While Halloween costumes on Penn’s campus are not famous for their discretion, for many Saadi’s costume was pushing the the envelope too far. Images of engineering senior Saad Saadi costumed as a terrorist bomber are currently circulating campus and the Web, causing intense reactions.
The most controversial of the photos shows Saadi with a smiling University President Amy Gutmann at her annual Halloween party, where he also posed with University Chaplain William Gipson. Although Saadi and Gutmann appreciated the ostensible humor in his choice of attire, many students are offended that University officials would condone such an offensive outfit.
Other photos include Saadi emulating various Jihaadist activities, such as pointing a gun at an Indian student dressed as a Jew, pretending to execute a hostage, and posing with a young boy dressed as Superman with the caption, “Influencing a future Mujahideen.”
Saadi insists that his costume was meant as a joke. On his website, where he originally posted all the pictures, Saadi removed the pictures and replaced them with the following apology:

My friend, Jason, and I express our condolences and sympathy to all affected by our costumes. We wish to make it clear that we do not support terrorism, violence, or anything that is against society. There is no agenda or statement associated with our behavior shown in these pictures. The costumes are meant to portray scary characters much like many other costumes on Halloween. Additionally, we strive for all societies to instill healthy and non-violent values.

Meanwhile, news stations have been swarming Penn’s campus and trying to assess the reaction of the Jewish community. Jessica Sullivan, a Penn student who works behind the desk in the Hillel, said that NBC has been particularly aggressive as it has tried to elicit responses from the students. When upon questionting she, Isaac Dayan and Andrew Mener all refused to comment, Sullivan said the cameraman dismissed them as ‘’a bunch of apathetic college students.”
Although many Jewish students are very disturbed and shaken by the event, many have expressed the opinion that they don’t want to make a big deal out of the affair and incite a possible backlash. Rabbi Howard Alpert told CampusJ that while he dissaproves of Saadi’s lack of tact, he understands that it was done in the light-hearted spirit of Halloween.
Ezra Billinkoff, president of the Penn Hillel, sent out an e-mail to others on the Penn Leadership listserv stating that “there is emerging interest from local, national, and international mediaâ€? about the event and reactions of Jewish students, adding “Some of you may be contacted for quotations of perspective… I, the staff, and a number of students are actively generating a response about the matter.”
The Student Executive Committee of Penn Hillel issued an official statement stating that:

While some may dismiss these actions as straightforward Halloween amusement, many perceive this student to have displayed a disturbing disregard for the sensitivities of others.
[…]
The intended joke is not only offensive to Jewish students, but to all humanity.
Hillel student leaders have met with the University Chaplain and President’s assistant. We are satisfied that they understand why the photographs taken at the President’s house were offensive to many students in the Penn community.
We join with the student leaders of other Penn constituencies in expressing offense at the regrettable incident.
It should be noted that the student involved has apologized.
[…]
The staff and student leadership of Penn Hillel encourage the community to engage in dialogue about this matter and continue to welcome comments from all students.

Meanwhile, Guttmann has issued her own statement:

Each year, the president hosts a Halloween party for Penn students. More than 700 students attend. They all crowd around to have their picture taken with me in costume. This year, one student who had a toy gun in hand had his picture taken with me before it was obvious to me that he was dressed as a suicide bomber. He posted the photo on a website and it was picked up on several other websites.
The costume is clearly offensive and I was offended by it. As soon as I realized what his costume was, I refused to take any more pictures with him, as he requested. The student had the right to wear the costume just as I, and others, have a right to criticize his wearing of it.