Traveling Pennhurst Exhibit Displayed at Local College Campus

Bryn Athyn, PA— The Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance (PMPA) brings its traveling exhibit to Bryn Athyn College, encouraging dialogue on social issues and human rights. The series of 12 panels tells the story of Pennhurst State School and Hospital, an infamous institution for the mentally and physically disabled that opened its doors in 1908 and was closed in 1986 following a major lawsuit and a number of investigations and exposés.

The collection of informational posters will be displayed in Bryn Athyn College’s Doering Center from October 28-November 7, 2016. Disability rights issues addressed in the exhibit will be studied specifically by Bryn Athyn College psychology, education, and nursing majors.

Dr. Erica Goldblatt Hyatt, department chair and assistant professor of psychology, is the main organizer bringing the exhibit onto campus. She says, “Integrating this into our curriculum is important because it exposes our students to the lived experience of real people in the real world.”

She continues, “We try to prepare our students for meaningful and useful service to others, and so while it might not be pretty, they can’t close their eyes to this. We are offering a safe environment in which to learn about and process this tough information.”

The public is invited to attend the exhibit opening on the evening of October 28. Representative Tom Murt of the 152nd District will introduce guest speakers Jean Searle and James W. Conroy, co-presidents of PMPA. Speakers will begin at 7:30 p.m.