The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is at a breaking point. Over the past two years, the campus has devolved into a hotbed of hate, harassment, vandalism, and outright violence. Antisemitism and other forms of discrimination have reached alarming levels, creating an environment of fear, division, and chaos.
This degradation has been fueled by administrative inaction and, alarmingly, by the active role of some faculty members who use their positions to spread hate, glorify violence, and incite division. Professors who align themselves with extremist ideologies and promote antisemitic rhetoric are abusing their platforms, creating an environment that jeopardizes campus safety and unity. Their actions are not protected under the banner of academic freedom; they are violations of professional ethics and responsibilities.
The time for excuses is over.
The recent executive order signed on January 20, 2025, by President Trump, titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” underscores the gravity of this issue. The order strengthens the federal government’s ability to identify and deport individuals who support terrorism or pose a threat to national security. Faculty members who express support for terrorist organizations or engage in rhetoric that incites violence are likely to attract federal scrutiny under this directive.
This new policy highlights the urgent need for Penn to act decisively. By failing to address the actions of extremist faculty members, the university not only risks the safety of its students but also places itself under potential federal investigation and public backlash. Leadership must hold these individuals accountable—through suspensions, terminations, or other disciplinary measures—to restore trust, uphold institutional integrity, and comply with evolving national security standards.
Ahmad Almallah, a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, has consistently leveraged his academic position to promote extremist ideologies, glorify terrorism, and spread antisemitic rhetoric. His participation in pro-terror rallies, incendiary public statements, and alignment with violent organizations have created an environment of hostility, division, and fear on campus. As an educator, his conduct raises serious concerns about the ethical and professional obligations of faculty to foster inclusivity and intellectual integrity.
Huda Fakhreddine, a tenured professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has leveraged her academic platform to glorify terrorism, spread antisemitic rhetoric, and incite division. Her public statements, participation in rallies, and social media activity reveal a disturbing pattern of extremist views that threaten campus unity and safety and violate faculty conduct and open expression guidelines, as well as her ethical and contractual duties as an educator.
Anne Norton, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has consistently used her academic position to promote antisemitic rhetoric, justify acts of terrorism, and dismiss atrocities committed by Hamas. Her statements and actions demonstrate a troubling alignment with extremist ideologies, creating a hostile campus environment and sparking widespread condemnation.
Eve Troutt Powell, a history professor at the University of Pennsylvania specializing in the modern Middle East, has consistently used her academic position to spread inflammatory rhetoric, align with extremist ideologies, and trivialize the realities of terrorism. Through her public statements, participation in controversial events, and alignment with divisive organizations, Troutt Powell has fostered a climate of hostility, alienating students and undermining the principles of intellectual integrity and inclusivity that universities strive to uphold.
Sukaina Hirji, an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, has used her academic platform to engage in divisive activism, aligning herself with extremist ideologies and contributing to the deterioration of campus safety. Rather than prioritizing her academic responsibilities, Hirji has been deeply involved in protests and events that glorify violence, foster division, and create an atmosphere of fear and hostility.
Susan Abulhawa, a Kuwaiti author and activist, has consistently used her platform to propagate extreme rhetoric, glorify acts of terrorism, and incite violence. Far from being a humanitarian, her actions and statements reveal a dangerous pattern of extremism that threatens the safety and unity of any academic or public space she occupies.
Chi-Ming Yang, a professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania, has used her academic position to amplify divisive political activism on campus. Known for her specialization in the literary and visual culture of race and empire, Yang has become a prominent figure in protests and causes that disrupt campus unity and safety.
Reports of hate incidents rose by an appalling 250% between 2021 and 2023. In 2023 alone, antisemitic acts accounted for over 60% of these reports. These numbers are not abstract – they represent real people targeted, threatened, and silenced
The Palestine Writes Literature Festival (September 2023) became a flashpoint for hate, featuring speakers notorious for their antisemitic rhetoric. This event, hosted with university approval, sent a chilling message to Jewish students and alumni: hate is tolerated here. Antisemitic threats surged, with over 60 incidents targeting Jewish students and organizations since October 2023, a staggering fivefold increase compared to 2021. These include violent threats sent to Penn Hillel and Lauder College House, creating a pervasive atmosphere of terror.
From April 25 to May 10, 2024, the University of Pennsylvania became the site of a 16-day illegal encampment, a disruptive and unlawful protest marked by tents, flags, and inflammatory signs, was sustained by the active participation and behind-the-scenes efforts of several faculty members. The encampment created a chaotic environment and disrupted the educational environment by obstructing campus spaces and creating a climate of intimidation. Students reported difficulty accessing classes, dormitories, and academic resources, with some choosing to stay away from campus altogether out of fear for their safety.
Swastikas and other hateful symbols defaced campus spaces, with incidents escalating in frequency and severity. The vandalism of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house in October 2023 and hate-filled projections on campus buildings in November 2023 reflect a growing boldness among perpetrators.
President Liz Magill’s tone-deaf remarks during a December 2023 Congressional hearing—suggesting that calls for genocide might not violate Penn’s code of conduct—were an insult to victims of hate and a national disgrace. Her resignation was not enough to undo the damage caused by her leadership.
A Title VI investigation by the U.S. Department of Education and a lawsuit filed by Jewish students highlight the university’s systemic failure to protect its community. Over 100 documented incidents of antisemitism since 2015 point to a longstanding issue ignored by leadership.
The tarnished reputation of Penn now extends beyond donors and alumni, threatening its global standing as a leading institution. Prospective international collaborations, research opportunities, and partnerships with other universities could be jeopardized as Penn becomes synonymous with hate and discrimination. Rankings agencies, frequently influenced by public perception, may also downgrade Penn’s position, further diminishing its academic prestige.
The pervasive culture of hate on campus has already led to vandalism, harassment, and intimidation. Without decisive intervention, it risks escalating into physical violence. The unchecked presence of inflammatory rhetoric and divisive protests has created an environment ripe for further acts of aggression, putting every student, faculty member, and staff member in danger.
Donor withdrawals by figures like Marc Rowan and David Magerman, combined with potential federal funding losses from the Title VI investigation, threaten to destabilize Penn’s financial foundation. Legal costs and settlements could add millions to the university’s growing liabilities.
Talented students and faculty are being driven away by the hostile environment, further eroding Penn’s intellectual and cultural vibrancy. The university risks a brain drain, where the brightest minds choose institutions that uphold inclusivity and safety. This decline will inevitably impact the quality of education, research, and innovation, leaving Penn struggling to recover its former standing.
The University of Pennsylvania stands at a crossroads. The degradation of its campus climate is a direct result of systemic failures at every level. This is a call to action for all stakeholders: students, alumni, donors, and federal authorities. We must demand accountability, transparency, and decisive measures to root out hate and restore Penn as a place of safety, inclusion, and academic excellence.
If Penn fails to act, its legacy will not be one of leadership and innovation but of moral failure and complicity in hate.
The time to act is now.
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