THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016
PENN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
A TIME TO HEAL
Divisive election provokes strong reactions across campus
JULIUS SIM | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
REBECCA TAN Staff Reporter
An America with president-elect Donald J. Trump at the helm began amid rain and protest at Penn on Wednesday. Around 6 p.m., hundreds of Penn students and staff filled up College Green. Some of them were carrying umbrellas, others stood out in the rain drenched; all had gathered for a solidarity walk organized in response to Trump’s victory.
The event, which was co-organized by 23 student groups, began with opening remarks by College senior and We are Watching CoFounder Syra Ortiz-Blanes. Associate Vice Provost for Equity and Access Rev. William Gipson, who marched with students, also made a short speech. “I want to make a distinction between disappointment and defeat,” Gipson said in his speech. “And for those of us who love freedom, we will never be defeated.” Gipson said later in an interview that this
election has been characterized by “assaultive rhetoric” that makes many students feel unsafe. He felt it was important to attend the march to “assert the full humanity” of all students on campus. Police cars followed marchers along Walnut Street as they chanted “Not my president” — the same slogan chanted by protesters in Berkeley, Calif. yesterday — and held up signs that read “Love trumps hate.” College freshman Mihal Zelenin was among those who had gone to the Kelly Writers House hours before
before the march to make signs. “Right now, I just really need to be around people. I’m just grieving,” she said. Wharton junior Jennifer Hutchens and Engineering junior Allison Caramico agreed, saying that they spent election night crying with members of their sorority. Waking up this morning, they felt that the only way they could keep themselves from breaking down again was to take action by joining the walk, SEE SOLIDARITY PAGE 3
Students express fear, sadness over election at U. Council meeting Amy Gutmann said she would be with student protest “in spirit” CAROLINE SIMON Campus News Editor
Students tearfully told Penn President Amy Gutmann how they felt “fearful” and “terrified” following the outcome of Tuesday’s presidential election. Representatives from the Muslim Student
Association, Latin@ Coalition, the Asian Student Pacific Coalition, UMOJA and Penn First — several visibly shaken and in tears — gave statements to a packed room of student leaders and administrators at a University Council meeting on Wednesday. Many expressed fear and uncertainty about their future in a country that will soon be led by 1968 Wharton graduate Donald Trump — who launched his campaign by calling Mexicans “rapists,” proposed a blanket ban
on Muslim immigration and has repeatedly attacked members of minority groups. One student representing PRISM, a student interfaith group, broke down crying while reading her statement, and Gutmann rushed to comfort her. Students also asked Gutmann to show support by attending a solidarity march on College Green, but Gutmann said she was unable to attend due to a “Penn dinner” and would be there in spirit.
Gutmann opened the meeting by reading a statement addressing the negative nature of the election that culminated last night in the stunning victory for 1968 Wharton graduate Donald Trump: “This Presidential campaign was one of the most bitter, divisive and hurtful in American history. Whoever won, millions of people were going to be terribly troubled by the SEE GUTMANN PAGE 3
Professors postpone exams, cancel class after election
Political groups remain shocked after Trump’s victory
Other professors held exams as scheduled, despite student protest
Penn Dems, SDS were despondent on Wednesday afternoon
ELLIE SCHROEDER & ALLY JOHNSON Assignments Editor and Staff Reporter
As students woke up to the reality of a Trump presidency Wednesday morning, their attentions soon turned to academic obligations — and whether classes and exams would go on as scheduled. Some professors outright cancelled exams; others offered makeup dates for students distracted by the long, drawn-out election night, or cancelled class. Many students complained in the days leading up to the election that they felt stressed about tests or assignments due Wednesday. Professors at Yale University
SEND STORY IDEAS TO NEWSTIP@THEDP.COM
and Columbia University also cancelled exams following Trump’s unexpected victory. Professor Mark Goulian emailed students in his Biology 121 class Wednesday morning telling his students the exam was postponed. “We have received numerous requests to postpone today’s midterm exam,” he wrote in an email to the class Wednesday morning. “Many students were emotionally invested in the US presidential election and stayed up late into the the early hours of this morning following the election results. Since such a large fraction of the class has been affected, we have decided to postpone the exam to next Wednesday.”
CARL-EMMANUEL FULGHIERI Staff Reporter
The ascendancy of Penn’s first graduate to the White House was met on campus with wide-eyed disbelief on
SEE CLASSES PAGE 7
ONLINE AT THEDP.COM
Wednesday as the results sunk in for many students: Donald J. Trump is the president-elect of the United States. Prior to the election, groups at Penn gave mixed reactions to Trump’s provocative proposals, ranging from oppositional art protests, advocacy groups SEE GROUPS PAGE 2
E L E CT IO N
REFLECTIONS CONTACT US: 215-422-4640