Subject: Recent Activity on Penn’s Campus

Dear Fellow Penn Alumni, 

I am writing today in my capacity as both president of Penn Alumni and as someone who cares deeply about our University and its role in the world. Our strength as a community is never more vital as when we are challenged. Many of us are upset, and so it is an important time for us to come together.

Watching the Israel-Hamas war unfold each day has been heartbreaking and I stand with President Magill in condemning the heinous terrorist acts by Hamas. The global humanitarian crisis that has ensued is being felt deeply by individuals all around us – our own families, our lifelong friends and partners, our neighbors, our fellow Penn alumni, and current students. My heart goes out to members of our Israeli, Jewish, Palestinian, and Arab communities and all those who are mourning and suffering unthinkable loss and having to face the devastation that is to come.

Like many other universities around the country and the world, Penn has been grappling with how to best support and protect our community and move forward together. Many communities have felt disenfranchised over decisions in the last several years, and now it’s come to a head. In recent days, however, I have watched with great dismay as the University has been subjected to intense media scrutiny and, unfortunately, a great deal of misinformation. That is why I want to take a moment to clearly communicate what Penn and its leaders are doing.

Most recently, as of yesterday, President Magill shared an update with the campus community on recent protest activity and actions Penn is taking to ensure the safety of all students, faculty, and staff on campus. University leaders have sent out other important messages and statements during the past two weeks, all of which are available on a centralized website here:  www.upenn.edu/supporting-our-community.

I encourage you to read the posted material, but I want to specifically address one situation that predated the current armed conflict in the Middle East. As many of you know, a festival celebrating Palestinian artists and literature was held on campus, organized by an outside organization. Upon learning that several of the 120 invited speakers are known for their antisemitic views and statements, President Magill met and discussed the situation with members of the Penn community and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). President Magill and University leaders then outlined immediate and ongoing actions that the University would take to address antisemitism and to provide support for the Jewish community, as outlined in this letter to the ADL.

While there is room for constructive criticism about how quickly and clearly the University has communicated during these volatile and troubling times, I feel that Liz Magill expressed what so many of us believe when she stated, “We have a moral responsibility—as an academic institution and a campus community—to combat antisemitism and to educate our community to recognize and reject hate. I look forward to continuing to work with leaders, faculty, students, and staff at Penn and elsewhere to ensure we are fostering a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.” 

I would also like to say a word more about President Liz Magill. As a Trustee, I have witnessed firsthand Liz’s steadiness and focus, even in the face of the most personal type of attacks these past weeks, and she has been, in a word, inspiring. The Board of Trustees unanimously shares this sentiment, and we reaffirmed our confidence in the President when we gathered for an update this past weekend. 

I understand and respect the views of those who do not share my sentiments. I and the leaders of Penn Alumni will continue to listen to and empathize with those who feel Penn can be doing better. I only ask that we each read, with open minds and hearts, the messages being shared during this difficult time, that we keep our trust in Penn, that we cherish each other regardless of our affiliations, and that we have confidence in the humanity of our leaders and their intentions. 

With gratitude,

Michael Barrett, ENG'89 
President, Penn Alumni  
University Trustee