Each year, the president hosts a Halloween party for Penn students.  More than 700 students attend. They all crowd around to have their picture taken with me in costume. This year, one student who had a toy gun in hand had his picture taken with me before it was obvious to me that he was dressed as a suicide bomber.  He posted the photo on a website and it was picked up on several other websites.

The costume is clearly offensive and I was offended by it. As soon as I realized what his costume was, I refused to take any more pictures with him, as he requested. The student had the right to wear the costume just as I, and others, have a right to criticize his wearing of it.  

« previous | next »

Penn Hosts Daylong Arts Crawl Today

University of Pennsylvania Receives Top Ranking in Public Safety for Educational Facilities

Inaugural Group of Penn Eco-Reps Seeks to Educate, Change Residents’ Eco-Behavior at Three College Houses

Penn and Milken Family Foundation Launch Global Business Plan Competition to Improve Education

University of Pennsylvania and PennDot Team Up for Operation Safe Holiday

For general inquiries, call 215-898-8721.

For specific inquiries, please refer to our detailed listing of news officers.

Office of University Communications, 200 Sansom Place East, 3600 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6106.