highlights the need to balance open expression with ensuring a respectful, inclusive culture where all can thrive.

Fisher Fine Arts Library framed by colorful fall leaves

Faculty-led Task Force charged with reviewing Guidelines on Open Expression

August 21, 2024 | Penn Today
Chaired by Senior Vice Dean Lisa Bellini of Penn Medicine and Faculty Director Sigal Ben-Porath of the SNF Paideia Program, the Task Force includes faculty, students, and staff members.

Student walking in front of Cohen Hall and trees with colorful fall foliage

New program coordinator hired

August 6, 2024
Reporting to University Life and the Office of Social Equity & Community, Penn hired a Program Coordinator who is focusing on the needs and experiences of MENA (Middle Eastern North African) and Arab Communities.

Portrait of Ramanan Raghavendran

A Q&A with Board Chair Ramanan Raghavendran

August 20, 2024 | Penn Today
Penn Today sat down with Board of Trustees Chair Ramanan Raghavendran about his first six months and the year ahead. Among the topics covered, Chair Raghavendran reaffirmed Penn’s longstanding position that it does not support divesting from, boycotting, or sanctioning Israel.

Deputy provost Beth Winkelstein on Locust Walk

Deputy provost Beth Winkelstein on Locust Walk Deputy Provost Beth A. Winkelstein to lead implementation effort on Task Force and Presidential Commission

August 9, 2024 | Penn Today
Winkelstein has been tapped by the Interim President and the Provost to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the University Task Force on Antisemitism and the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community.

Drone's eye view of campus looking from the Quadrangle to Çenter City

Temporary standards and procedures for campus events and demonstrations

June 6, 2024 | Penn Today
Penn shares updated policies and procedures for when, where, and how open expression can take place.

Purple saucer magnolia flowers framing the entrance to Fisher Fine Arts library

An update on the work of the Antisemitism Task Force and Presidential Commission

May 30, 2024 | Penn Today
Interim President Jameson shares the final reports from the University Task Force on Antisemitism and the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community.

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