February 3, 2022 by The Daily Pennsylvanian

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022 VOL. CXXXVIII NO. 3

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Undergraduate COVID-19 case count nearly triples

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A total of 483 undergraduate students tested positive JONAH MILLER Senior Reporter

Positive COVID-19 cases among undergraduate students skyrocketed during the week from Jan. 23 to Jan. 29, nearly tripling in number from the previous week and ending optimistic trends needed for a return to the normal policy on indoor social gatherings. Among Penn community members, cases declined overall, mirroring trends of lowering cases throughout Philadelphia County. The University wrote on the COVID-19 Dashboard that the surge in cases among undergraduate students is likely linked to the tail end of gateway testing, and that encouraging trends are expected to return next week. A total of 676 community members tested positive for COVID-19 during the week of Jan. 23 to Jan. 29 — up from 484 the week before — breaking a threeweek declining trend in positive cases. The campus-wide COVID-19 positivity rate remained essentially unchanged, reaching 4.72% among all community members during the week from Jan. 23 to Jan. 29. — increasing slightly from 4.21% during the week from Jan. 16 to Jan. 22. The vast majority of positive cases came from the undergraduate community, which composed

483 of the positive tests during the week from Jan. 23 to Jan. undergraduate positivity increased to 9.68% — up from

29. The rate sharply 4.09% last week. In a Feb. 1 email to all Penn students, Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dubé and Vice Provost for University Life Mamta Motwani Accapadi announced that the restriction on indoor social gatherings and event registration remains on hold, citing the doubling of COVID-19 positivity among undergraduate students. The ban was first instituted at the end of the fall 2021 semester. “We are confident that in the coming week or two, positivity rates will decrease to a level that will permit normal operations,” Dubé and Accapadi wrote, adding that they will reassess the on-campus positivity rates on a week-by-week basis to determine whether to permit public gatherings and event registration. Dubé and Accapadi clarified that students are still allowed to gather indoors in order to attend class,

study, spectate at athletic events, and hold meetings and events. All students must follow Penn’s current Public Health Guidance, which requires either doublemasking or using a KN95 or N95 mask when inside all campus buildings and facilities. The University encourages all students to continue utilizing outdoor spaces for daily activities and remain masked when doing so. “We can only imagine how disappointing this decision may be,” Dubé and Accapadi wrote. “Know that these decisions are not easy to make, and we look forward to recapturing this part of the campus experience as soon as it is safe to do so.” More community members took COVID-19 tests in the past week — with a six-week high of 14,321 — as part of the University’s spring semester gateway testing policy. The policy required all students, faculty, staff, and postdoctoral students to receive a COVID-19 test through Penn upon campus arrival through the end of January. Students who have not yet taken a gateway test are at risk of being under registration hold, impacting their ability to select and change courses.

Following the conclusion of the gateway testing program, all students are required to participate in the Penn Cares screening testing program. Fully vaccinated students are required to test once every other week, and unvaccinated community members are required to test twice each week. All community members will have access to COVID-19 tests, which can be taken at Du Bois/ Rodin Field or Houston Hall. Community members who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days are exempt from screening testing but are required to continue reporting symptoms and exposures through PennOpen Pass. The number of students in isolation also decreased for a third consecutive week, dropping from 564 to 426, far lower than the record high of 1,316 during the week from Jan. 9 to Jan. 15. Following a continued expansion of the University’s isolation housing SEE COVID-19 PAGE 2

Penn sophomore Tola Nemomsa dies at 21 Nemomsa was passionate about public health and urban development EMI TUYẾTNHI TRẦN Senior Reporter

College sophomore Tolamariam Nemomsa died last week in his off-campus apartment at the age of 21. SEE NEMOMSA PAGE 2

Feb Club postponed until after spring break due to COVID-19 PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER

Lia Thomas represents the University of Pennsylvania in the swim meet against Dartmouth and Yale on Jan. 8, 2022.

Women’s swimming declares ‘full support’ for Lia Thomas entire Penn team, composed of 39 women with diverse backgrounds,” the team’s statement read. Penn Athletics declined to comment on the women’s swimming SEE THOMAS PAGE 2

SEE FEB CLUB PAGE 3

DOMINIK BONDY Sports Associate

sports. “We want to express our full support for Lia in her transition. We value her as a person, teammate, and friend,” the team said in the Feb. 1 statement, as first reported by ESPN. The statement referred to a Fox News interview with an

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anonymous member of the women’s swimming and diving team who opposes the University’s decision to allow Thomas to compete. “The sentiments put forward by an anonymous member of our team are not representative of the feelings, values, and opinions of the

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ABBY BAGGINI Contributing Reporter

The Penn administration and 2022 Class Board postponed Feb Club — a series of social events for seniors — for the second year in a row due to COVID-19. In an email sent to seniors on Jan. 27, 2022, Class Board President and College senior Sam Strickberger said the celebration will be renamed “Senior Club” and will take place after March 14 when students return from spring break. “The concerns for the administration are about the safety and health of our student body. Our top priority as Class Board is a complete and full celebration of Senior Club,” Strickberger said. “With all we’ve missed, seniors deserve no less. Understanding the restrictions on the

The College senior has been at the center of national controversy regarding the participation of transgender athletes in sports

Penn’s women’s swimming and diving team released a statement on Tuesday expressing support of transgender swimmer and teammate Lia Thomas, the College senior at the center of national controversy regarding the participation of transgender athletes in

The celebration will be renamed “Senior Club” and will take place after March 14

2 NEWS COVID-19 FRONT PAGE

portfolio, on-campus isolation capacity remains high with 60.3% availability — down from 77.2% the prior week. Director of Campus Health Ashlee Halbritter told The Daily Pennsylvanian on Jan. 27 that the University has been responsive to complaints from students living in on-campus isolation housing. Recent changes to the isolation housing experience include termination of the usage of old fraternity and sorority houses, changes in how students in isolation can safely order and receive food, and ensuring that students who need to stay in isolation dorms receive proper moving instructions. Wharton first year Max Matolcsy tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 24 and received same-day guidance via email from Penn with instructions on how to move to isolation housing at the Axis

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022 Apartments. The email included information on what to pack, how to connect to Wi-Fi, and how to order meals. “Since I was living in the Axis Apartments, I was only able to order from Axis Pizza,” Matolcsy said, adding that he was also only allowed two meals a day and both orders had to be placed by 10 a.m. “It’s definitely not enough food to feed a person for a whole day,” said Matolcsy, who said he ended up spending money to get additional food delivered through Uber Eats and ordering groceries to the apartment. “It is very hard to find good, healthy things to eat for five days from a pizza restaurant,” he said. Matolcsy also said the water distribution system was poorly organized. He explained that to get bottled water, he would have to continuously go to the first floor to ask someone for water. On several occasions, they were out of bottled water, and Matolcsy returned to his room with nothing.

THOMAS FRONT PAGE

and diving team in an email to The Daily Pennsylvanian. T h o m a s b r oke s eve r a l records at the Zippy Invitational in December, where she qualified for the NCAA championships after winning the 200 -ya rd and 500 -yard freestyle. Thomas, who has undergone more tha n two years of hormone replacement therapy, made the best times in collegiate women’s swimming for two events this season. Shortly after Thomas’ wins, which led to widespread media coverage, the NCAA delegated rules associated with transgender involvement to each sport’s governing bodies. The newly adopted standard by the NCAA now states that guidelines on the eligibility of transgender athletes will be determined by the national governing body of each

individual sport. Amid the controversy, USA Swim m ing released a new policy on Feb. 1 establishing eligibility guidelines on transgender athletes’ participation in elite events. The policy will apply to transgender athletes who are seeking to set records in the 13-14 age group and older, or those who wish to set American records, according to USA Swimming Rules & Regulations. “The development of the elite policy therefore acknowledges a competitive difference in the male and female categories and the disadvantages this presents in elite head-to-head competition,” USA Swimming said in a statement. T he At h let ic I nclusion, C o m p e t it ive E q u it y a n d Eligibility Policy by USA Swim m ing establishes that t r a n sgend er women must maintain a concentration of testosterone in their serum at

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM

PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER

Lia Thomas represents the University of Pennsylvania in the swim meet against Dartmouth and Yale on Jan. 8, 2022.

less than five nanomoles per liter for at least 36 months before the date of application, and also provide evidence that they do not have a competitive advantage over cisgender female competitors. The Olympic standard for transgender

NEMOMSA FRONT PAGE

PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER

Mourners put photos and candles on the LOVE statue during a vigil to remember Tola Nemomsa on Jan. 30.

In a Jan. 28 email sent on behalf of President Amy Gutmann, Interim Provost Beth Winkelstein, and Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences Steven J. Fluharty, Vice Provost for University Life Mamta Motwani Accapadi informed undergraduate students of Nemomsa’s death. Nemomsa — k nown as “Tola” to family and friends — was passionate about public health and urban development and pursued these studies at Penn. He lived in Hill College House from 2018 to 2019, and W.E.B. Du Bois College House in the fall 2019 semester. “Tola was deeply admired and loved by his peers at Makuu: The Black Cultural Center at Penn,” the email wrote. Nemomsa, who came to Penn from Aurora, Colo., was outspoken about community health. He was selected as a Pre-Health Scholar at the University of Colorado A nschutz Medical Campus prior to coming to Penn. He was also honored as one of the top 10 graduates

athletes is 10 nanomoles per liter, double the new US Swimming standard. USA Swimming’s updated guidelines come just weeks before the NCAA championships, which are scheduled for March. from Rangeview High School, which he attended. The University hosted a virtual support session for Nemomsa’s peers and the Penn community at 12:30 p.m on Friday. The Let’s Talk program at Counseling and Psychological Services also was available for confidential drop-in conversations at Van Pelt Library Room 123 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 28. Staff at Makuu were available in ARCH from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for students to find support. CAMPUS RESOURCES The HELP Line: 215-898HELP Counseling a nd Psychological Services: 215-898-7021 (active 24/7) Student Health Service: 215746-3535 Office of the Vice Provost for University Life: 215-898-6081 University Chaplain’s Office: 215-898-8456 Reach-A-Peer Helpline: 215-573-2727 (ever y day from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.) 215-515-7332 (texting service available 24/7)

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NEWS 3

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA TURNER

Feb Club, a series of social events for seniors, has been renamed Senior Club.

FEB CLUB FRONT PAGE

capacity of people and limits on food and drink, that simply wasn’t an option in February, so March and April give us as good a shot as we can get.” A tradition that dates back to 1997, Feb Club celebrates seniors’ last full month as undergraduate students and brings the class together. The Class Board hosts an event every day of February. Past events included trips to Atlantic City, visits to the city’s Magic Gardens, nights at bars, Philadelphia 76ers games, and snow tubing, among others. In 2020, the Board’s total budget for Feb Club was $75,000.

The announcement came as COVID-19 case counts at Penn continue to fall following an uptick in cases in December due to the Omicron variant — prompting the University to suspend all indoor social gatherings. The total positivity rate among community members was 4.11% for the week of Jan. 16 to Jan. 22 — down from 7.57% the previous week. In Philadelphia County, the number of reported cases has also declined in recent weeks. The University updated its event guidelines this week, loosening earlier restrictions. The updated guidelines allow students to gather for class, studying, and meetings but still prohibit both registered parties and events at third-party venues. Penn will review its policies again by Feb. 1 after examining

the full results of gateway testing. The Class Board had already launched ticket sales for a Senior Night at the Two Friends concert on Feb. 2. Penn seniors were offered 50% off tickets to see the DJ duo perform at the Fillmore as well as tickets to a merch raffle. Those who had purchased Two Friends tickets will be fully reimbursed for their purchase, Strickberger said. Last year, the pandemic forced the Class Board to move Feb Club to April, when milder weather allowed students to gather at in-person outdoor events. The 2021 Class Board encouraged students to attend events and complete activities with their social “pod.” Events included a trip to Six Flags, food trucks, virtual Painting with a Twist, an outdoor movie night,

and virtual Smokes’ Quizzo. Seniors were also given deals all month at nearby restaurants, including Kiwi Frozen Yogurt, SoBol Philly, and High Street Philly. Strickberger hopes that pushing Feb Club to March will allow for more outdoor activities. While the Class Board had a full schedule planned for February, they hadn’t yet made payments to venues, he said. Financially, the Senior Club this year is “in a much better position than all previous years” due to revenue from merchandise sales and saving during the pandemic, Strickberger said. Despite the delay, Strickberger said that Senior Club will be an opportunity for the Class of 2022 to “celebrate together, rekindle old relationships, make new ones, and deepen others.”

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4 OPINION

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

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OPINION Diversity of thought is dying in academia

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2022 VOL. CXXXVIII, NO. 3 138th Year of Publication ALESSANDRA PINTADO-URBANC President PIA SINGH Executive Editor JONAH CHARLTON DP Editor-in-Chief TYLER KLIEM Design Editor TORI SOUSA News Editor EMI TUY TNHI TR N News Editor DELANEY PARKS Assignments Editor SOPHIE APFEL Copy Editor JESSE ZHANG Photo Editor ASAAD MANZAR Opinion Editor PHOEBE LEUNG Social Media Editor MATTHEW FRANK Sports Editor ESTHER LIM Sports Editor KAVEEN HAROHALLI Video Editor NICOLE ZHAO Podcast Editor GREG FERREY Business Manager RAUNAQ SINGH Technology Manager ANVIT RAO Analytics Manager BAILEY CAMPBELL Marketing Manager SUNNY JANG Product Manager

Lexi’s Take | Combatting the new censorship on college campuses

niversities regularly regard themselves as havens for broadening students’ horizons by exposing them to a wide range of perspectives. This sentiment is exemplified in university mottoes like Yale’s and Harvard’s, which invoke “veritas,” or the exposition of truth. In fact, diversity of thought is a foremost value in the core curriculums of institutions like the University of Chicago, where its inclusion is critical in a growingly performance-based preprofessional approach to higher education. Unfortunately, however, the reality nowadays is that universities tend to function merely as echo chambers for the majority views on campus. In such an environment, those with opinions that dissent from the majority’s tend to be shunned. This implicit censorship is not necessarily a result of any new regulations or policies permeating American universities, although there have been initiatives to encourage these skewed dialogues. Universities are often limited in their ability to restrict dialogue directly, and they still continue to at least superficially guarantee freedom of speech on campus. How, then, are universities failing to uphold their commitment to cultivating well-rounded learning environments? For starters, American schools are facing an enormous self-censorship problem. In 2020, Penn ranked in the top 10 student bodies with the least comfort expressing their opinions. A survey by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a civil liberties advocacy organization based in Philadelphia and started by former Penn History professor Alan Charles Kors, found that over 80% of students curb their speech at least some of the time for fear of academic and social repercussions. Whether or not this is based on explicit instances of professors affecting their student’s grades due to political biases does not change the fact that this problem does indeed exist. Universities’ failure to take steps to make their campus environments more discourse-friendly presents a problem in and of itself. In addition, universities often fail to

THIS ISSUE BECKY LEE Deputy Design Editor LILIAN LIU Deputy Design Editor CALEB CRAIN Deputy Design Editor ALICE CHOI Deputy Design Editor ALLYSON NELSON Deputy Copy Editor DEREK WONG Opinion Photo Editor ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL Sports Photo Editor LILIANN ZOU News Photo Editor TAJA MAZAJ Deputy Opinion Editor ANDREW YOON Deputy Opinion Editor VALERIE WANG Deputy Opinion Editor LEXI BOCCUZZI Deputy Opinion Editor CAROLINE MAGDOLEN Deputy Opinion Editor ABIGAIL WEINSTEIN Copy Associate

gration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan in 2020, whose invitation to campus brought along with it a significant amount of student protest. More recently this trend has extended to speakers who are commissioned to speak on politically neutral topics. The most recent example of this was in fall of 2021, when Dorian Abbot, assistant professor of geophysics at UChicago, was disinvited from lecturing at MIT about his expertise in geophysics amid controversy over his opinions on affirmative action. While it may seem surprising to many of us that views on the college admissions process could warrant the delegitimizing of someone’s expertise in an unrelated field, the disinviting of speakers to college campuses is nothing new. In 2016, Business Insider

“pushing out” of professors for having views that contradict their universities’ administration’s, or the suppression of criticisms of school policies, each institution finds innovative ways to tie the hands of its educators. It is therefore no surprise that we’ve seen a huge decline in conservative academics — who already comprised a minority — particularly in the humanities and social sciences. Outside of economics departments, where professors can safely market themselves as solely “fiscally” conservative, Republican-identifying faculty comprise single-digit percentages now. Students are also not immune to being targeted by their universities. Just this fall, a Native American Yale Law student and member of the university’s Federalist

LEXI BOCCUZZI is a College sophomore studying philosophy, politics, and economics from Stamford, Ct. Her email is boccuzzi@thedp.com.

Quirky Quaker | Wax’s racist comments represent a larger perception of Black students in academia

Socially Distant | In our fast-paced, plugged-in lives, learning how to prioritize mindfulness can change the way we see the world

enn has been receiving national media coverage lately after Penn Law professor Amy Wax made racist comments against Asian and Black Americans. Her recent remarks are consistent with the comments that she made back in 2018 in a discussion titled The Downside to Social Uplift: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Black student graduate in the top quarter of the [Penn Law School] class and rarely, rarely in the top half.” Essentially, her argument was that Black students are accepted into schools like Penn because of policies such as affirmative action, but underperform compared to their peers of other races. Comments like these are not unique to professor Wax. For example, just last year, a professor at Georgetown Law School was fired for making similar comments about Black students: “I end up having this angst every semester that

BRITTANY DARROW Copy Associate HADRIANA LOWENKRON Copy Associate

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Editorials represent the majority view of members of The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc. Editorial Board, which meets regularly to discuss issues relevant to Penn’s campus. Participants in these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on related topics.

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Society — a conservative student organization on campus — was summoned to meet with the associate dean and the diversity director as well as offer a public apology over his use of the term “trap house” in an email invitation for a party. In the conversation, which he recorded, it was revealed that the basis for his condemnation was that other students felt triggered by the party’s association to the Federalist Society. While prejudicial and offensive speech shouldn’t be permitted on college campuses, the lowering bar for censorship should be alarming to people of all political affiliations. This is not to say, however, that there is no hope for the dream of higher education environments that foster diverse and constructive intellectual debate. Organizations like the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education are doing vital work to preserve free speech on campuses around the country. At Penn, we have the privilege of platforms like The Daily Pennsylvanian and non-partisan political spaces like the Penn Political Union to voice our opinions. I sit on Penn’s University Committee on Open Expression, which takes steps to prevent the type of prohibitions mentioned earlier. Many administrators are even beginning to acknowledge the deficit of free expression at their schools. The most important thing we as students can do is change the way that we perceive the value of speech. We are notoriously in favor of freedom of thought with exceptions for the views which stand in ideological opposition to our own. The only way to equip us for the partisan and divisive world we are entering into post-graduation is by exposing us to conversation now. Take the issue into your own hands and engage with people with whom you disagree. You may find you have more in common with them than you think.

Relief exists in the here and now

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Have your own opinion? Send your letter to the editor or guest column to letters@thedp.com.

compiled a list of noteworthy “disinvitations” from college campuses from the previous school year. The list is striking, and it’s safe to say that this issue isn’t going away. Not only do colleges project their political antagonism outward, very often professors are also subject to the ideological whims of the institutions they work for. Whether it is an instance of ousting a professor over online content, subliminal

Amy Wax is not an anomaly

JORDAN WACHSMAN Copy Associate

LETTERS

deliver on promises of intellectual diversity when it comes to the speakers that are permitted on campus. More often than not, universities will bend to the will of student protesters, even when they are present in small numbers, who take issue with a slotted speaker’s visit to campus. This is typical in cases of speakers who are invited to campus to speak on politically sensitive topics — such as Penn College Republicans’ invitation of former Immi-

a lot of my lower ones are Blacks … You get some really good ones. But there are also usually some that are just plain at the bottom.” While Wax’s comments exposed her prejudice against Black students, the reality is that implicit racial biases are prevalent throughout academia. As an overdue sanctions process against her is set to begin soon, we must realize that Wax’s comments are indicative of a broader perception of Black students. Experiences of racial bias have frequently been recounted by Black students at elite schools. For example, a family friend of mine earned the CALI award in one of her law school classes — an award given to the student with the highest grade in the class. For context, this was considered the hardest first-year class at her law school, taught by a distinguished professor known to be a harsh grader. Since the grading system was anonymous, she had gone to introduce herself to the professor at the end of the semester. As soon as she walked through the door, the professor told her, “I’m sorry. I can’t change your grade.” He as-

sumed that she had come to him with a low grade, hoping for some adjustment. Despite the anonymous grading, which made her confident that there would be no bias in the professor’s scoring of exams, she still ended up being confronted by that very same bias even as the highest-achieving student in her class. Similar anecdotes have made headlines on social media as well. The Black Ivy Stories Instagram page, which featured posts from Black Penn students, described many problematic interactions between Black students and their professors — ranging from being pressured to drop a class because they’re “not a good fit” to being told to switch majors altogether. Sometimes, professors made these recommendations without even knowing the students yet. As a result, Black students were left with all too common feelings: Doubting themselves, their worthiness at Penn, and their academic futures. When a Black student walks into a class, it’s easy for them to wonder: Has a professor already made a judgment about my intelligence at first glance? Do I need to work harder than my peers to make sure that this initial judgment is proven wrong? If I perform well in the class, will the professor just view me as an exception to the norm? These unavoidable questions certainly aren’t a reflection of all professors, but rather a reflection of what Black students must face when getting an education — we cast doubt on our academic abilities and performance before we even set foot in the classroom. Indeed, low expectations of Black students don’t start in college. A Johns Hopkins study found that teachers’ expectations of high school students reflected racial bias. This mindset needs to change. Instead of discouraging a Black student from taking a difficult class, why not encourage it as an opportunity for academic growth? Even with good intentions, a professor not wanting a student to struggle means that they don’t think that student has the ability to succeed, which damages one’s self-worth. More importantly, instead of viewing a Black student as a representation of their entire race, why not see them as an individual? At the root of every expectation is a belief. With the lower expectations of Black students, the belief is that they are less capable. Amy Wax can be removed from Penn, but that belief will remain.

YOMI ABDI is a Wharton first year studying finance from Chicago. Her email is yomiabdi@wharton.upenn. edu.

hen was the last time you did nothing? When I say nothing, I mean truly nothing. Going on Instagram, watching television, and texting friends are all something. When was the last time you simply sat down, alone? Doing nothing is hard. We all know the feeling of standing in a long line with nothing to do and feeling that familiar itch of boredom. With nothing to focus on, the mind grows frantic, desperately searching for something on which to latch. We think about what we want for lunch. We think about what we should have said in class yesterday. We think about the things that worry us. We think and think and think. With smartphones and social media, the time it takes for us to get distracted is even shorter, as we have something to capture our attention the moment we feel discomfort. I mean, have you ever read the label on the back of a toothpaste bottle because you forgot to take your phone to the toilet and couldn’t bear to just sit there for a few minutes without distraction? What we feel experientially on a daily basis also has empirical evidence. Researchers from the University of Virginia published a 2014 study in the journal Science, finding that “participants typically did not enjoy spending 6 to 15 minutes in a room by themselves with nothing to do but think.” Frighteningly, they also found that “many preferred to administer electric shocks to themselves instead of being left alone with their thoughts.” What is it about the mind that, if left unoccupied, can conjure a mental state so unbearable that even physical pain would be preferable? Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk and Zen master who recently passed, believed that this psychic torment stems from the mind’s tendency to be constantly lost in thought, forcing us to live either in the past or the future. If we’re worried about something we did or said, we’re ruminating about a past that no longer exists. If we’re concerned about something that will happen tomorrow or next week, we’re thinking about a future that will never exist, at least not in the exact way we envision. We rarely live in the present moment, instead living inside a universe within our minds that doesn’t truly exist. That scares me. The idea of spending every moment somewhere other than here and now seems strange and off-putting. It seems like when we live our life, we actually miss most of it. But we don’t have to. As Hanh said, “With mindfulness, you can establish yourself in the present in order to touch the wonders of life that are available in that moment.” Mindfulness is a type of contemplative

practice that has its roots in Vipassana — a Buddhist term that roughly translates to “insight” — as well as other Buddhist traditions. Mindfulness simply refers to the practice of bringing one’s attention to the present moment without judgment. When one practices mindfulness meditation, they focus on a particular sound or sensation, often their breath, and when their attention wanders, they gently refocus their attention onto that sound or sensation. If that sounds incredibly boring, that’s because it is — at first. Within seconds, your mind will wander to thoughts that will carry you away. You’ll forget that you’re even trying to meditate, until you suddenly remember — at which point, you should gently bring your attention back to the breath. If this happens, that doesn’t mean you’re meditating incorrectly. That process of losing attention and bringing it back is meditation. As you keep practicing, this will become easier and easier. Eventually, you will stop being carried along by every thought that enters your mind; you will begin to simply observe those thoughts and let them go as soon as they arise. I want to emphasize that meditation isn’t a treatment or a cure for mental illness. While there is some modest data suggesting that it can help, it is far less effective than standard treatments like therapy and medication. If you feel like you are truly

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suffering, please ask for help, reach out to a friend, or contact Counseling and Psycological Services. While it isn’t a treatment for any sort of illness, however, meditation can be a powerful tool of introspection to learn more about the nature of consciousness, but that needn’t be the reason you choose to meditate or practice mindfulness on a daily basis. You should practice SEE MINDFULNESS PAGE 5

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mindfulness simply because being in the present moment is incredibly freeing. Instead of spending your waking hours lurching from one thought to the next, you can completely immerse yourself in the phenomena around you — the phenomena that you usually don’t even notice. You can deeply listen to the sound of the wind whistling

OPINION 5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022 through your ears on your daily walk to class. You can feel the sensation of your feet against the soles of your shoes while in line at CVS. You can scrutinize the texture of the skin on your hands while waiting for class to start. By cultivating a deeper awareness of the world around you, you can realize that the world around you is nothing short of a miracle. Everything we witness — including the fact that we can witness in the first place — is a reminder that existence itself can

be wondrous if we choose to see it. The next time you’re at Starbucks, consider what Thich Nhat Hanh beautifully said: “Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the whole earth revolves — slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.” Only this moment is life. Right now, the present moment, is the only thing

that’s real. By grounding yourself in the here and now, everything else disintegrates and loses importance. The past and future, along with their baggage, no longer exist. Only this moment. VARUN SARASWATHULA is a College senior studying neuroscience from Herndon, Va. His email is vsaras@sas.upenn.edu.

Stories to stop hazing Cloobeck’s Call | Two interviews that address our hazing problem and offer solutions

ith student organizations recruiting new members, it’s time to talk about hazing. If you’ve been on campus, you have probably heard about, witnessed, or experienced hazing. Hazing exists on a spectrum, and there are some activities which are considered hazing that you may not expect. For example, requiring new members to wear unusual clothing counts as embarrassment hazing. Hazing has been an issue in Penn student organizations for years. According to Penn’s August 2021 Hazing Report, there have been 12 reported hazing incidents since 2016. This number is likely an underestimate of Penn student organizations that regularly engage in hazing, due to underreporting. Hazing often goes unreported because students are unsure about what counts as hazing or how to safely intervene. In addition, hazing is challenging to speak openly about because it can come at a social cost. If someone reports on their own club, they may fear social retaliation if they are found out as the snitch. Here’s a solution: Report hazing confidentially. All you need is the club name and evidence of what happened (trustworthy testimony, a picture, or a video) and email it to one of the University centers that addresses hazing concerns. On a more abstract level, discussing hazing often distracts us from how these traditions impact new members. I interviewed two sources whose firsthand experiences illustrate how much work we have to do. Now, I would like to transition to my interviews with my two sources, who bravely shared their experiences. Sam,* a recent Penn graduate, described her experience in an on-campus organization. She described hazing as when a student leader uses their seniority as an excuse to patronize new members. She said that “sometimes those little actions or little words cause longer and more extreme pain.” Sam suggested a few reforms to make hazing prevention less adversarial and more constructive. Club leaders can start by deliberately checking in with new members, whether it is “face-to-face or sending anonymous surveys.” To stop hazing, Sam shared that “we all need to be compassionate with each other.” She expanded that organizations should return to their original purpose of “connecting, having fun, and building each other up.” On the administrative side, I agree with Sam that “when there’s hazing … it is important to hold the individual accountable and not take down an entire organization because then that leads people to not report [an incident].” I also echo Sam’s belief that the Penn administration should “survey students in different grades, different organizations … [to] get a better idea about how … [hazing] could be

DESIGN BY ALICE CHOI

better monitored.” Luckily, the Office of Student Affairs has received recommendations from the Hazing Prevention Consortium on how to fix the hazing problem on our campus. However, ending hazing will only happen if it’s a student-driven project. Mark* is a fourth-year undergraduate. Mark shared his experience in a fraternity. He recounted that in the prepandemic world, he was forced to do “workouts in different areas of the house,” and the older members “[would] assign unnecessary work … to the [first years] because that’s how it’s always been.” Mark said he believes that, “there are more people who are open to a different model of pledging and behavior than they realize.” However, Mark does not think that the Penn administration is capable of stopping fraternities from carrying out these “undercover” hazing rituals. He said that reform must be an internal process, meaning that club leaders are the only ones who can implement alternative ways to build and retain their memberships. Mark was not sure where to look to seek support. He decided not to report the hazing he experienced, even

though he could have done so anonymously. In response to student leaders who may argue that hazing rituals must continue because of tradition, Mark said that leaders should engage in a critical questioning of why organizations need to haze new members. Although one may look back at a hazing experience and laugh, he mentioned that “not everyone has the same recollection of events. … Just because you weren’t hurt doesn’t mean someone else wasn’t.” Mark encouraged student leaders to begin new traditions, which can be done by finding alternative activities to hazing — such as starting a peer mentorship program or playing a sport together. A good rule of thumb for whether something is hazing or not: If club leaders are requiring that only a subgroup of their membership do a certain activity, it may be approaching hazing territory. If everyone is doing an activity together — such as if everyone wears silly costumes to a party instead of just the new members — then it is less likely to be hazing.

Reflecting upon the start of a new semester, Mark said that it is a “critical time for student organizations to assess” themselves and recognize that student leaders can “start from scratch.” Mark said that student leaders must prioritize fostering a welcoming environment so everyone feels like Penn is “their campus community.” Hazing can end if we decide that it should. Let’s spread the word of what hazing is and how to report it. Let’s normalize conversations about hazing so that we can all heal together. * Name has been changed for privacy reasons.

JADEN CLOOBECK is a College fourth year from Laguna Beach, Calif. studying psychology. He is the founding Chair of Beyond Hazing, Penn’s new hazing prevention student organization. His email address is jaden@sas.upenn.edu.

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Penn’s $4M investment in Lea Elementary renews West Philadelphia gentrification concerns

Students studying abroad in spring 2022 balance health and learning amid COVID-19 Over 190 Penn students are studying abroad this semester STEPHANIE CHEN Staff Reporter

The investment will occur over the span of five years RACHEL ZHANG Staff Reporter

The School District of Philadelphia has approved Penn’s $4.1 million investment into West Philadelphia’s Henry C. Lea Elementary School, reigniting a conversation about gentrification. With zero dissenting votes, the agreement between the two institutions was confirmed at a Jan. 27 school district board meeting. Penn administrators voiced their enthusiasm about the deal, marking it as Penn’s next step in fostering positive relationships with the West Philadelphia community. The $4 million investment to Lea Elementary will occur over the span of five years. Dean of the Graduate School of Education Pam Grossman viewed the investment as a positive step toward supporting families, teachers, and students of Lea Elementary. “This initiative is part of a more expansive effort [from Penn] to work with schools in West Philadelphia,” Grossman wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian. “The [Lea Elementary] principal will be

Division of Public Safety updates safety guidelines as Philadelphia carjacking rate triples More than 129 carjacking incidents have been logged in Philadelphia since the year’s start KEVIN BRYAN Senior Reporter

Carjackings in Philadelphia are soaring amid a city-wide surge in crime. Interim Vice President of the Division of Public Safety Kathleen Shields Anderson told The Daily Pennsylvanian that more than 129 carjacking incidents have been

PHOTO BY EMILY XU

soliciting family and community input on how best to realize a shared vision.” However, the West Philadelphia community expressed fears that the donation to Lea Elementary may force out low-income residents. As Penn’s investment evolves the school into a more desirable destination for families to send their children, a surge in housing prices could occur — as seen with Penn’s previous investment to Penn Alexander School. Leonard Bonarek, a Lea Elementary parent, published an op-ed on Jan. 27 in WHYY opposing the Penn investment, writing that families would face the threat of displacement. Instead of Penn’s investment, Bonarek believes the district should accept donations on a district-wide basis to mitigate the uneven distribution of wealth and that Penn should pay PILOTs. Penn for PILOTs also retweeted a Jan. 26 Philadelphia Inquirer op-ed denouncing Penn’s “cherry-picked” school investments that exacerbate West Philadelphia gentrification. In the past, Penn for PILOTs has criticized the University’s lack of Payments in Lieu of Taxes to Philadelphia’s

Educational Equity Fund. Penn’s relationship with Lea Elementary dates back to the 1960s. In recent years, emphasis has been placed on providing resources and expertise upon the school’s request such as professional development opportunities, according to Grossman. Initiatives such as Lea Elementary’s City of Philadelphia Out-of-School Time and its 21st Century Community Learning Center, funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, will remain in operation in addition to the latest Penn investment, according to del Río. Penn’s began its current partnership with Penn Alexander School in the 1990s as a way to make the surrounding community more attractive for Penn faculty and continues to provide them with $1,300 per student per year. Lea Elementary’s student body is more demographically representative of the district than Penn Alexander, with 75% of students coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in comparison to 46% at Penn Alexander, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

logged in Philadelphia since the year’s start, up from 43 during the same time frame in 2021. The most recent of these incidents occurred just a block away from Penn’s campus, at the block of 4200 Pine Street, according to a UPennAlert issued on Jan. 28. DPS sent out a bulletin to the community on Jan. 14 providing updated guidelines for both how to avoid instances of carjacking, and how to respond to them, if necessary. Anderson told the DP the bulletin could be most summarized with one point of advice for community members: to stay aware of surroundings. Anderson added that carjacking instances most commonly occurred when cars were left on the road during deliveries. Suspects are typically between 15 to 30 years of age and will often approach as the owner is entering or exiting the vehicle, according to Philadelphia Police Department. “What we are seeing is that carjackings are occurring to delivery drivers, people who are trying to make a living,” Anderson said. Anderson recommended individuals in the area to drive to DPS headquarters at 4040 Chestnut Street and ask DPS to help find a parking spot. Free services such as walking escorts and PennRides are also available for all Penn community members. The bulletin further urges victims of carjacking to leave the scene, remove themselves from

verbal and physical confrontations, make a note of the suspect’s description, and call Penn Police. On Jan. 27, a Philadelphia pizza delivery driver shot an attempted carjacking suspect six times after the suspect threatened the driver to exit his vehicle at gunpoint, 6ABC reported. The surge in carjacking rates is not unique to Philadelphia. Carjacking numbers have been on the rise across many of the nation’s major cities throughout the duration of the pandemic. In Chicago, New York, and Minneapolis, carjacking rates have more than doubled. In Washington D.C., rates increased by over 343%, according to CBS News.

PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER

Over 1,400 petition Penn to revoke COVID-19 booster mandate Citing Penn’s almost 100% vaccination rate, the petition demands the University remove the booster shot requirement ANUSHKA DASGUPTA Staff Reporter

An online petition calling on Penn to revoke its COVID-19 booster vaccine mandate has garnered over 1,400 signatures. The petition, which was started by secondyear doctoral candidate in ethnomusicology Vincent Kelley, calls on Penn President Amy Gutmann, Interim Provost Beth Winkelstein, and Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli to overturn the requirement which will go into effect on Jan. 31. Citing Penn’s almost 100% vaccination rate and recent campus record-high positivity rates, Kelley demands that the University remove its booster shot requirement. Penn’s current policy requires all eligible community members to receive a booster vaccine by Jan. 31 or within 30 days of becoming eligible. Community members who received their second dose of the PfizerBioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least five months ago or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine two months ago are eligible to receive a booster, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Penn recently hosted

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

PHOTO BY JESSE ZHANG

Penn students are balancing health and learning experiences while studying abroad during the spring semester despite globally increasing Omicron cases. Over 190 Penn students were accepted into 45 different programs across 18 countries for the spring 2022 semester. Penn has been working with the Committee on International Travel Risk Assessment (CITRA) to review University travel for study abroad programs and ensure safety among student travelers amid a rise in COVID-19 cases. All programs that were put forward to CITRA were approved for spring 2022, besides programs in countries where borders are still closed, such as China, Russia, and Japan, Penn Abroad Director Nigel Cossar said. College junior Andrea Pinga is studying in Vienna through the BardCEU study abroad program. She said that while regulations in the country are strict, she is glad the program was not canceled. “I’ve always known I wanted to study abroad. I was always planning to go my junior year, and thankfully, COVID didn’t really mess that up,” she said. While CITRA approved the study abroad programs, it stipulated that students — studying in countries where testing or quarantine is required for travel — are not allowed to travel out of the pre-approved country they are studying in. “Personal travel, overall, is restricted,” Cossar said. “All students have to register their travel prior to departure and are expected to also register any trips within their time abroad as well.” This Penn-imposed regulation came as a disappointment to some students studying abroad. Wharton sophomore Isabella DiCampli is studying abroad at King’s College London this semester through a Wharton-approved study abroad program. DiCampli said that she had wanted to study abroad since before college. Growing up in Philadelphia and attending Penn amplified her desire to go abroad for a semester, she added. “Our orientation was the first time I heard that we weren’t allowed to leave the U.K. from Penn,” DiCampli said. “I think that’s something that I wish I would have known sooner because I had planned to travel to other places like Paris and Amsterdam.” DiCampli described COVID-19 regulations in London as being “surprisingly relaxed” because there was no mask mandate except on public transportation and in her classes when she first arrived. Last week, England completely lifted the national mask mandate, DiCampli added. Dicampli said that at King’s, the school strongly recommends that students get COVID-19 tested twice a week but it does not actively check to ensure that students follow through with testing. Still, she said she has continued to get tested twice a week for her own “peace of mind.” “I got my booster shot before I came specifically because I was coming to study abroad, which added peace of mind,” DiCampli said. She added that she feels more comfortable being away from home because her grandparents at home are part of the at-risk population. Pinga said some of the health and safety policies in Austria include wearing a FFP2 mask — a highly effective, medical-grade mask used commonly throughout Europe — and a curfew at 10 p.m. “It’s way stricter than Penn or any other place that I’ve been in,” she stated. While there is no symptom tracker like PennOpen Pass for Central European University students, Pinga said she is not concerned that students will attend class while sick. According to Pinga, free PCR COVID-19 tests are also provided for everyone in Vienna. Students at Central European University must get tested every 48 hours to remain on campus and attend in-person classes, Pinga said. “The testing here is so stringent that, though getting tested every day is such a hassle, it also just constantly reminds you to be on the lookout for COVID,” Pinga said. “I feel like people take it very seriously.”

PHOTO BY JESSE ZHANG

Penn recently hosted a COVID-19 booster vaccine clinic on Jan. 14, 17, 18, and 19.

a COVID-19 booster vaccine clinic on Jan. 14, 17, 18, and 19. In an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian, Kelley called the mandate “predictable” but also irresponsible of the University. Kelley cited the concerns of Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who believes that the priority should be inoculating the unvaccinated. Offit published editorials in The Philadelphia Inquirer on Dec. 29 and The Washington Post on Nov. 29 advocating against universal booster vaccines. The petition also cited the World Health Organization’s interim statement on booster doses, which argues that providing booster vaccines in countries that already have a highly vaccinated population takes away vaccines from under-vaccinated, lower-income countries and widens the gap of “profound inequity in global vaccine access.” Kelley said he delivered the petition in an email and an in-person meeting with President Gutmann, Winkelstein, and Carnaroli on Jan. 25. He added that another goal is for the petition to start an open dialogue on campus regarding the mandate, explaining that there

is existing social pressure to agree with the policy. The petition states it is not meant as anti-vaccination or anti-booster. Rather, those who sign have “ethical” concerns with the booster shot mandate. “Those who want the booster should absolutely get the booster. I have nothing against people getting the booster. If they feel the booster is going to protect them more — I don’t think there’s evidence for that yet — they’re more than welcome to,” Kelley said. “I think having it mandated is a much stronger step that is not justified ethically nor scientifically.” However, recent data from the CDC suggests the COVID-19 booster vaccine is effective in preventing infection and severe disease. Kelley said Penn and other universities play a significant role in forecasting future COVID-19 policies in Philadelphia and around the country, pointing to the fact that the city initiated a COVID19 vaccine mandate in August 2021 for health care workers and educators after Penn did the same in April 2021. Kelley said due to the critical role that universities play in shaping COVID-19 policies, Penn’s decision carries magnitude for those outside of the Penn community.

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8 SPORTS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM

Wrestling in pursuit of title with nationally ranked players The Quakers look ahead toward the nationals with a remarkable momentum of strong results ASHIL SRIVASTAVA Sports Reporter

Penn wrestling (3-1, 3-0 Ivy) has had a strong showing as of late, winning its last three events in as many tries. Currently with 10 nationally ranked wrestlers, the Quakers are looking as strong as ever in their pursuit of a potential title. “I think our team has been making strong progress, and one of our goals was to start distancing ourselves from the middle of pack Ivy League Programs,” coach Roger Reina said. The Red and Blue have done exactly that as they dominated Columbia, Brown, and Harvard consecutively in the last several weeks. The Quakers’ overall score in the last three events tallies to an impressive 97-12, standing at 3-0 in the Ivy League. The Quakers are also incredibly versatile, with ranked wrestlers across ages and weight classes. Freshmen Ryan Miller and Nick Incontrera have already made strong impressions in their first season. “Both of those guys have broken into the national rankings in their freshmen year, and I think that they have been performing well,” Reina said. “Those two guys, particularly, are gaining really valuable experience.” “Across the board, we’ve got nationally ranked guys recognized in one of the various national polls in every weight class,” Reina added in reference to more experienced wrestlers like Michael Colaiocco, who is one of the team’s highestranked members. Senior Neil Antrassian and juniors Anthony Artalona, Doug Zapf, and Ben Goldin are also all ranked nationally. Not only do they perform excellently for the team, but they also contribute another important aspect for any championshipaspiring team: leadership. “I think they’re providing really important leadership for our team this year,” Reina said. Reina then singled out Doug Zapf: “He’s really our pacesetter. The pace that he competes [at] within his matches is really a phenomenal example. [He’s a] very offensive, high-paced competitor.”

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA TURNER

Sophomore Michael Colaiocco begins his round in neutral position against opponent Angelo Rini during the team’s meet against Columbia at the Palestra on Jan. 23.

Penn will look to take on Lehigh (8-5) this coming Friday, Feb. 4. Lehigh will be a tough opponent, as it is undefeated at home and the defending EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) champion. “[Beating Lehigh is] another step up the ladder. [Our] most important priorities … [are] to make sure we’re focused on executing our style and compete in our position at the pace we want to wrestle,” Reina said.

After Lehigh, it will be a quick turnaround for the Quakers as they take on rival Cornell (8-2, 3-0 Ivy) at home the following Sunday. “The Palestra for us is a really special place … if you look over the past thirty years, either Penn or Cornell has won the Ivy League title … the two most dominant teams over the past three decades will square up in the Palestra at dead one o’clock on Sunday,” Reina explained. Penn is steadfast on its quest for both an Ivy

League title and EWIA title. “I’m just really proud of our guys to persevere through a lot of disruption due to COVID, and yet stay focused on our goals and stay focused on jumping levels,” Reina said. A strong showing in their upcoming consecutive matches against Lehigh and Cornell will almost certainly give the Quakers the momentum they need to make that final championship push.

DP Sports player of the week: Sara Kenefick

The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation The New York Times Syndication Sales 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y.Corporation 10018 620For Eighth Avenue,Call: New1-800-972-3550 York, N.Y. 10018 Information ForRelease Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Thursday, 3, 2022 Sophomore Sara Kenefick celebrates with the team afterFebruary performing her floor routine during a meet against Yale at the Palestra on Jan. 30. For Release Friday, January 28, 2022

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Kenefick won the all-around title against Yale with a total score of 38.975 ANDREA MENDOZA Sports Associate

After an exhilarating weekend in Gymnastics East Conference competition, Penn gymnastics defeated Yale in the Palestra 194.425-194.200, breaking the record for the highest home score in program history. Sophomore gymnast Sara Kenefick, in particular, had a strong showing, winning the all-around title with a total score of 38.975. Kenefick started the day off on the vault with a score of 9.800, only 0.025 below two of her

teammates, sophomore Rose DeBarberie and freshman Isabel Song with a 9.825. Kenefick then participated in the uneven bars, which, despite being her lowest score of the day, was still a 9.600. Moving on to the beam, Kenefick notched the second-highest score on the team with a 9.750. To finish off the day, Kenefick led her team on the floor exercise with a 9.825. All members of the team whose scores counted toward the team total earned a 9.750 or better for their routines. Kenefick’s 9.825 cemented her all-around title win, and, thanks to the rest of the strong performances by the Red and Blue, their win over Yale. The Quakers will compete against Cornell this Sunday at the Palestra at 1 p.m.

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SPORTS 9

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022

Women’s basketball falls to 2-4 in Ivy play after fumbling lead to Harvard

PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER

Senior guard Mia Lakstigala shoots during a game against Harvard at the Palestra on Jan. 29.

The Quakers spilled a 14 lead against the Crimson and lost 70-63 JOYCE DAVIS Sports Associate

What looked to be a secure victory for Penn women’s basketball turned into a surprising loss at the Palestra on Saturday. Penn (7-11, 2-4 Ivy) blew a lead of 14 and lost by seven to the Harvard Crimson (10-9, 4-3), bringing the final score to 70-63. This was the 88th match between the Quakers and the Crimson. Even after the win, Harvard still leads the all-time series 52-35, although Penn has gone 22-21 with a home-court advantage at the Palestra. In their last meeting, the Red and Blue defeated the Crimson, 70-48, so all eyes were on another victory for Penn, which was what it looked like would happen in the first three quarters of the game. Defense was key in Saturday’s game and both teams were on it in the first quarter. On the offensive side, shooting wasn’t strong, as Penn was effective at generating good passes but not at converting them. Guard Kayla Padilla was playing hard right from the jump, scoring 11 of 13 points before sitting out temporarily for a nose injury. Forward Jordan Obi came in and scored the last two points, bringing Penn’s total for the first quarter to 13. Additionally, Harvard was very slow in the shooting department with many missed jump shots and sloppy turnovers. The Crimson eventually managed to rack up nine points with the help of guards McKenzie Forbes,

with steals, and Obi, who scored nine points. The first half ended 33-28 with the Quakers again in the lead. During the second quarter, an emphasis on the paint for Penn was crucial, as they had been making most of their shots from the inside, something head coach Mike McLaughlin took note of. “I thought our passing has been as good as we’ve had them all year,” coach Mike McLaughlin said. “In and out passing of the ball, penetrations, drop ins … I thought we had a lot of opportunities to enter the ball, and even when they started doubling Jordan [Obi], we responded well.” In the third quarter, a strong inside passing game brought the Quakers to 37 points. Padilla and Obi were able to find each other for most of the quarter and continued their strong passing inside the paint. Thanks to their strong offense and strong passes, the Red and Blue were able to take 12-point lead — the largest for the Quakers — putting the score at 40-28 in their favor. Harvard answered back just as strongly and managed to cut this lead to just a seven-point gap at the end of the quarter. Unfortunately for the Quakers, once the fourth quarter came, everything went downhill. Penn started to struggle to execute on the offensive side of the ball. After a flurry of layups from Obi, Kennedy, and Padilla, racking Penn’s point total up to above 50, Harvard turned a switch and started making play after play. At first, Harvard had three straight turnovers in attempts to get the ball in the net, but a strong three from Maggie McCarthy brought the score to 53-49. After a brief timeout, Harvard got a steal and

possession gave Forbes the opportunity to score two extra points, which she made. One last attempt for the Quakers to save their hopes came via a three-point shot from Padilla. Unfortunately for the Quakers, Harvard got the last laugh as it got to the line yet again, eventually defeating Penn 70-63. Upon reflecting on the game, McLaughlin was disappointed in the results but was very proud of the players for their perseverance, especially in practice. He blamed their prolonged time on the court for their weaker efforts in the last quarter. “Fatigue was a factor,” McLaughlin said. “We have girls playing far too many minutes I reckon, and I have to do better there. I need to find a way to rotate these kids in and out of the game.”

For the next game, McLaughlin is hoping to figure out exactly what went wrong so that they can improve on it next time they get on the court. “We have to look at the reason why,’’ McLaughlin said. “Is it strictly fatigue or something else? Whatever it is, we have to try and figure out what, so that next time we’re out there, we can handle the situation and they can run off the court [excited].” This game is the first of three in the Palestra for the Quakers. With this loss, Penn must win its next couple of home games to move up in the conference standings and have a shot at making the Ivy tournament.

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PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER

Senior forward Kennedy Suttle shoots during a game against Harvard at the Palestra on Jan. 29.

Lola Mullaney, Tess Sussman, and Annie Stritzel. During the second quarter, Penn’s defense was tight starting out with Padilla subbing back in. This development was good for the Quaker offense, as they seemed to take on a more rigid form when Padilla was on the court. This time, Penn was able to run the motions more effectively. Obi shined a lot more in this quarter as she nailed a nice bank-shot after taking advantage of an open spot in the first minute. Harvard had also been shifting their focus to the inside and was playing much better than in the first quarter. The Crimson had nine offensive rebounds at that point, out-muscling Penn. Stritzel was then able to drain a three and break a two-minute scoring drought for the Crimson. Penn also seemed to be leveraging its size in the paint. The Quakers were able to get a couple of layups and steals with help from second-quarter breakout star Mia Lakstigala, who came through

scored an and-one basket to trim the gap to one. Obi hit a shot to make it 55-52, but Harvard, with the quick possession, cut the lead back to one again. It took three quarters, but Harvard managed to get its first lead after a three from Forbes brought the score to 57-55. Another bucket, this time from Sussman, widened the gap to 59-55. A 7-0 run kept Harvard on top for most of the fourth quarter. McCartney made a basket off the glass, bringing the score to 61, followed by a Harvard steal and another layup made by Sussman. This transition was huge for Harvard, considering in the beginning of the game they shot 37% and went 8-28 shooting from the floor. In the final quarter, however, the Crimson doubled the Quakers’ point total, 28-14. A three from Lakstigala brought Penn’s point total to 60 and Harvard’s lead to five with a minute and 29 seconds to play, but the Crimson followed with another basket off the glass. A foul on the next

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022 VOL. CXXXVIII NO. 3

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A look at men’s basketball’s odds at Ivy League glory

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Junior forward Michael Moshkovitz attempts to push past a defender at Jadwin Gymnasium on Jan. 17.

Current statistics show Penn having an 87.4% chance of making the Ivy playoffs GABRIEL STEINBERG Sports Reporter

The Quakers are halfway through their 2022 Ivy League campaign, and the conference has been getting very interesting. With several cancellations due to COVID-19 protocols throughout the league, Penn and Brown are the only teams that have cycled through all opponents once, providing a clearer measure of how the Quakers fare against others in the conference. The current Ivy League standings are as follows: Princeton (5-1) Yale (4-1) Penn (5-2) Cornell (3-3) Harvard (2-3) Dartmouth (2-4) Brown (2-5) Columbia (1-5) If current trends continue, there will be three distinctly strong contenders for first in the Ivy League: Princeton, Yale, and Penn. Cornell and Harvard could also have a chance if the league-leaders lose

momentum. And let’s be clear: There are two prizes at stake every basketball season. The Ivy League Champion is the team with the best record after regular season play within the league. The last time Penn won the regular season Ivy title was when it shared the honor with Harvard in 2018, when the teams tied Ivy records in the regular season. That same year, Penn also received the Ivy automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which is awarded to the winner of a four-team playoff. The title game result was a 68-65 win over Harvard at the Palestra, putting Penn into March Madness, where the Red and Blue were defeated by Kansas in the first round. This year’s 2022 Ivy Tournament will be hosted by Harvard, where the Quakers will fight to make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament once again. To get there, Penn needs a top-four finish in the league, which looks possible halfway through the Ivy season. Current statistics show Penn having an 87.4% chance of making the playoffs (finishing in the top four), a 14.2% chance of finishing as the top seed, a 24.7% chance at second seed, and a 29.6% shot at third. The Red and Blue have a 16.0% chance of receiving the Ivy League’s NCAA bid heading into the second half of Ivy play.

The Quakers have played all other teams in the Ivy League, only picking up losses against leagueleader Princeton and the Columbia Lions. The Red and Blue recently held off Harvard for their fifth Ivy win, this being the first time Penn defeated the Crimson in Cambridge since 2012. Penn kicked its season off against several ranked NCAA opponents, including No. 20 Florida State, No. 13 Arkansas, and No. 6 Villanova. Coach Steve Donahue mentioned several times that these tough early matchups had the potential to strengthen the team’s skills heading into Ivy play — and that’s precisely what happened. Additionally, Penn men’s basketball has been known for its comebacks after going down in games, a pattern that demonstrates the depth and composure of the squad. After going down 12-2 and 18-5 against Harvard, with junior forward Michael Moshkovitz leaving the game to early foul trouble, Penn’s perseverance remained intact. Composure was especially notable in the Yale matchup, as Penn was able to break Yale’s press to hold on at the end, also going 17-20 on free throws. The matchup with Princeton, however, proved that Penn could not let its guard down at any point in the game if it wasn’t willing to pay for it. Penn knows how to play from behind against weaker teams, like Dartmouth, but with top teams in the Ivy League, like Princeton, it’s difficult to make up for turnovers

and inconsistencies. With Yale’s 80-74 defeat of Princeton on Saturday night, the Bulldogs moved above Princeton as the favorites to go into the Ivy Tournament as the top seed at 51.7%, compared to the Tigers’ 29.8%. However, both remain neck and neck to receive the NCAA bid. Each team now has one loss in Ivy play — Yale’s only loss being against the Quakers in a 76-68 game at the Palestra. Princeton was on a 10-game winning streak heading into its loss against Yale, with Penn being one of the Tigers’ victims. The fact that each of the current top-three teams picked up a win against another top team reveals the potential for a flipped script throughout the second matchups of the season. If sophomore guard Jordan Dingle continues to put up big numbers like his 31 points against both Yale and Harvard, the Quakers have a good shot at winning the Ivy League and surprising Princeton and Yale in the Ivy tournament. The Red and Blue will face all of the other Ancient Eight teams once more over the next month. If Penn can pull off another win against Yale and hand Princeton another loss, Penn has a real shot at winning the Ivy League Championship. Beyond that goal, the NCAA bid is within the Quakers’ reach. Penn has an opportunity to avenge its loss against the Columbia Lions, who sit at the bottom of the league, this coming Friday at 7:00 p.m. in New York City.

Sabine Rutlauka of women’s tennis shows tenacity to the last point In her first year at Penn, Rutlauka is adjusting to the shift from juniors in Latvia to the NCAA ANIKA GURURAJ Sports Associate

If grit could be personified, freshman Sabine Rutlauka of women’s tennis would present the perfect example. In individual sports such as tennis, there is no one to sub in, nowhere to hide when you make mistakes. Yet Rutlauka thrives under this limelight, displaying a tenacity to fight to the last point. “One of the most impressive things about her is that she’s just a relentless fighter,” coach Sanela Kunovac said. “Even if she loses a set and is down in the set, it’s never over with Sabine. She finds a way to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat.” Rutlauka reflects her coach Kunovac’s sentiments, finding confidence in the driver’s seat whenever she plays a match. “I think there’s a reason some people choose individual sports,” Rutlauka said. “I did so because I like to be in control of a situation. Even if it is bad, I will work and turn it around.” In her early years of playing, Rutlauka found tennis as just a hobby. But it gradually developed into an obsession as she would play three times a day, seven days a week. “I started playing tennis when I was six because there were tennis courts near my house,” she said. “We don’t have any high school sports, so it was basically your own initiative. My parents didn’t force me to do it either, it was completely because I loved it.” SEND STORY IDEAS TO DPSPORTS@THEDP.COM

Growing up playing on the junior circuit in Latvia, the individualism of tennis signaled a stark contrast from the experience of playing for the Red and Blue. “Back home, you are basically on your own. Coming here, we are an individual sport, so to have the team spirit is a little harder but we’re learning to make it work,” she said. “It helps with my game because sometimes you get emotional and then you think about how you are representing both your whole team, but also your school, and want to be your best self.” The shift from the junior circuit to collegiate tennis was not an easy one, but Rutlauka was able to make the decision with confidence thanks to her family, and particularly her father. “I am really grateful for my dad. He really created so many opportunities for me and I don’t think I’d be here without him. When speaking with the coach, he really advocated for me. He kind of loves to brag about me,” she commented with a laugh. Collegiate sports are a distinctly American concept, a fact that coach Kunovac was cognizant of when helping Sabine settle into this environment. “I think there is a big difference between juniors and college. In Latvia, they do not have organizations like the NCAA, the big production. Either you play professionally, or you go to school so there is no way to marry the two,” Kunovac said. Before coming to Penn, Rutlauka considered playing professionally, but ultimately decided that a college education was the secure option for her future. “I’ve seen so many girls who hit a certain level

PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER

Freshman Sabine Rutlauka competes in a singles match against Temple on Jan. 19.

and are stuck, so I felt like I needed to go to college and have an education to fall back on. In schools like Penn, the athletes are financially supported and I am given a lot of opportunities, so that was a huge factor,” said Rutlauka. Coach Kunovac envisions a leading role within the team for Rutlauka as she grows more experienced over her collegiate career. “Going into her junior and senior year, I see her

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leading the team and helping her teammates out, much like our current veteran cast is doing. She is such a strong athlete and fierce fighter that I think she could set an example for all her younger teammates in the following years,” said Kunovac. “The sky is the limit for Sabine,” added Kunovac, who believes that Rutlauka could create what she wants out of the future and has the arsenal to do so. CONTACT US: 215-422-4640