Convocation and Controversy

 


I thought my reflection on the 241st day of 2022 would have been about Penn's Convocation and Convocation only.  BUT, my two for 2022 for 8/29/2022 is Convocation and Controversy.  Because, for the first time in MY memory, the ceremony tonight was cut short (but President Magill did finish her speech!) by a group of protesters protesting for Housing Rights for members of the West Philadelphia Community.  And, while housing rights IS a very important issue and one that I support, I am unsure how effective the protest tonight was and I am sad for the Class of 2026 (and incoming Transfers) that their Convocation was cut short and I am sad for President Magill that her first major address was cut short.  And I wish that the protesters had followed the tenets of Open Expression that allow for protest, but state that events should not be disrupted.  I understand disruption is a strategy, but it's not one that gains my buy-in, especially not when it disrupts one of my favorite ceremonies on campus.  I understand why things happened tonight, but I do not have to like them.  I do like "Good Trouble," I just am not sure how good tonight's was.

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