NIH funding indirect cost cuts leave Penn researchers, faculty in state of ‘chaos’
Despite a temporary halt to the policy after Penn and 12 other universities sued the NIH, researchers say the future of their work remains uncertain
JASMINE NI AND ISHA CHITIRALA News Editor and Senior Reporter
On Feb. 7, the National Institutes of Health implemented a funding cut that would cost Penn $240 million. While a judge temporarily halted the changes following a lawsuit brought by Penn and 12 other universities against the NIH, University researchers say the future of their work remains uncertain.
The Feb. 10 lawsuit alleged that the funding cut, a 15% cap on indirect costs — which provide funding for overhead research costs such as lab spaces and support staff — was a “flagrantly unlawful action” that would “devastate medical research at America’s universities.” Penn medical practitioners and researchers expressed similar sentiments and warned of severe consequences for the future of the University’s research programs.
“Besides its devastating impact on medical research and training, the proposed actions run afoul of the longstanding regulatory frameworks governing federal grants and foundational principles of administrative law,” the Association of American Universities wrote in a press release announcing the lawsuit. “This action is ill-conceived and self-defeating for both America’s patients and their families as well as the nation as a whole.”
A University spokesperson wrote to The Daily Pennsylvanian that Penn is currently “exploring all legal options available” to “address the See NIH, page 2
EAGLES FLY TO VICTORY
Penn introduces changes to University discrimination policies, removes term ‘diversity’
The changes include the renaming of several statements, offces, and policies and the elimination of terms, including ‘diversity’
ETHAN YOUNG AND ANVI SEHGAL News Editor and Staff Reporter
Penn divisions and departments have removed online references to longstanding Universitywide nondiscrimination and affirmative action policies from their respective websites throughout the week.
The changes follow an executive order from 1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump that requires federally funded universities such as Penn to terminate any diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that could be in violation of federal civil rights laws. While Penn has championed its commitment to DEI in recent years, the changes marked significant steps in backpedaling such initiatives.
A University spokesperson wrote to The Daily Pennsylvanian that Penn is “reviewing websites and programs to ensure they are consistent with our nondiscrimination policies and federal law.” Among the changes was the renaming of the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs to the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs. In a note prefacing the new policies, Interim Penn President Larry Jameson, Provost John Jackson Jr., and other senior administrators wrote that the revised policies come as a “result” of Trump’s executive orders.
“The new policy and statement, which appear below, reflect Penn’s long-standing commitment to values of excellence, freedom of inquiry
As Mason on Chestnut faces new code violations, owners allege plan to turn it into homeless shelter
The recent issues bring the building to a total of 131 code violations in recent years. City offcials told The Daily Pennsylvanian that they have no knowledge of the redevelopment plans
ISAAC POLLOCK Staff Reporter
As the Mason on Chestnut, an off-campus residence near Penn’s campus, faces another round of city code violations, its owners allege the building will be converted into a homeless shelter — a plan city officials say they are unaware of.
are committed to ensuring a structured and wellplanned transition process. No one will be displaced without an alternative solution in place, and we are actively working with housing agencies and community partners to provide relocation assistance and support.”
This summer, following an eight-day shutdown after a Cease Operations Order, CSC founder Sal Smeke wrote to the DP that “[CSC’s] only focus right now is the drug and alcohol tower, which we are breaking ground [on] at the end of the year and spending over $300 million building it.”
According to a Jan. 15 notice from the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections, the Mason received 19 code violations after a Jan. 13 inspection of the property, bringing the total number of violations in the building’s history to 131. The citations are the latest in a long series of problems the property has faced in recent months, including a flood on June 10, 2024 and a subsequent Cease Operations Order a day later.
the building has until Feb. 14 to appeal or correct the violations.
The most recent citations include unmaintained fire alarm systems, combustible materials stored underneath bleachers in the gym, and fire extinguishers that were improperly mounted throughout the property. The Department of Licenses and Inspections wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian that
A spokesperson for CSC — the development company that currently owns the Mason — told the DP that the property is addressing code noncompliance issues “one by one.”
In addition to CSC’s alleged plans to convert the Mason into a homeless shelter, the group also announced plans in June 2024 to construct a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility on the lot directly behind the Mason. Current plans for the building include a total bed count between 150 and 250, though the number is not finalized. The status of the drug rehab center remains unknown.
“This is a critical step in addressing Philadelphia’s homelessness crisis, providing long-term, stable housing and essential support services for those in need,” the CSC spokesperson said about plans for the homeless shelter. “This project is not just about shelter — it’s about restoring dignity, rebuilding lives, and setting a new national standard for urban redevelopment and social impact. This project will transform University City into a saving grace for the entire city of Philadelphia at once.”
The Department of Licenses and Inspections said it was “unable to confirm” the plans for the homeless shelter and the Philadelphia Housing Authority — which CSC said the Mason was partnering with — wrote in a statement to the DP that the PHA “is not involved in this development.”
The City of Philadelphia also wrote to the DP that it “[doesn’t] have any information” on the plans.
“We understand that some current residents may have concerns about how this conversion will affect them,” the CSC spokesperson wrote. “We
However, these potential plans come as residents of the Mason voice concerns about tenant safety, building mismanagement, and lease security — and amid claims that the building has between 15 and 40 current residents despite being zoned for over 400 units.
CSC declined to provide clarification on the residents’ allegations.
A spokesperson for Redstone Residential — the building’s most recent management company — wrote in a statement to the DP that they no longer manage the Mason and “officially parted ways” with CSC in November 2024.
“Many of the specific concerns you referenced occurred outside of our management period or involved operational decisions made at the ownership level. As such, we are unable to provide direct responses to these,” the spokesperson wrote.
A request for comment was left with Philadelphia management company Madison Parke, which — according to a former resident — now manages the property.
The Mason flooded in June 2024, forcing residents to evacuate the building. A May 29, 2024 email exchange between a Mason maintenance staff member and the regional property manager shows the manager was warned that the water system for heating and cooling in the building was “one of the main structural issues that the building has.” The staff member stated years of use “causes the pipes to break, fracture, and burst.”
According to former Mason resident Joshua Kulda, the building’s management disregarded the
ABHIRAM JUVVADI | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Mason on Chestnut is an off-campus residence at 37th and Chestnut streets.
JEAN PARK | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
reductions that NIH has announced.”
“The cuts announced by NIH would reduce federal funding to Penn by nearly a quarter of a billion dollars per year and have a profoundly negative impact on Penn’s research enterprise,” the spokesperson added.
Penn previously received 62.5% of the basic grant value for indirect costs. According to a University spokesperson, the $240 million estimated loss in funding is based on the 2026 fiscal year budget, which is set to begin on July 1 and includes existing and projected new awards.
In an affidavit connected to the Monday lawsuit, Senior Associate Vice Provost and Senior Associate Vice President for Research Elizabeth Peloso claimed that the 15% cap will result in a loss of $170.9 million in the 2025 calendar year, and “would end or seriously jeopardize research projects at Penn.” The cut would also threaten the jobs of 529 staff members directly affected by indirect costs and impact an additional 4,020 employees at Penn, according to Peloso.
“If the 15% across-the-board indirect rate cap goes into effect, Penn’s ability to pay employees and researchers would dramatically be reduced, resulting in immediate and widespread effects on those employees and their families,” Peloso wrote in the affidavit.
In a Feb. 11 email to the Penn community, Interim Penn President Larry Jameson reiterated the University’s commitment to “identify solutions to minimize the impact” of the federal action. He also cited numerous examples of the “lifesaving” and “critical” research taking place at Penn that would be threatened by the NIH funding cap.
“This is not simply an accounting change; it is far more serious with significant implications for Penn’s research programs,” Jameson wrote. “The effect of this sudden and major change in research support will be to severely harm our highly impactful research mission.”
Penn Medicine Department of Dermatology Director Emily Baumrin, who also teaches at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, said that she was “caught off guard” by the NIH funding cut. Although she anticipated changes to diversity, equity, and inclusion language in research grant applications, Baumrin said she had “no warning from the University or anywhere else” about the indirect costs funding cut.
“There’s an incredible sense of uncertainty and chaos. This really came out of nowhere and was implemented within a week of notification. These indirect costs are what keep our research programs going,” Baumrin told the DP. “We’re
unsure what the next steps are as this policy has been implemented.”
In a Sunday email to Penn Medicine affiliates, University of Pennsylvania Health System Executive Vice President and Perelman School of Medicine Dean Jonathan Epstein wrote that “Penn Medicine leadership is actively involved in responding to this latest challenge to our mission,” and that he was “engaged in many discussions with colleagues and officials across the nation.”
“We are working with our government relations team, national organizations and many others to convey the risks of the announced changes,” Senior Vice Provost for Research Dawn Bonnell wrote in the same email. “We are hopeful that our lifesaving work will continue to be supported, and we will continue to work closely with leadership across the University to respond to this challenge.”
Medical School professor Ben Black noted the “decades”-old “cooperative agreement between universities and the US government” that allowed labs at universities like Penn to “exist.”
Penn provost appoints ad hoc committee to search for new vice provost for education
The vice provost for education serves to develop policies that promote interdisciplinary learning, academic excellence, and innovative teaching styles on the graduate and undergraduate levels
ERIN LI Staff Reporter
Provost John Jackson Jr. appointed a new ad hoc consultative committee to search for the University’s next vice provost for education.
The vice provost for education primarily serves to develop educational policies that promote interdisciplinary learning, academic excellence, and innovative teaching styles on both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The role also involves advising leadership across Penn’s various schools, including serving as chair of the Council of Undergraduate Deans and the Graduate Council of the Faculties.
The current vice provost for education, Karen Detlefsen, has served in the role since 2021 and has taught at Penn since 2001 as a professor of philosophy and education.
Student Orientation and Academic Initiatives — also report to the vice provost for education.
The selection committee will be led by Deputy Provost and Eduardo D. Glandt President’s Distinguished Professor Beth Winkelstein. Other professors from across Penn’s four undergraduate schools and 12 graduate schools will comprise the rest of the committee, along with College senior and Undergraduate Assembly President Ria Ellendula and Graduate and Professional Student Assembly President Meruyert Bizhanova.
Black said that the “majority” of his work as a faculty member was to “conduct NIH-supported discovery research.”
“The work in my lab is designed to benefit both the missions of Penn and the NIH and the ‘indirect’ costs are in place for the government to provide their share of what is needed to financially support the foundations of the academic research enterprise,” Black wrote. “[A] cut of this magnitude would harm our lab’s own research and training missions by taking away the resources that the University uses to support its very foundation.”
Despite the “superfluous” implications of the term “indirect costs,” School of Veterinary Medicine professor Christopher Hunter wrote that the funding cuts impact “very real costs associated with the administration and facilities required to allow research to occur.” Last fiscal year, Hunter’s lab received $295,268 in NIH indirect cost funding, which he said was allocated to research resources, utilities, and personnel, among other things.
“The potential cuts to indirects are likely to have far reaching consequences,” Hunter wrote.
Jackson was appointed in 2023 by former Penn President Liz Magill as the successor to former Provost Wendell Pritchett, who departed the role in May 2021. Jackson has previously launched ad hoc advisory committees when making
“Cuts in this model of support endangers almost all research at Penn.”
Medical School professor Alice Abernathy emphasized the high cost of conducting “bench to bedside work.” She proposed a “more thoughtful approach” that would “determine what indirect support essential research functions and push toward transparency on what indirect costs are used for.”
“Funding cuts under the guise of reigning in indirect costs ultimately hurt patients and the science that powers better health outcomes,” Abernathy wrote.
Medical School postdoctoral researcher Kate Brynildsen said that recent federal developments made her “deeply concerned” about continuing in academia. As a senior postdoc, she said that “such significant cuts could lead to even more scarcity in faculty positions” and have “longterm implications” for her career.
“It is really up in the air,” Baumrin said. “It is a scary time for us.”
Senior reporters Finn Ryan and Vivi Sankar contributed reporting.
University-wide decisions, including selecting the H. Carton Rogers III Vice Provost and Director of the Penn Libraries in 2023 and strengthening relationships between Penn and the Philadelphia community in 2024.
Many on-campus departments providing student services — including College Houses and Academic Services, the Graduate Student Center, the Family Resource Center, the Center for Community Standards and Accountability, and New
According to the Almanac, the ideal candidate “will have extensive knowledge of the University and its policies and practices, experience working with students and academic programs, and skills in addressing sensitive issues in an effective and principled manner.” The statement went on to emphasize that a key aspect of the position involves the oversight of confidential information. Only currently tenured faculty are invited to enter the application process, which ends on March 17.
messages.
Another former resident of the Mason, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, echoed the safety concerns. She said her bathroom lock was broken for months and, as a result, her personal belongings were stolen.
The order accused Kulda of “embark[ing] on a defamatory campaign” against the Mason, engaging in “inaccurate” and “irresponsible” activities, and his “public accusations” were “blatantly untrue.”
Kulda said that his actions were “born out of a genuine concern for the well-being and legal rights” of the tenants of the Mason and that nothing he said was inaccurate. He said he “categorically den[ies] any intent to defame” the building or its management.
The same former resident said the Wi-Fi on her floor went out, which factored into her decision to move. As a Penn Ph.D. student, she said she needed access to the internet to be able to complete her work.
Katherine Dow, a current resident of the Mason, said she was recently told by the building that she needed to move units because of mold on a floor she did not live on. Dow said she has had ongoing arguments with the property and management as a result.
“It’s not good here,” Dow said. “I suffer from anxiety. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m in fear of me coming home one day, and my pod door’s open, and all my stuff is upstairs on the 13th floor.”
Dow also reported negative verbal altercations with management as well as tenants struggling to get their security deposits back. Kulda reported similar tenant issues with security deposits.
Kulda claimed that he received a cease and desist order in May 2024 from a lawyer on behalf of the Mason for emailing and distributing statements to fellow tenants about their rights and leaving a negative Google review.
Kulda received a notice of nonrenewal dated Aug. 22, 2024, which cited “harassing employees and other residents, interfering with Landlord’s contractual relationships with other residents by urging them to not pay rent and sue Landlord, and defaming the Landlord on various online avenues with harmful and untrue reviews.” It also accused him of withholding $3,333 in rent. The notice required Kulda to move out on or before Sept. 30, 2024. Kulda, in response, filed a complaint with the Fair Housing Commission, stating he had withheld his rent due to the Mason not responding to repeated verbal and written notices about downed elevators, locked fire doors, and issues with water pressure and temperature, citing failed and open Department of Licenses and Inspections reports.
Ultimately, Kulda said that he and the Mason reached a legal agreement. He withdrew his complaint and voluntarily moved out.
“They are not hands on,” Kulda alleged of the building management. “They look, they direct, and the people they direct do whatever they’re paid to do.”
MAX MESTER | DP FILE PHOTO
At Penn, NIH funding has supported work on CAR T-cell therapy, mRNA technology, and cancer therapies.
MASON, from front page
JEAN PARK | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
The current vice provost for education, Karen Detlefsen, has served in her position since 2021.
The Emerald City:
Bleeding green from Penn’s campus to Broad Street
PARK
On Sunday evening, the Penn community gathered across campus to watch the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. After the Eagles’ devastating loss two years ago, students were ready to watch the Eagles take home their second-ever Super Bowl victory. From Houston Hall to the high rise rooftop lounges, see how The Daily Pennsylvanian’s photographers captured a night filled with anticipation, excitement, and emotion. After the Eagles’ win was announced, students rushed to Broad Street to celebrate in the heart of the City of Brotherly Love. Whether by climbing onto light poles and garbage trucks or lighting up fireworks and sparklers, Eagles fans celebrated their victory in true Philadelphia fashion.
CHENYAO LIU | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
EBUNOLUWA ADESIDA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JENNIFER LONG | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SYDNEY CURRAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JEAN
| MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Photo essay continued on page 4
CHENYAO LIU, JEAN PARK, AND LYDIA TONG News Photo Editor, Multimedia Editor, and Sports Photo Editor
JEAN PARK | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
CAIDEN TOBIAS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JACKSON FORD | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
CHENYAO LIU | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
LYDIA TONG | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
GRACE CHEN | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
WEINING DING | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
GRACE CHEN | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
The wake-up call of our generation PENN
UNSAID | Donald
ABHIRAM JUVVADI | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Columnist Lindsay Muneton warns the Penn community of the danger and significance of Trump’s new policies.
Only a few weeks have passed since the presidential inauguration, and my inbox is close to reaching its limits. Every time my phone buzzes, I’m left feeling slightly hopeful before I am forced to face the reality of our situation. Never has an email from The New York Times left me with such dread that I actually considered throwing my phone across the room. In the past four years, I can barely remember a time when a president walking into a press conference wasn’t brushed over after a month or made into the punchline for a joke. But we seem to
Trump’s new policies are not wanted, but they were needed
have reached a point where our fear for the future has replaced complacency for our current circumstances, and maybe that’s the problem. We have spent so much of our time making clever quips about the previous administration’s ineffectiveness, and now we make jokes about the price of groceries. On every side of the board, all I can hear is the “I told you so” present in someone’s tone, but we should feel no vindication about correctly predicting present events when we neglected the previous alarm signals. Yes, we might be scared (or borderline terrified) of this horrifying turn of events, but they needed to happen. In a world where news is reported rapidly and we can easily scroll past events that don’t immediately pique our interest, the events of today easily become the stories of yesterday. I don’t want to put my faith in this argument; I wholeheartedly believe that we are more than iPad kids with small attention spans. In fact, we have already lived through a global pandemic, a previous Trump administration, and an attempted insurrection; to put things simply: It’s been a lot. To come out of those major events without becoming slightly desensitized to the decisions of our government would be too much to ask. What the actions of the current administration do is force us to acknowledge the extremity of the situation. I have heard countless people urge us to relax, especially since we already survived Donald
Trump once. Considering the actions Trump took before he even took office, relaxing is no longer a possibility; these are actions that we can no longer ignore.
When Elon Musk showed up at Trump’s campaign rallies, we mocked his bizarre stage leaps. Now, he is merely one of multiple oligarchs or “businessmen” to share the front row of the inauguration. When we got inklings of a TikTok ban, we heard groans of a post-apocalyptic world without doomscrolling. Now, it’s become cannon fodder to further Trump’s political agenda, as TikTok’s owners make shameless appeals to keep it running. When we heard Trump denigrate Kamala Harris’ multiracial background when he made claims she had suddenly “turned Black,” we marked it up to the crazy ramblings of an incompetent moron. Now, he has signed an executive order to remove birthright citizenship after running for his office against a woman whose parents were both immigrants. Is this pattern ringing bells for anyone?
The executive orders made in this past week are not ones we can merely shrug off, especially as they start infiltrating our campus. If there’s anything I’ve learned since coming to Penn, it’s that nothing screams anxiety like getting a “Message to the Penn Community” email. With the attempts to freeze federal funding, deport at least 3% of our population, and stamp out any diversity, equity, and
Careerism doesn’t have to ruin college
ASHTI’S AFFIRMATIONS | Take advantage of Penn’s preprofessionalism
DESIGN BY ELIZABETH YUAN
Columnist Ashti Tiwari advocates for the benefits of pursuing careerism.
You’ll often hear complaints about the preprofessional nature of Penn. A former peer of mine wrote an guest Opinion essay in The New York Times arguing that the careerist culture at Penn takes away from what should be a welcoming, open-minded college experience.
While I deeply admire the piece, as it effectively summarizes the anxieties surrounding club applications, internships, and return offers, it overlooks the valuable benefits of this competitive environment.
Yes, Penn’s dominant preprofessional culture funnels students toward a narrow set of high-paying careers in finance or consulting.
Of the Class of 2022 Penn graduates, roughly 50% went into full-time jobs in those two fields. Yet, although half of the student body chooses these lucrative paths, careerism isn’t limited to these fields, nor does it take away from our overall college experience.
The careerist environment at Penn fosters success, pushing students to cultivate
marketable skills that are applicable across all fields. As long as students engage in the prevalent professionalism in some sense, this culture caters to virtually any interest.
To clarify what resources fall under the wide-reaching tool of preprofessionalism, I am referring to the coffee chat culture, frequent networking opportunities, Penn Career Services, and the vast alumni networks of clubs and other organizations.
For many students, careerism isn’t just an added benefit of college; it’s a necessity.
Many students enroll with the goal of securing a high-return job after graduation, making career preparation an essential part of their education. Of the Class of 2028 student body, 19% are first-generation college students, and a portion of them will inevitably join the approximately 50% of the class expected to enter finance or consulting. For first-generation students, access to career opportunities in these fields is especially
Penn’s AI policy vacuum
transformative. These industries provide access to professional networks and financial stability, which are particularly meaningful for students and their families who have experienced lifelong financial stress.
While some might say this detracts from the idyllic and adventurous college experience, that perspective often comes from a place of privilege. Those who criticize careerism’s impact on college culture generally have safety nets that allow them to view college as a time for exploration rather than preparation.
Still, for all students, preprofessionalism is a tool that ensures preparation for post-graduate life, regardless of major or background. In fact, college can still be a time for exploration without the tradeoff of professionalism.
At my first networking event, I spent the entire time talking to a recruiter about an interesting Urban Studies course I had taken.
After countless conversations about the same classes and extracurriculars that I assumed were the only topics relevant to recruiting, it was refreshing to have a meaningful discussion about something I was genuinely passionate about in a professional setting.
This isn’t to say urban studies is not professional, but rather, traditionally lucrative majors such as finance or engineering seemingly dominate the careerist path. However, the interaction at the networking event demonstrates that we have the opportunity to pursue any major and still succeed however we wish, because of the professionalism tied to our University. An Ivy League degree can typically speak for itself.
Even so, this is not the consensus from the general public, who mostly consider certain majors to be the only path to success.
Viral videos on TikTok about New York
ELO’S ENTRIES | Why we need a standardized AI policy
In my writing seminar class, I participated in the program’s first of three surveys about AI use for written assignments. The initiative was refreshing: It was the first time that I had heard about a thoughtful investigation into how AI intersects with something as deeply personal as writing at Penn. But as I reviewed the questions that tried to contextualize each participant, a more pressing question emerged: What exactly is Penn’s AI policy? It surprised me to realize that I wasn’t really sure, even though I’m a student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Penn’s existing AI policies, released in November 2023 — a lifetime ago in AI terms – highlight this problem. The current guidelines primarily defer to the Code of Student Conduct and Code of Academic Integrity, using vague language about treating AI assistance similarly to “assistance from another person.” This ambiguous approach, with terms like “guidance” and references to individual course policies, creates more questions than answers. When does AI “assistance” cross the line? How do we properly attribute AI contributions? The lack of concrete standards leaves both students and faculty navigating a gray area.
This disparity isn’t surprising given Penn’s current approach to AI policy, where guidelines vary significantly between departments and schools. The inconsistency is striking: In my multivariable calculus course, we were actively encouraged to use a specialized GPT (developed by the professor) for problem explanations. A Wharton tech industry
course even dedicated 20% of the grade to AI-focused assignments. Yet my mathematical applications in computer science class not only banned AI tools entirely but also emphasized severe penalties for their use.
This challenge isn’t unique to Penn — most universities maintain similarly vague policies around AI use. However, as an institution that prides itself on innovation and forward thinking, Penn has an opportunity to lead rather than follow. We should be setting the standard for thoughtful, comprehensive AI education policies that other universities emulate.
The capabilities and many limitations of modern AI tools make this policy vacuum particularly problematic. ChatGPT and similar systems have demonstrated remarkable abilities — from passing complex professional exams to generating sophisticated code and analysis in a fraction of the time it would take a human. However, many generative AI tools still make mistakes. At the end of the day, large language models are just very good at predicting which words work best next to each other. This makes AI literacy an essential skill that can only be developed with a concrete AI policy. So we have to ask ourselves: Why isn’t Penn leading the charge on clear AI policies? Well, there are many valid reasons. AI tools are evolving at a rapid pace that makes it difficult for countries and governments, much less universities, to keep up. Additionally, there’s a tension between encouraging academic freedom and preventing misuse; professors may be hesitant to impose strict guidelines that
inclusion policies, what we can be certain of is that we, along with our classmates, will be affected in one way or the other. Obviously, it is not possible that the majority of the student body is politically unaware or wholly apathetic; Penn is not so polarized. In this previous year there were multiple protests, an encampment, and an annoying number of people on Locust Walk asking me if I was registered to vote in the election. Criticizing the government is a longstanding American tradition, but with schoolwork, clubs and our personal affairs, it can become far too easy to look the other way. No one is claiming to know exactly what will happen in the next four years or the next month or even the next hour. No one is saying that we should all join our Democratic Party chapter or become full-time activists, but the least we can do is care — even when caring becomes difficult. The consequences do not disappear simply because we choose not to think about them. These new issues that concern our future may remain out of sight, but they are never out of mind.
is a College sophomore studying sociology from Bergenfield, N.J. Her email address is lmuneton@sas.upenn.edu.
could stifle creativity or experimentation.
Therefore, without clear guidelines, students find themselves in an uncomfortable position of uncertainty. Some use AI tools discreetly, worried about potential consequences but feeling disadvantaged if they don’t utilize resources their peers might be using. Others spend dozens of dollars a month to access premium AI products. This unregulated use of AI not only creates an uneven playing field but also undermines the development of critical thinking skills that should be central to our education.
The solution isn’t to implement blanket restrictions or allow unlimited AI use. Instead, Penn needs thoughtful, standardized policies that target plagiarism and emphasize transparency and equity. That way, both the potential and limitations of AI in education are recognized. These policies should be developed with student participation, incorporating our experiences and perspectives as the primary users of these tools in an academic setting.
The reality is that AI isn’t just another passing technological trend — it’s reshaping the professional landscape we’re preparing to enter. Law firms are already using AI for research and document review. Consulting firms are leveraging AI for data analysis. Meanwhile, a wave of startups are building entire business models around AI capabilities. By failing to establish clear policies for AI usage in education, we’re not just creating current confusion, we’re potentially hampering our future workplace readiness. You’ve
University’s concentrations are filled with comments questioning what students could do with these untraditional academic backgrounds. The NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study allows students to design unique concentrations, much like Penn’s uncoordinated dual degree programs, through which students can immerse themselves in interdisciplinary curriculums. This integrative perspective provides the opportunity to explore without any careerist compromise.
At an esteemed institution like NYU, as well as one like Penn, students can pursue any academic path and know how to market those skills in any industry. You can be a premed student and pick up a fine arts minor or do a double major in gender, sexuality, and women’s studies and sociology. Try picking up a religious studies class simply because you are interested, or concentrate in finance with a minor in urban studies. The opportunities are vast, and careerism is never going to be a limiting factor.
While at times it might seem burdensome and overwhelming to think about postgraduation plans so early on in college, the long-term benefits of a careerist undergraduate experience far outweigh the short-term longing for a more leisurely one.
A careerist environment doesn’t stifle passion: It enables students to turn their passions into sustainable, fulfilling careers.
TIWARI is a College sophomore studying philosophy, politics, and economics from Corning, N.Y. Her email address is ashti@sas.upenn. edu.
probably heard the term “preprofessional” more times than you can count at Penn, but it still holds weight. It is important for every college student to know how we can use AI in an ethical, effective way for the workplace, particularly at a school that puts an emphasis on our professional future. This knowledge can only begin in the classroom.
Penn has always prided itself on preparing students for the future. Now, it’s time to acknowledge that this future includes AI. We need standardized policies that reflect this reality, because while we debate and delay, the AI revolution isn’t waiting for permission to transform education.
ELO ESALOMI is an Engineering first year from London. Her email is eloe@ seas.upenn.edu.
LINDSAY MUNETON
ASHTI
JACKSON FORD | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
Columnist Elo Esalomi reflects on the inconsistent AI policies at the University.
They said it was the perfect plan. They called it “urban renewal” and “redevelopment.” They brought in new academic buildings, shops, and restaurants. They also displaced over 7,000 people. We all know this story. There is ever-increasing awareness about Penn’s violent history of gentrification, especially after developers announced the demolition of the University City Townhomes last year. Penn students were instrumental in protesting this stream of evictions, as was the community at large. While the townhomes were ultimately not spared, these protests did contribute to the allocation of a portion of that land to permanently affordable housing complexes, along with some compensation for the victims’ cost of relocation. And during this fight, students didn’t hesitate to hold Penn accountable for its previous encroachment on their community.
All of this to say, Penn students are some of the University’s biggest critics. We know our institution has caused horrible problems and has harmed countless people. We blame it for its problematic historical and present actions daily. But we still go here. So does that fact make us at all accountable for those actions?
It’s true that Penn started gentrifying long before any of us were born. Its greatest violation was in the 1960s, during which Penn spearheaded the destruction of the Black Bottom neighborhood, upon which the UC Townhomes were later built as a consolation prize. Collaborating with other institutions of higher education, including Drexel University, Penn formed the West Philadelphia Corporation. This group identified the Black Bottom as a “blighted” neighborhood they would work to “revitalize.”
The WPC seized buildings from Walnut Street to Lancaster Avenue under eminent domain: the taking of private property for public use. But it wasn’t for public use. It was for private use — our private use. And it certainly didn’t benefit the common good.
People were pushed out of their homes. We got high-rise dorms. Children were forced to change schools. We’ll be getting more retail locations. The list goes on, and it makes one thing perfectly clear: When West Philadelphia loses, we gain. Being at Penn means adopting a kind of cognitive dissonance. Many of us know the history of this institution — the way it has stepped on and pushed out the people to whom this neighborhood truly belongs. Still, we benefit from that displacement. How, as Penn students, can we square that? Sure, none of us are singlehandedly responsible for Penn’s actions. If we weren’t students here, other people would be. It would all still be the same. But it gets to be a slippery slope when we are the beneficiaries of an institution that harms its own community. Can we in good faith criticize a system that we actively participate in?
This is something I have thought about a lot, and I have come to the conclusion that we can. And more than that, we must. Every day, we walk streets that
are not ours. We enter buildings constructed on top of graveyards. We live on bloody land seized under false pretenses. And for that, we owe something. We owe every single person whose loss has been our gain. We owe it in our time here at Penn and in our futures afterward — when we use this education to do something good in the world. That is the only way we can justify being here. Right now, as students, we have somewhat of a voice. We have the power to threaten the school’s image and that carries weight. This is evident in our history. The UC Townhomes partial victory, made possible in part by the activism of Penn students, is not the first student action to secure wins in public
housing. Back in 1969, Penn students staged a 250person sit-in at College Hall, resulting in a $10 million commitment for affordable housing from the University. There have always been activists among us. There have always been people who care.
So while we’re here, we need to pressure Penn to do more. Because Penn can do more. We have the sixth-largest endowment of any school in the country. While the University may claim they are taking steps to “enhance” West Philadelphia’s residential communities, these attempts are largely symbolic and almost always self-serving. They are not enough and do not come close to rectifying the damage caused by Penn. Just because we didn’t personally terrorize West
Philadelphia doesn’t mean we don’t have a hand in Penn’s atrocities. By being students here, we do. And so we have to counteract that by remaining aware of and opposed to the cruel actions of this institution. Then, we have to keep that attitude in our lives after Penn, using what we learned here. If we don’t, our time at this University will be an act of violence and nothing else.
INGRID HOLMQUIST is a College sophomore studying urban studies from Silver Spring, Md. Her email address is ingridhh@sas.upenn.edu.
OSCAR VASQUEZ | DP FILE PHOTO
Columnist Ingrid Holmquist explains the contradiction between reaping the benefits of
community.
and expression, and respect,” the administrators wrote. “We understand that the revisions to federal laws and regulations can be troubling when they change rapidly.”
Penn’s new “Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Statement” — which will replace the previous “Nondiscrimination Statement” — stated that Penn “seeks talented students, faculty, and staff with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.” The prior version also included that the University “values diversity.”
Additionally, Penn’s “Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy” will be renamed to the “Policy on Equal Opportunity.” The previous policy contained multiple references to “affirmative action,” but there are no such references in the new policy.
While the old policy stated that Penn’s “special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community” and that “diversity is prized at Penn as a central component of its mission,” the new policy reads that “special character is reflected in the wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of the Penn community.” The revised policy does not include the word “diversity.”
Last week, Penn’s School of Dental Medicine and Stuart Weitzman School of Design appeared to have shut down central offices and initiatives related to DEI.
The Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Graduate Student Center, and Office
of Postdoctoral Affairs have also renamed offices, initiatives, and web pages related to DEI to eliminate references to “diversity,” minorities, and “underrepresented” students. The DP could not immediately confirm when these changes occurred.
The DEI page for the Wharton School has been scrubbed, and the Penn Libraries DEI website is no longer active. Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website has been relabeled to the Cora Ingrum Center for Community and Outreach, and all former DEI initiatives for the school now redirect to the same page.
Additionally, nearly all references to diversity have been removed from the website for the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty, including bias training and the University’s policy on affirmative action.
At the Engineering School, the Cora Ingrum Center for Community and Outreach replaced the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as of Feb. 11, and the word “diversity” was replaced with “community” in the website URL. Staff titles were also altered to remove the words “diversity,” “equity,” “inclusion,” and other related terms.
The Wharton School’s page on diversity, equity, and inclusion was put under review on Feb. 12. While the page was formerly attributed to the Wharton School’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, it now only reads “The Wharton School.”
“A commitment to equal opportunity has long been a guiding principle of the Wharton School,” the new Wharton website reads. “We have initiated a review of our efforts in this area to ensure they are fully consistent with the new guidance established by the federal government.”
Ad hoc committee finds Penn Police acted with ‘professionalism’ in October search warrant execution
The committee formed followed public backlash in response to the execution of a search warrant in October 2024
DANIYA
SIDDIQUI Staff Reporter
An ad hoc committee of Penn’s Division of Public Safety Advisory Board concluded that Penn Police Department followed all legal and procedural guidelines when executing a search warrant at an off-campus residence that belonged to pro-Palestinian student activists in October.
The ad hoc committee was formed at the request of Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli and Vice President for Public Safety
Kathleen Shields Anderson to assess “whether all policies and procedures were followed” and if the search warrant execution process needed “recommendations for improvements.” The formation of the committee followed public backlash in response the execution of the October warrant.
A spokesperson for DPS wrote to The Daily Pennsylvanian that they would “like to thank the committee for their dedicated time on the report.”
After reviewing body camera footage, operational policies, and legal guidelines, the committee unanimously found that Penn Police officers acted professionally and within protocol. They also agreed that the officers and detectives acted “with courtesy and professionalism” and that the manner of the search warrant’s execution was “reasonable and appropriate.”
“The committee also observed that officers and detectives followed all rules and policies
Author spotlights Black nurses of tuberculosis epidemic at Barbara Bates Center book talk
The story of the Black nurses who stepped up to treat the tuberculosis epidemic in New York at Sea View Hospital in Staten Island is dictated in Maria Smilios’ new book.
SARAH SHAHED Contributing Reporter
On Feb. 12, author Maria Smilios visited Penn to present her book featuring the stories of Black nurses who worked during the tuberculosis epidemic of the 1900s.
At the event, which took place virtually through the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing, Smilios told the story of the Black nurses who stepped up to treat the tuberculosis epidemic in New York at Sea View Hospital in Staten Island, as dictated in her book “The Black Angels: The Untold Story of the Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis.”
Among the featured participants was 93-yearold Virginia Allen, a former nurse at the Sea View Hospital, who joined the event to recount her experience working with Smilios.
Smilios described how, as tuberculosis was rapidly spreading throughout New York, city officials established Sea View Hospital for treatment of the disease. She went on to describe how white nurses — concerned about the danger of the disease — either transferred or quit, and Black nurses — mostly recruited from the Jim Crow South — took the opportunity to fill those vacancies.
“It was my first job, and it felt like a dream come true,” Allen said. “And at that time, I didn’t realize I was only making pennies. Nurses back then were highly professional, but we weren’t recognized or respected as such.”
As a native New Yorker and “history lover,” Smilios said she wanted to share the stories of these women and give a voice to tuberculosis patients. Although she faced the challenge of having nearly no historical archives to search through, she obtained several oral sources, including Allen.
At the event, Allen recounted starting as a nurse at Sea View Hospital alongside her aunt.
Although she did not fully understand the dangers of treating patients with a highly contagious and harmful disease, she wanted to take an “opportunity to get paid to do what [she] loved.”
“What truly matters is the care and connection we provide to our patients and their families. … It’s something no price tag can capture, despite the attempts of the healthcare corporations to commodify every aspect of care,” Allen added.
In an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian, event organizer and Curator of the Barbara Bates Center Jessica Martucci said that she chose Smilios as the speaker because she wanted the audience to “take away an understanding that nursing history is relevant to them, regardless or not if they’re a nurse.”
“We’ve all been impacted by nursing as a profession, as a field, whether individually, in our own care, through the care of loved ones, or just in the way that our healthcare system is structured,” Martucci added.
During the webinar, Smilios said that she wrote her book to “give voice to these people who were silenced” and to tell the story of these nurses who “because of their skin color, were also seen as unworthy and expendable … and had been erased from history for 80 years.”
“The Black Angels” is a story about many things — health inequalities, stigmas, sickness, systemic and institutional racism — but at its heart, it’s about an exceptional group of women,” she said.
Martucci echoed Smilios’ sentiment, adding that she hoped the “people can take away the idea that our history is very much still incomplete, that there are still stories out there that have not been brought to the surface.”
with respect to the individual who was the subject of the search warrant,” the report stated.
Despite these findings, the committee acknowledged “the impact” caused by the execution of the warrant.
“A police action occurring inside of a home is potentially surprising and unsettling to residents,” the report reads. “While our review of the video shows that officers took steps to minimize disruption, it is impossible to completely remove the potential for discomfort and even fear surrounding this kind of police action.”
The committee also wrote that there is an opportunity for “greater transparency” and for changes that can “help ensure the community’s trust” in the department.
Their report included several “recommendations” to the search warrant execution process including final approval from the vice president for public safety and the chief of police prior to the execution of a search warrant and an annual report from the DPS Advisory Board detailing the number of executed search warrants for the year.
“Our goal with these recommendations is to consolidate oversight of policies, procedures, and training and to encourage the continued consideration of the community impact resulting from police actions,” the statement read.
According to a recent review by the Department of Public Safety Advisory Board’s ad hoc committee on search warrant execution, Penn Police followed all legal and procedural guidelines when executing a search warrant at an off-campus residence belonging to student activists.
The ad hoc committee was composed of five members of the larger DPS Advisory Board and met on four occasions, according to the report.
The DP previously reported that three search warrants — one served on Sept. 24, 2024 and two on Oct. 18, 2024 — led to the Oct. 18, 2024 search of the off-campus student residence. The residence was searched in connection with the investigation of the vandalism of the Benjamin Franklin statue on College Green in September 2024. Penn Police used phone records, digital data, and CCTV footage to investigate the vandalism. Penn Police also electronically served a search warrant to T-Mobile — the student’s cell phone
carrier — to request access to “call detail records,” location data, subscriber information, and cloud storage associated with the student’s phone number.
The execution of the warrant sparked concerns among several campus groups.
Penn’s chapter of Faculty for Justice in Palestine started a petition demanding an investigation into the search, a repeal of new protest guidelines, and a vote of no confidence in University administrators. The executive committee of Penn’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors also condemned the University’s actions in a statement published Oct. 26, 2024.
ABHIRAM JUVVADI | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JEAN PARK | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Penn introduced major changes to its longstanding University-wide nondiscrimination and affirmative action policies on Feb. 11.
ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL | DP FILE PHOTO
The Nursing School hosted author Maria Smilios to present her book on Feb. 12.
Most Valuable Player award after throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns while adding 72 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
As the game clock reached zero, thousands from across the city flocked to Broad Street to celebrate the Birds’ victory, including many Penn students. Among them were Philadelphia natives, lifelong Eagles fans, and those new to American football as a sport. But in the moment, one feeling united them all: joy.
“I never expected to be in school in Philadelphia, and I never expected the Eagles to go to two Super Bowls,” College junior Krystof Purtell, a lifelong Eagles fan, told The Daily Pennsylvanian. “But here we are. I feel like I’m in a dream and I’m gonna wake up any moment.”
“The last time we won the Super Bowl, I was in middle school, and I never went to the parade,” Engineering sophomore Paree Pasi, a Philadelphia native, said. “It was really nice to be at Penn and celebrate with my friends.”
“I’m from Europe — I can’t believe I came to Philadelphia and we won the Super Bowl in my four years. Insane,” College senior and Penn track and field jumper Benedikt Sachta, who hails from the Czech Republic, said. “[I’ve been a football fan for] the past two years. I finally understood the rules, and I love it now.”
By defeating Kansas City, the Eagles prevented the Chiefs from becoming the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls. That run began with 2023’s Super Bowl LVII, during which the Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35.
This year’s game went the Eagles’ way from the opening quarter. After a dominant two-way performance saw them open up a 24-0 halftime lead, Philadelphia continued to control the game into the third quarter, highlighted by a 46-yard touchdown strike from Hurts to wide receiver DeVonta Smith to put the Eagles up 34-0. At that point, the flow of people toward Center City began, with the result only a matter of time on the clock.
Penn students on Broad Street on Sunday night were already anticipating the cancelation of classes prior to the University’s official announcement on Wednesday.
“That’s maybe 90% of the reason I was cheering, I’m going to be honest,” Engineering sophomore Joe MacDougall said with a smile.
“[This win] means everything to me — I don’t have to take my test,” College junior Kailey Ayisi said.
In a message to the Penn community on Wednesday afternoon, Provost John Jackson Jr. and Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli EAGLES, from front page
announced the cancelation of all classes and University-sponsored events on Friday, citing the large crowds expected to flock to Philadelphia for the parade. Penn follows Drexel University and Temple University in making the call.
The decision mirrors Penn’s 2018 call to suspend University operations for the victory parade celebrating the Eagles’ first Super Bowl win against the New England Patriots.
Jackson and Carnaroli emphasized that the City of Philadelphia is expecting “sizable crowds” to attend Friday’s parade, referencing the approximately 3 million attendees at the 2018 victory parade. To manage the crowds of people traveling to and from the parade, SEPTA and PATCO have also modified their services on Friday.
“The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and patients is always our number one goal,” Jackson and Carnaroli wrote.
Employees designated as “essential” — including all University of Pennsylvania Health System physicians and staff — are still required to work on Friday. Fully online academic programs may also follow “different closing decisions,” according to the announcement.
“Should you choose to attend the parade, please keep in mind the changes to public transportation and road closures that will impact access to Center City and West Philadelphia,” Jackson and Carnaroli wrote. “We encourage everyone to stay safe, act responsibly and be respectful of our campus and surrounding community as we all celebrate this great moment together as ambassadors for Penn.”
“Fly, Eagles, Fly,” the message concluded.
The scene at Broad Street on Sunday was bedlam for a city that prides itself on its sport spirit. Crowds gathered around City Hall and the surrounding area, setting off fireworks and breaking out in a series of chants including the team’s famed “E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!” cry. It was a similar sight to the Eagles’ last Super Bowl win, when Center City was also swept into pandemonium.
For a franchise that has existed since 1933, it was a moment of magnitude, with a second Super Bowl title coming just seven years after the first.
And for a city that has loved its Birds through thick and thin, it was a moment of camaraderie, with Philadelphians from all walks of life coming together under the confetti.
“This win means a lot. It means a lot for the city,” MacDougall said. “This is truly magical. There’s something about this city. It brings everyone together.”
“I was originally born in Chicago,” Wharton first year Ayan Sayani said. “But today, I was born in Philadelphia.”
Sports Editors Valeri Guevarra and Sean McKeown, deputy sports editor Justin Lee, and staff reporters Anvi Sehgal and Ayana Chari contributed reporting to this story.
Running it back: Previewing the No. 12 women’s lacrosse season
The Red and Blue look to build off of their previous season, during which they reached the NCAA Tournament quarterfnals
KRISTEL RAMBAUD
Senior Sports Reporter
It’s time to accept the facts: Penn is a lacrosse school. Look no further than the previous successes of the women’s lacrosse team, which is led by coach Karin Corbett in her 26th season. Last season, the Quakers knocked off No. 1 Maryland — the first win over a No. 1 seed since 2008 — and later advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. Their prowess, especially in non-conference play, earned them a No. 12 national ranking last year.
This spring, Penn will face the titans of the lacrosse world, the first of which will be No. 10 Johns Hopkins on the road. The team will also travel to play No. 4 Michigan, who beat Penn in a defensive stalemate last year, and No. 16 Loyola Maryland, who Penn handily defeated 13-6. The team’s faceoff against No. 7 Maryland will be its one nonconference ranked matchup at home.
Penn isn’t the only Ivy League team in the
national rankings. Yale is ranked No. 8, and Princeton sits not too far behind Penn at No. 17. These are the only two Ivy teams that defeated Penn last season. In the finals of the Ivy League Tournament, Yale surged a comeback against Penn to send the game to overtime and win 9-10.
The Ivy League rankings reflect Yale’s 2024 victory over Penn: Yale sits at No. 1 and Penn sits at No. 2. Yale received 13 first-place votes while Penn only received two.
From a personnel perspective, the Quakers will look a little different from last year due to multiple key players graduating.
The 2024 graduating class included multiple mainstays on their defensive unit such as the former two-time unanimous Ivy League Defender of the Year Izzy Rohr and 2023 second team All-Ivy goalkeeper Kelly Van Hoesen.
The new blood on the defense will need to step
Lia Thomas’ NCAA title, Ivy League records under threat following letter from Department of Education
Thomas, a former Penn swimmer and transgender woman, may be affected by sweeping NCAA policy changes
VALERI GUEVARRA AND SEAN MCKEOWN Sports Editors
The United States Department of Education sent a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker and National Federation of State High School Associations President Bob Lombardi urging them to reallocate titles and awards earned by transgender athletes on Tuesday.
The letter comes in the wake of 1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump’s “Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order and the NCAA’s ensuing policy change that barred transgender womwen from women’s sports.
“The NCAA and NFHS must not only prospectively protect female categories in sports, but also restore to female athletes all records, titles, awards, and recognitions wrongfully credited to male athletes.” Candice Jackson, deputy counsel in the DOE’s Office of General Counsel, wrote in a letter addressed to the presidents of the NCAA and NFSHSA.
Baker previously stated that the NCAA intends to “take necessary steps to align NCAA policy” in accordance with Trump’s previous executive order. The DOE urges the reallocation of accolades won by transgender athletes as a “corollary.”
2022 College graduate and transgender woman Lia
Thomas represented Penn women’s swimming and diving during the 2021-22 swimming season and collected multiple accolades at the conference and national level, including an NCAA championship and three
up. The defensive unit will likely feature freshman goalkeeper Orly Sedransk, who graduated high school as the top goalie in the United States and the No. 11 overall recruit in the country.
Similarly, many offensive stars graduated. The Quakers no longer have Niki Miles — the 2023 unanimous Ivy League Attacker of the Year. In 2023, Miles set the program record for 63 goals in a single season.
But don’t think Penn has lost all its firepower.
Coming back for one final campaign for the Red and Blue is senior attacker Erika Chung. Chung was named to the Preseason Honorable Mention AllAmerica list by USA Lacrosse. She finished last season with a team-leading 52 assists and joined the 100-point club. In total, she has 93 assists, putting her at fourth on the program’s all-time record books.
Senior midfielder Anna Brandt is also back and looking to make her mark in the history books. With 138 goals to her name, she needs just 11 goals
individual Ivy League titles. Thomas also has numerous Ivy League and program records that are all at risk of being eliminated from the record books.
“Please. Start with the record board at the University of Pennsylvania because every freestyle record is currently held by a MAN,” 2022 College graduate Paula Scanlan — Thomas’ former teammate and a women’s sports activist — wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Thomas currently holds three of the six Penn women’s swimming and diving individual freestyle records. The DOE also recently announced an investigation into Penn and other institutions for allegedly violating Title IX for allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports. The day before the investigation was announced, three former swimmers filed a
to become the all-time leading goal scorer in program history. Averaging about three goals per game for the past two seasons, she is on track to break the record by her fourth game — leaving 11 games left to play.
Brandt has put the nation on notice: She’s been named a first team Preseason USA Lacrosse All-American and second team Preseason AllAmerican by Inside Lacrosse. Highest of them all, Brandt has been named to the 2025 Tewaaraton Award Watch List.
Brandt is one of five captains for the 2025 campaign. The all-senior captain lineup also includes attacker Keeley Block, defender Grace Lillis, midfielder Gracie Smith, and defender Natasha Gorriaran. Both Block and Gorriaran previously received honorable mention All-Ivy recognition. There are now only a few more days between the Quakers and their 2025 campaign. They’ll be playing the best of the best all season long — time to see where the Quakers stand among them.
KYLIE COOPER | DP FILE PHOTO
Thomas finishes a race against Brown on Feb. 13, 2021.
SYDNEY CURRAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Freshman defender Liv Comerford looks to pass against Northwestern on May 16, 2024.
Women’s tennis places seventh at ECAC Indoor Championships ahead of conference slate
With the Ivy League season on the horizon, the women’s tennis team got a preview of three teams in the Ancient Eight
SONAL SUKHATME
Sports Associate
Seven is not the luckiest number.
Coming into the tournament with a solid 3-2 spring record, the Quakers were the third seed. However, even with the home-court advantage, the team finished in seventh place — the same as they did last year.
Penn women’s tennis team faced off against three different Ivy teams this weekend at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Women’s Indoor Championship — previewing what is to come later in the spring season.
Throughout the tournament, freshman Lara Stojanovski stood out — winning all her singles matches in straight sets and winning two of her doubles matches with junior partner Maya Urata.
Assistant coach Pino He highlighted how her security from any place on the court makes it hard for opponents to get a point off her.
“She’s outstanding on the court,” He said.
Another player who shined throughout the tournament was senior Eileen Wang. She either won or led in all of her singles matches. In her match against Cornell’s Michelle Ryndin, Wang narrowly won the first set 7-5 before losing the second 6-4. It was her ability to adjust after this challenge and adapt to the opponent mixing up her pace that allowed her to come back and take control of the third set at 5-1.
The team’s first matchup was against Yale, where the Bulldogs narrowly beat the Quakers, 4-3. The day started strong with Penn winning the doubles point after wins from the doubles teams of Stojanovski and Urata and sophomore Sasha Motlagh and senior Gavriella Smith.
Moving onto singles, the momentum continued with Wang shutting out Yale’s Mirabelle Brettkelly — winning 6-0. Furthering Penn’s lead, Stojanovski defeated Shyla Aggarwal in straight sets.
After being up 3-0 overall to last year’s secondplace winners, Penn’s lead dwindled as senior
Sabine Rutlauka, along with Smith, and Motlagh all lost in straight sets.
These losses tied up the score — putting the pressure on Urata to win her singles game against Yale’s Angela Huang. Urata lost the first set but was able to come back and take the second, putting everything on the third and final set. Unfortunately, Urata was unable to convert, falling 6-1 to Huang.
Following the first day of play, Rutlauka retired from the tournament due to an injury — joining sophomore Esha Velaga, who was out with an illness, off the court.
“We don’t want to risk [Rutlauka and Velaga]. [They’re] not seriously injured, but we want to save them for the future big tournament,” He said.
On the second day of the tournament, Penn faced off against Cornell, a team which ended up being another tight matchup. After losing the doubles point, Stojanovski responded with a decisive straight-set victory against Victoria Zhao, making the score 1-1. The teams alternately won and lost — with Penn senior Saige Roshkoff losing her match and Motlagh winning hers. The Big Red took the lead once again as Urata fell to Cornell’s Hoi Ki Jenny, taking the score to 3-2.
The last two matches were being played simultaneously, while the rest of the team watched and cheered in anticipation. Smith dropped the first set but was able to rally to win the second to force a third. Wang won her first set against Ryndin, 7-5, but after, Ryndin defeated Wang in the second set. The two battled in the third set, but the match was abandoned after Smith was defeated by Cornell’s Sage Loudon. This took the final score to 4-2 — with Cornell walking away with the win.
On the final day of competition, Penn battled Brown for seventh place. Penn easily won the first two doubles matches of the day — allowing them to move swiftly on to singles. All of the singles
Men’s squash wins Ivy League Championship after victory over Princeton
Men’s and women’s squash both defeated Princeton over the weekend
TYLER RINGHOFER
Deputy Sports Editor
You win some and you lose none.
On Sunday, No. 1 Penn men’s squash (16-0, 6-0 Ivy) triumphed over No. 2 Princeton (9-1, 5-1) by a final score of 6-3 in a clash between the two best teams in the nation.
The victory marked the sixth Ivy championship for the men’s team in history and its third in the past four seasons. Speaking of records, the Quakers went undefeated en route to the championship, marking the third time in program history that they went undefeated in regular-season play.
“I am so proud of the group for winning backto-back Ivy titles,” coach Gilly Lane wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian. “Princeton started out strong in the first shift and I am really proud of how the boys fought to get two wins in the first shift and set the tone for the rest of the day.”
On a day that will be remembered in Philadelphia due to the Eagles securing their second Super Bowl win, Penn also had some hardware to take home. Led by the College Squash Association Individuals champion sophomore Salman Khalil playing out of the first position, the Quakers never looked back in their matchups last weekend. Playing under the mantra of their undefeated record, the Red and Blue imposed their will against their stiffest competition and foe.
“Last year’s loss to [Princeton] left a scar, but I can now say I have healed,” Khalil wrote in a statement to the DP. “Would’ve loved to say the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory. But rivals couldn’t put up a battle.”
The Red and Blue got off to a quick start, taking a 2-1 lead after senior Nick Spizzirri and sophomore Varun Chitturi each won their respective matches in four games. Playing out of the second and eighth positions respectively, the duo got off to a promising start. In the second wave of matches, the Quakers had a choke hold on the championship with straight-set
wins by senior Nathan Kueh and junior Omar Hafez.
With Penn one win away from the title, it was left up to senior Abdelrahman Dweek’s matchup against Princeton’s Aly Ibrahim. Despite holding a 2-1 lead, Ibrahim stormed back and defeated Dweek 3-2, leaving the Quakers still a win away.
Needing five points to secure the championship, freshman Marwan Abdelsalam took over his game and left no doubt, winning his match in straight sets and securing the Quakers’ victory — continuing a stellar undefeated season. It wasn’t like the Quakers weren’t tested: They played some of the top teams in the country, including Trinity, Yale, and, of course, Princeton.
“Winning [the] Ivy championships is hard, and the group deserves this one because of the work they have put in this year,” Lane wrote. “We are going to enjoy this for a short time and then it is time to focus on Drexel and the nationals coming up [in] the weeks ahead.”
Penn women’s squash also had a very impressive showing on Sunday, notably also defeating Princeton. No. 5 Penn (12-3, 5-1) defeated No. 3 Princeton (9-2, 4-2) in a closely contested match. The Quakers were able to prevail over the Tigers with clutch performances throughout, most notably by senior Yoshna Singh playing out of the seventh position. With Singh’s win, the Red and Blue were able to clinch a victory in the second wave.
The best game of the day came on the main court when sophomore Malak Khafagy almost defeated CSA Individuals champion Zeina Zein of Princeton. Going to a showdown in the third game, Zein outlasted an exhausted Khafagy, who gave everything she had.
Looking ahead, the CSA National Championships will be held just across 33rd Street at the Arlen Specter U.S. Squash Center at Drexel. Playing again in their home city, Penn’s and Drexel’s squash teams will look to continue their dominant performances.
matches were completed in straight sets, except the last which was cut off because of Penn’s win.
Smith finished her match first, winning 6-3 and 6-1, but her success was followed by losses for the Quakers. Now tied at 2-2, the team came back with two wins from Wang and Stojanovski, putting Penn over the threshold to lock in seventh place.
“They’re very resilient,” He said when asked about coming back for a win after two straight losses. “We’re so focused on ourselves … and
every player is focused on staying on top of it.” While taking seventh place might not have been the team’s goal coming into the tournament, the spring season is only just beginning. The ECAC allowed the players to play against the rest of the Ivy League before the Ivy season starts at the end of March.
The team heads down to Florida to battle Central Florida on Feb. 23 before returning to play Lehigh at Hecht Tennis Center the following week.
JULIA VAN LARE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Hafez celebrates during a match against Princeton on Feb. 4, 2023.
GRACE CHEN | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Velaga serves against Cornell on Apr. 5, 2024.
Freshman guard Sarah Miller’s dedication to self-improvement drives her to the top
Miller had a breakout game against La Salle, draining 5-of-6 three-pointers
SAMANTHA WICKHAM
Sports Associate
The hot Arizona sun beamed down on the pavement, daring anyone to keep moving beneath its weight. But freshman guard Sarah Miller didn’t flinch. She dribbled and shot under the unforgiving sun, determined to put in the hours and better her game.
From those first sweat-drenched afternoons in her hometown to a standout freshman season at Penn, Miller’s journey has been one of quiet determination marked by grand ambitions — but above all, an obsession with progress. To Miller, every shot, every practice, every game is an opportunity to outdo the version of herself from the day before.
What started as a pastime soon became a pursuit.
From practicing in the scorching heat in her hometown of Phoenix — with no intention to pursue basketball seriously and just looking for something new to try — to putting up double-digit stats as a freshman this year, Miller’s journey with basketball is a testament to the power of persistence. It is a road that proves that dedication and hard work can turn even the most casual beginnings into something extraordinary.
Miller fell in love with self-improvement and committed herself to becoming the best player she could be.
“I do love the game, but rather than loving the game, I just loved how I would get better, and see myself play better each game, each practice, trying to compare myself to myself instead of to anybody else, see if I was better than the last practice or the last game,” Miller said.
Miller didn’t pick up basketball until the fifth grade. She had been into dance and gymnastics but was looking to try something new. This thrill of personal growth is what eventually hooked Miller and led her to a future that now centers around the sport.
“At the time, I just really wanted to get good, so that’s what pushed me to continue doing basketball,” Miller said.
Her investment in the game grew, and she dedicated herself to practicing every day. Above all, she continued to push herself. Entering high school, Miller followed an older player and mentor to Xavier College Preparatory, whose team was struggling with an 18-11 record the previous year. With Miller’s help — putting up 13.5 points a game as a freshman — the team was able to turn around and finish the season 13-4.
“This kid never stops working, she would work before practice, after practice, and [then] some,” Miller’s high school coach Jennifer Gillom said. “She’s always trying to elevate her game. I can just give her one thing to work on, and she’ll go and improve.” Miller noted that basketball was the one sport the school had never seen a state title in, and she had a dream to change that one day. After her first year, the teammate she followed to the school transferred, but Miller decided to stick with it, staying at Xavier for the team, coaching, and dedication to her dream.
After a successful sophomore season, Miller’s aspirations were placed on hold as she suffered an ACL injury and recovered during her junior year. Her dreams and work ethic didn’t falter, though.
“I really kept an optimistic outlook. … I practiced things that I didn’t have the time to practice when I was healthy, like fundamentals of intensely watching film, picking up skills, and just working on becoming more fundamentally sound and increasing my basketball IQ,” Miller said.
For some athletes, an injury can be devastating and create doubt, but Miller stuck with the sport through it all.
“[Miller] said, ‘Coach, I’ll be back, I’ll be back.’ I mean, it was devastating for her, believe me, but I knew this kid — if anyone could come back stronger, she could,” Gillom said.
During Miller’s senior year, the hard work paid off. In 2024, Xavier won the Arizona Open Division State Championship. This moment reflected much of what was to come for Miller.
“I was just so proud of all of us because it just made the things that were so difficult throughout the season so much sweeter, because they were all for a reason,” Miller said.
“That was the start of her believing, believing she can do anything, anything she wants,” Gillom added.
This mindset propelled Miller into a strong start to her freshman season at Penn. Miller is an offensive asset to the Quakers, who are especially reliant on her three-point threat on the perimeter. Miller has been named USBWA National Freshman of the Week as well as Ivy Rookie of the Week following her excellent shooting performance against La Salle in the Big 5 Classic, where she racked up a career-high 21 points. Of course, as with any outside shooter, there are off days. But Miller is far from discouraged.
“I have to trust in the process and know that there’s gonna be ups and there’s gonna be downs,” she said. Miller has already achieved great feats as just a freshman, and with her work ethic and dedication to self-improvement, her potential is limitless.
Forged in Manasquan and sharpened at Penn: Katie Collins is ready for competition
The freshman forward has done nothing but impress early on for the Red and Blue
KRISTEL RAMBAUD Senior Sports Reporter
Under the bright lights of the Jersey Mike’s Arena nearly a year ago, freshman forward Katie Collins had a singular mission: win. Winning meant another New Jersey Group 2 state championship title. Winning meant a second state championship ring. Winning meant solidifying Manasquan as one of the greatest high school programs in the state. And so, she did. Manasquan routed their opponent Madison in a 47-26 victory, a defensive showing anchored by Collins in the paint. Jersey Mike’s Arena was a neutral court, but she made the stadium her house and turned the
debut.
“Everything I thought [about her] kind of matched and then some,” Penn women’s basketball coach Mike McLaughlin said. “She’s a very humble kid — a hardworking, organized, disciplined kid. But on the court, she’s got a high basketball IQ. She competes [in] every play.”
Collins currently leads the league in blocks and is third in rebounding. She has justified the high hopes McLaughlin formed before the season started. Over the summer, Penn traveled to Europe, specifically Italy and Croatia, to play against local teams. Throughout the trip, Collins’ impressive play earned her a spot in the starting lineup in the wake of star forward Jordan Obi’s graduation.
“She came in phenomenal shape and mentally ready to play. She had a great trip over there, and it’s just carried over since this season started,” McLaughlin said.
“Carried over” may be an understatement though. Collins has won Ivy League Rookie of the Week six times so far, the most of any player so far this season. Collins’ success wasn’t born overnight. It was forged in Manasquan, N.J., a basketball town home to one of the most successful public school girls’ basketball programs in New Jersey. That program boasts multiple Division-I alumnae, including Collins’ own Penn teammate junior guard Georgia Heine.
“I was really nervous coming in because I knew that it was a really good team, and they were really good players,” Collins said. “It was definitely intimidating, but I was excited to get the opportunity to compete for them.”
Iron sharpens iron, and playing for Manasquan is proof of that.
“[Manasquan players] are college-ready and that means a lot. They’re surrounded by five, six, seven good college level players on their high school team, so their practices are better … and usually it gives them a better edge to succeed,” McLaughlin said.
Beyond just developing her basketball IQ and her skillset, Manasquan taught her the intangibles of the game — especially composure. Collins learned the importance of level-headedness for staying consistent in the big games, especially against rivals.
The Shore Conference is full of rivalries born over the seasons across public and private school programs. Manasquan has built a name for itself as it’s gone up against powerhouses during conference play, namely both Saint Rose and Saint John Vianney.
“Growing in Manasquan, I always knew that Saint Rose was our rival since I was in fifth grade. So, I grew up in that kind of environment, competitive environment,” Collins said.
These rivalry games are the biggest games, because they amplify the lows of the losses and the highs of the wins. That’s why in senior year, the team’ victory over Saint John Vianney — Manasquan’s first win over the school since before Collins was enrolled — mattered even more.
“They were probably more talented than us, but we came together, and we did what we had to do on defense,” Collins said. “In practice, we knew we had nothing to lose so we went into it thinking we can do it.” Now, she has new rivals to face. She’s been through the gridiron of the Big 5 where she had to stand her ground against Saint Joseph’s and the high-flying duo of forwards Tayla Brugler and Lauren Ziegler. She’s learning it right now with the grit and grind of the Ivy League.
Time will soon tell how Collins will fare in the second half of Ivy League play. But she will embrace the matchup like she’s embraced all the other challenges that have come her way.
“[The season’s] been really fun, and it’s been really exciting. But there’s been ups and downs. And I feel like it’s made me a stronger player, a stronger person, being able to combat things I’ve never dealt with before,” said Collins.
Collins has a long college career ahead of her, but she has the potential to be the next in a long line of star forwards for the Red and Blue. And if she does elevate her name amongst the greats, it won’t be given. It will be earned.
KATE AHN AND LYDIA TONG | SENIOR ILLUSTRATOR AND SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
