The following is published in accordance with the Faculty Senate Rules. Among other purposes, the publication of SEC actions is intended to stimulate discussion among the constituencies and their representatives. Please communicate your comments to Patrick Walsh, executive assistant to the Senate Office, by email at senate@pobox.upenn.edu.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Special Meeting

Monday, April 29, 2024

Meeting Announcement. Faculty Senate chair Tulia Falleti announced a special meeting of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee by email on Saturday, April 27, 2024, to be held on Monday, April 29, for the purposes of information exchange and discussion of current events on campus.

Meeting Discussion. Dr. Falleti summarized the purpose of the meeting, which is to exchange information regarding the events surrounding the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” that began on College Green on Thursday, April 25, and to consult. SEC members shared knowledge of recent events and how they might advise the University administration.

Provost John Jackson and Vice Provost for Faculty Laura Perna joined the meeting. They responded to questions and comments from committee members.

Following the Provost’s and Vice Provost’s departures from the meeting, SEC members then continued their ongoing discussion. Proposals for actions were discussed, but no action was adopted. While SEC members hold differing views about the encampment, SEC members present concurred that the main objective for University administration should be to de-escalate tensions and to find a negotiated resolution to this conflict without rushing to conclusions. SEC members suggested that faculty should promote academic spaces on campus that foster constructive debates and conversations on difficult or intractable topics and to encourage faculty to remain near the encampment to work toward de-escalation and to foster constructive dialogue. Caution was noted regarding suggestions to record names of participants as doing so could be seen as an act of intimidation. Individual SEC members volunteered to find creative ways to assist the administration in checking students’ IDs without recording names or ID numbers and without creating lists of protest participants. Administrators’ messages with encampment participants should be clear and unambiguous. Every effort should be made to hold Commencement and other customary year-end activities, even if the locations of those activities must be moved. SEC brainstormed specific measures that could be common ground for a negotiated resolution.