Dean Ruger’s statement to the community responding to killing of Walter Wallace
Dear Penn Law Community,
The killing of Walter Wallace, Jr. in our own West Philadelphia backyard this week is a stark reminder that our country’s reckoning with racial injustice has only just begun. Every life lost to anti-Black violence matters, but Walter Wallace was our neighbor, and his death just a few minutes away from our campus is particularly devastating. I extend my deepest condolences to the Wallace family, our West Philadelphia friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues, as well as to all whose lives are touched by anti-Black violence not just today, but far too often. Mr. Wallace’s death and the resulting unrest on our streets serve as a somber reminder for us to even more deeply embrace our efforts to build a more inclusive Law School and to take seriously our responsibility to be a leader in promoting equity and justice beyond our campus.
In July, I announced the many ways in which the Law School will continue to work to support its community through expanded racial justice programming and affirmative steps toward an anti-racist future. Next week we will share additional steps we have taken to increase support for students and diversity initiatives; expand programing and courses about critical matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and review our campus to ensure that we are not unduly honoring those who have laid the bricks on which systemic racism rests comfortably today.
I am grateful to all of you for your persistent dedication to equity and justice and look forward to continuing our work to building a just and anti-racist future.
Sincerely,
Dean Ruger
Four buildings around a central courtyard comprise the Penn Law campus.
Another view of the Courtyard.
Center City, Philadelphia, just 10 blocks from the Law School, is visible from the entrance to Golkin Hall. The Law School is located on the corner of Sansom & 34th Streets, four blocks from the main train station on 30th Street. Running paths along the Schuylkill River connect the University campus to Center City. Sansom Street is a lively street with shops and many local restaurants and outdoor cafés.
Golkin Hall officially opened in April 2012 with a dedication convocation featuring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. This new space completes Penn Law’s vision for the finest urban law school campus in America. It complements historic Silverman Hall on one side and the more modern Tanenbaum on the other. Golkin Hall, with its offices, classrooms, auditorium, state-of-the art courtroom and many gathering places, provides the Law School with additional space that encourages easy interaction and collaboration among students, faculty, and staff. The building’s green design is expected to receive LEED certification.
Directly off the main lobby is the staircase down to the lower level of Golkin Hall.
Light and rich wood textures permeate Golkin Hall.
The staircase to the second floor leads to a seminar room, faculty offices and the entrance to the Goat Rooftop Deck that connects to Gittis Hall.
Named in honor of Dean Michael A. Fitts, this flexible 350 seat auditorium, with the latest technology and superb acoustics, serves as one of the Law School’s hubs for larger audiences. A robust series of events throughout the year includes the annual Keedy Cup competition and talks on everything from Delaware corporate law, to the nature of human rights in China, to the future of the Internet. Presenters might include a Supreme Court Justice, a leading economist, or an expert panel.
The Alumni & Development Office occupies one side of the third floor of Golkin Hall. On the other side, is at the rooftop garden and adjacent seminar room.
Walkways on the main level or on an upper floor connect to historic Silverman Halls. One of the shields that adorn the exterior of Silverman appears on the back of the walkway.
Built with the latest technology, this courtroom gives future litigators a place to refine their oral advocacy skills.
When Golkin Hall opened, Davis Student Union became an immediate favorite gathering spot. Comfortable banquettes and open seating make the convenient Sidebar Café a great place to pick up coffee, lunch, a snack or a great cup of soup.
