January 21, 2021 by The Daily Pennsylvanian

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 VOL. CXXXVII NO. 1

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First years are here.

So are the parties. ABI MURUGADOSS Staff Reporter

MAX MESTER

Within days of moving in, first-year students are reportedly partying in college houses and breaking Penn’s COVID-19 guidelines, angering students, residential advisors, and graduate associates who fear a surge in COVID-19 cases on campus. Some first years previously told The Daily Pennsylvanian during the move-in period from Jan. 10-17 that they were concerned about the efficacy of Penn’s Quiet Period guidelines, which place limits on how students may engage in social interaction. Now, RAs are confirming their fears, telling the DP that first years have been gathering in large groups both indoors and outdoors in close proximity, which some speculated may be because all members of the Class of 2024 were welcomed to campus this semester. College senior and Riepe College House RA Zoe Osborne said students, in violation of Quiet Period guidelines, have been partying in the Quad and swiping in other students who do not reside in the Quad with their PennCards. The Quiet Period, in place until Feb. 1, is a set of guidelines implemented to limit the spread of COVID-19 on campus. Under Quiet Period guidelines, students may not gather in groups larger than 10 students outside and must wear masks and maintain social distancing. Students are not allowed to have visitors in their rooms and should only leave residences for essential purposes. “I just wish the [first years] would take this more seriously and understand, if we can’t do this, if we can’t get through this lockdown period, if we can’t get through this semester safely, we are all going to go home,” Osborne said. Penn established a four-level COVID-19 alert system to indicate the current severity of the pandemic on campus and guide University operations accordingly. The University — which is currently observing Level 2: Heightened Awareness, under which students must follow restrictions placed on gatherings, and access to libraries and gyms may be restricted or denied — may instruct students to leave campus if Level 4: Campus Closure is reached. Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dubé confirmed to the DP that the University is aware of some students who have violated COVID-19 guidelines, both within college houses and off campus.

With excitement and hesitation, the Class of 2024 arrives on campus

“We have gotten reports of transgressions of the Campus Compact that occurred within college houses, and we swiftly reached out to these individuals and intervened appropriately in a commensurate way to the transgression,” Dubé told the DP on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Dubé wrote in an email to the DP that “all recent cases in students have been linked to exposures occurring prior to their arrival on campus,” adding that no COVID-19 clusters among students are currently known. “We are monitoring several groups of students after reported attendance at off-campus parties. The Campus Compact Review Panel is aware and is also involved,” Dubé wrote. He did not mention if students are being monitored for attendance at on-campus parties. But Deputy Provost Beth Winkelstein wrote in an email to the DP on Monday that the College Houses and Academic Services office “has not seen an uptick in ‘parties’ or gatherings” this semester. An RA in the Quad, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from CHAS, said that although a majority of first years are adhering to social distancing rules, there is a notorious minority that is not, adding that they are likely desperate for interaction with classmates. “People are partying in each other’s rooms when they shouldn’t be. I’ve had to bust several parties over the last few days. And in those parties, they’re not wearing masks. They’re getting close together, they’re drinking alcohol, and they’re not practicing social distancing,” the Quad RA said. Nursing senior and Riepe RA Kaylee Arndt said although she has not had to break up parties like her fellow RAGAs, she has dealt with students not wearing masks properly and smaller gatherings that break COVID-19 guidelines. She believes most first years breaking the rules feel invincible from the consequences associated with partying during a pandemic. “It’s their first semester at Penn. They’re trying to make friends. They’re under the impression that the way to do that is to party or to break these rules,” Arndt said. A College first year living in Riepe, who requested anonymity for fear of being socially isolated from her peers, said she saw one student partying in a Penn college house with multiple people on his Instagram story on Friday.

“I know a lot of people just wanted to have a fun [first-year] experience, and while that desire is very understandable, I still feel like that desire is very irresponsible especially at this time because we know that these parties and gatherings are not safe,” the College first year said. The Quad RA also noticed students overcrowding in front of 1920 Commons dining hall while picking up grab-and-go meals. College first-year Arielle Ketchum, who herself has noticed students crowding outside the dining hall, said there were roughly 30 to 40 students outside Commons at 6:00 p.m. on Jan. 12. “There’s not a lot that security does to ask people to back up,” Ketchum said. “People will drag the tables outside of Commons and other tables so that they will be able to sit at a table with 10 to 15 people.” Another RA, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation from CHAS, said the limited jurisdiction RAGAs have over students’ behavior outside the vicinity of their respective dorms makes it more difficult for them to enforce COVID-19 rules. The RA said multiple Lauder College House and Hill College House RAs saw about 30 to 40 students eating lunch outside Hill, unmasked and in close proximity to one another, on Jan. 13. RAGAs were frustrated that, since the students were outside, it was not within their authority to force the students to disperse. The RA added that RAGAs should be prioritized to receive a COVID-19 vaccine because they may need to come in close contact with students while enforcing Quiet Period and Student Campus Compact guidelines. “As much as I try to keep myself distanced and follow all the rules, when I have to break up a group, who knows how many people I’m coming in contact with?” the RA said. Osborne added that students’ disregard for COVID-19 safety measures is a danger to the entire Penn community. “I’m worried for my own safety. I’m worried for the safety of my residents — because some of them are following the rules, but they’re going to be suffering the repercussions of this along with the rest of us — and, of course, my fellow RAGAs and faculty members living in this dorm,” Osborne said. “It’s more than just the [first years] who could get sick because of their actions.”

Joe Biden sworn in as 46th president of the United States The inauguration saw limited attendance due to the recent insurrection and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic PIA SINGH & TORI SOUSA Senior & Staff Reporters

First year students expressed concerns about the clarity and efﬁcacy of Penn’s Quiet Period guidelines

Former Penn Presidential Professor of Practice Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States this afternoon in a ceremony markedly different from any other inauguration in the nation’s history. The inauguration, held on the West Lawn of the Capitol, saw limited attendance due to recent right-wing mob attacks on the Capitol and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After leaders in the Washington region urged Americans earlier this week to stay away from D.C., only about 1,000 guests attended the inauguration in person, most of them members of Congress. “I will be a president for all Americans,” Biden said in his address on the Capitol steps. Biden’s inauguration speech centered around the theme of “America United,” a common focus of the Biden-Harris campaign, which preaches unity amid the dual political and health crises the nation continues to battle.

HELEN RUDOLER & BRANDON BRODWATER Staff Reporters

Penn welcomed students back to on-campus housing this past week for the first time since March, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced campus life to operate remotely. Many first years finally took their first steps down Locust Walk, with some expressing excitement and others voicing concerns about safety. Many students were glad to return to Penn and praised the efficiency of the move-in process, in which students were designated two-hour timeslots, but some expressed concerns about the clarity and effectiveness of the Quiet Period. The Quiet Period, which will last until Feb. 1, requires students to limit movement outside of their residences to essential purposes to curb the spread of the virus. Essential activities permitted under Quiet Period guidelines SEE MOVE-IN PAGE 2

“For the sake of themselves, the University, and the West Philadelphia community, first-year students must hold back from partying or attending large gatherings indoors.” - DP Editorial Board PAGE 7 NFL linebacker and Penn alum Brandon Copeland is teaching EDUC 245: “Urban Financial Literacy: Pedagogy and Practice” this semester. PAGE 9

SEE INAUGURATION PAGE 3

CHASE SUTTON

NEWS Calls grow for Penn to ﬁre prof. who used Nazi phrase

NEWS Where to get tested for COVID-19

PAGE 3

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2 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM

From Guam to rural Iowa, Meet five students admitted early decision to the Class of 2025 SHEILA HODGES Staff Reporter

enn accepted a record-low 15% of applicants to the Class of 2025 through its early decision program this year, offering admission to 1,194 students — about half of the incoming class. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which rocked admissions processes nationwide, the University decided the submission of SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Test scores would be optional. Out of the total number of admitted ED students, 24% did not submit test scores. Admitted students from the ED pool hail from 56 countries and 43 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam. Thirteen percent of the accepted ED students are international. Of those who are American citizens or permanent residents, 50% identify as students of color, a slight decrease from 52% last year. Twelve percent are first-generation college students, which is a 2% increase from last year. The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke with five members of the Class of 2025, each of whom will pursue a variety of programs, about their interests in Penn and the impact of COVID-19 on their college application processes. Incoming College first year Lauren Coleman was anxiously awaiting her decision for a week before she finally received it. Alone in her room in New York, she began screaming when she read her acceptance, prompting her mom to rush into the room and celebrate the news. Coleman said her older sister, College senior and former DP News Editor Julie Coleman, helped inspire her decision to apply ED. “Because my sister had gone to Penn and obviously loved it, it made me have a better outlook and feel more confident EDing there even though I hadn’t been able to visit many other schools,” she said. Coleman was also drawn to Penn because it offers a Native American and Indigenous studies minor as opposed to other schools she was looking at, such as Vanderbilt University and Georgetown University, which solely offer a few related courses. Like tens of thousands of other applicants, the pandemic led to a few disruptions in Coleman’s application. She was one of the 38% of ED applicants who chose not to include standardized testing as part of their application this year. After only being able to take the SAT once in March of her junior year, for which she said she felt unprepared, she decided to hold off submitting her score after test dates post-March were canceled due to the pandemic. Coleman said the pandemic did not greatly inhibit her extracurricular activities and schooling, adding that she felt lucky the majority of her activities besides tennis were able to continue online.

I’m excited to just be surrounded by so many different perspectives by people who come from so many different places. LAUREN COLEMAN, Class of 2025

Coming from an all-girls school, the Nightingale-Bamford School, she is now most looking forward to engaging with Penn’s diverse student body. “It is going to be a huge difference, but I think that [it] is something I really need because I have been at the same school since I was five years old,” Coleman said. “What I do love about my school is being able to have a close community, but I feel like although Penn is bigger, there will be so many ways to still have that community.” Incoming College and Wharton first year Analina Koh told her family not to be in the room when she opened her decision — just in case she got rejected. When she saw confetti erupt on her

MOVE-IN

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include going to University testing sites, ordering contactless food delivery, engaging in outdoor exercise, spending time outside with no more than 10 students, and conducting approved lab or research activities. Students must wear masks and practice social distancing during these activities. College first-year Sofia Wawrzyniak, who moved into Lauder College House on Jan. 12, said her confidence in Penn’s reopening plan is “shaky.” “A lot of people I’ve talked to still aren’t sure what the quiet period is,” Wawrzyniak said, adding that she wished Penn would have communicated the guidelines more effectively. Penn announced its Quiet Period regulations in an Oct. 30 email to undergraduates, instructing students to limit contact to those within their social pods and leave residences only for essential reasons. A Jan. 6 College Houses and Academic Services email to campus residents and a Jan. 14 University-wide email to undergraduates contained more detailed instructions and a list of acceptable Quiet Period activities. College first-year Michael Nolan felt that the regulations were clear, but wished Penn would have released the guidelines earlier. “It felt like [Quiet Period guidelines were] dropped on us late,” Nolan said. He found the move-in process to be a positive experience, adding that his first few days on campus have been more fun than he expected

screen, she was shocked to find out that she was accepted into Penn’s prestigious Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, her first choice. Koh said she was drawn to the program due to her interests in becoming proficient in Korean and because she believes the program will engage her interests in linguistics and business. “I joke a lot about where I am from because I’m from Guam, a descendant of Malaysian Chinese, and I lived in Singapore for half my life,” Koh said. “I come from all these countries and I know that I have a global perspective. I know I have a global heart.” She said Penn’s diverse community drew her to apply to the University as well, adding that she liked how the students come from a variety of different backgrounds. “Everyone gets together and it is energy. Whenever I talk to Penn students it makes me so happy,” Koh said. “It just brings out the best in me. I just love the Penn community.”

Dec. 1 I already knew where I was going — and it was binding. It was very exciting. CARSON SARGENT, Class of 2025

While Koh was able to submit her SAT and SAT Subject Test scores in her application — which she said she was satisfied with after taking the tests prior to the pandemic — she was unable to visit Penn in person before applying. Instead, Koh said she has been relying on virtual tours to get to know the campus until she can safely visit for the first time. Once on campus, Koh said she wants to get involved in both preprofessional and fun clubs, such as Kite and Key, Wharton Ambassadors, and Penn Tea Club. Incoming College first year Carson Sargent first heard about Penn when he received an email from the College Board that invited him to apply to the QuestBridge National College Match program. Sargent, who is from Keokuk, Iowa, was ultimately chosen out of 18,500 QuestBridge applicants to match with a university and earn a full ride scholarship. Penn was one of his top choices. “I opened [the QuestBridge decision] up, and I just drove around for the next 50 minutes with my mouth wide open,” Sargent said. In the months before he applied to Penn, Sargent said many of his extracurriculars — such as his science fairs, all-state concerts, and jazz competitions — were all canceled due to the pandemic. He said he was able to submit his ACT score from a test he took in December 2019. Sargent said he was interested in Penn for its Economics Department, as he plans to major in mathematical economics in the College. With the aspiration of one day working for the United States Census Bureau, he added that he hopes to research at the Federal Statistical Research Data Center, which Penn and three other institutions helped establish in 2016. Hoping to arrive on campus in the fall, Sargent said he is most looking forward to exploring the history of Philadelphia and meeting people outside of rural Iowa who share his interests. “I really hope that my first semester can be at least partially in person,” Sargent said. “If it is not, I understand. Whatever it takes to keep people safe. I do not believe that colleges are the bad guys for having regulations.” Seated beside her brother, incoming College and Wharton first year Amarachi Mbadugha cried immediately after receiving her acceptance to Penn. Mbadugha, who was born in Nigeria and now lives in Laurel, Md., will join Penn’s Life Sciences and Management Dual Degree Program. She plans to major in biochemistry in the College and healthcare management in Wharton. “I was crying so much first from seeing the confetti, but when

as a result of meeting other first years and socializing within the guidelines. “It’s been a lot more fun than I expected,” Nolan said. “Seeing people again and like talking to people has been really great.“ Nolan said, however, that he has seen groups of first years sitting and eating very close together outside of 1920 Commons and is concerned that some students are not taking regulations as seriously as they should be. College first-year and Quad resident Shrey Khatiwada voiced a similar sentiment, adding that “some of the rules and regulations they put in don’t add up.” Khatiwada noticed that in the Quad, some students are assigned to bathrooms two floors away from their room, causing extra traffic in the halls. Some students, including College first-year Talia Stern and Wharton first-year Augie Irving, who are both Quad residents, said they did not see much of a difference between the Quiet Period and commonly implemented stay-at-home COVID-19 restrictions. Stern noted that although regulations are less strict than she expected, she still feels safe, expressing confidence in Penn’s capacity to control the virus. Wawrzyniak said she also feels safe on campus because she has seen many people wearing masks. College first-year and Quad resident Olivia Mayfryer said she felt Penn was taking social distancing seriously. While she was getting food at 1920 Commons, she saw dining staff ask a group of congregated students to spread apart. During the Quiet Period, dining hall meals are

I actually read that I got into LSM I started to sob,” Mbadugha said, adding that her parents were equally as excited when they found out as well. “I know [the LSM program accepts] 25 [students] each year, so I am really interested to see if we are in small classes or whether we spread out and go our different ways based on concentrations,” she said. Mbadugha had plans of visiting Penn for the first time during spring break of her junior year in high school, but she was unable due to shutdowns in response to increasing COVID-19 cases in Maryland. Instead, she said she relied on virtual tours on Penn’s website and Penn YouTubers such as Wharton junior Domonique Malcolm and College sophomore Lah’Nasia Shider. She added that participating in Penn Early Exploration Program and Penn In Focus, programs for high school seniors from underrepresented communities, helped her learn more about the University from admissions officers. “Everything about the school just made me want to come there, so I was like, ‘Why not rank it my top number one school?’” Mbadugha said. Like her peers, the pandemic hindered Mbadugha from continuing certain extracurricular activities, such as volunteering in her local clinic during her senior year after doing so in her junior year. She also chose not to include her SAT scores in her application, as she said she was dissatisfied with her first score from a December 2019 test and was unable to retake it. At Penn, Mbadugha hopes to get involved with Makuu: The Black Cultural Center’s community and Kite and Key, since she found the club very helpful in showing her what life was like at Penn, and hopes to do the same for future prospective students.

I have actually never been to the States before, but I have been to virtual tours and I’ve seen pictures. I just know that I will emjoy it either way because the people are so amazing. ANALINA KOH, Class of 2025

Just hearing from different students and admissions officers about their experiences and things Penn has to offer, I was like ‘Wow I really want to go here.’ AMARACHI MBADUGHA, Class of 2025

served in a “grab-and-go” format to discourage crowding. Mayfryer added that in her experience, students were adhering to the Quiet Period to the point where she felt lonely. She said she does not see many students moving around campus except for necessities. College first-year Zoe Millstein also felt the restrictions were being taken seriously, adding that although she is bored during the day because she is making an effort to follow the guidelines, she feels safe on campus. “If I’m trying to stay safe and making friends who are also being safe, I’ll be okay,” said Millstein. June Ahn, a College first year living in Lauder, said he “met more people in the first two days than all of last semester” and was impressed with Penn’s testing efforts. Undergraduates must get a saliva test twice per week at one of several testing locations on campus. Some students expressed fear that Penn may eventually close campus housing and send students back home, citing peer institution Stanford University, which closed spring housing days before most undergraduates were set to move in. “I’m definitely surprised that we’re all here,” Khatiwada said. Wawrzyniak echoed this, adding that she felt both excitement and hesitation about coming to campus. “I thought being home in the fall was almost a blessing because I got to spend time with my family, so I’m a bit sad to see them go,” Wawrzyniak said. “But I’m happy to be here now, I just hope nothing happens.”

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NEWS 3

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Students demand Penn fire anthropology professor who used Nazi phrase and salute Two days after the video surfaced, the Anthropology department canceled a class Schuyler was scheduled to teach in the spring

ELIZABETH MEISENZAHL Staff Reporter

enn professor Robert Schuyler used a Nazi salute and phrase at an archaeological conference earlier this month in an attempt to reference free speech suppression in Nazi Germany, sparking widespread backlash. Penn has since canceled Schuyler’s spring class — but calls for his firing from students and his colleagues persist. Schuyler, an Anthropology professor and associate curator-in-charge at the Penn Museum, held his arm in a Nazi salute and said, “Sieg heil to you” after believing a fellow speaker at the conference suppressed his speech by cutting him off. Schuyler told The Daily Pennsylvanian on Jan. 9 that he used the Nazi victory phrase and salute to reference the limits on free speech in Nazi Germany, but added that he does not endorse Nazism. The conference’s moderator granted Schuyler permission to speak while University of York Ph.D. candidate Liz Quinlan answered a question about increasing accessibility to future virtual conferences. Schuyler urged members to attend the Society for Historical Archaeology conference in Philadelphia in 2022 and asked how the pandemic affected SHA membership renewals. Deeming the question off topic, Quinlan tried to redirect the conversation back to virtual conference accessibility. “I’m sorry, but I have freedom of speech, and you’re not going to tell me it’s not the place for me to bring this up,” Schuyler said before using the Nazi phrase and salute. To several students who began calling for his firing,

however, Schuyler’s explanation did not justify his use of the Nazi salute and phrase. “There’s really no context that I think can justify that gesture and that wording,” College senior Sarah Simon told the DP. Other students, including College senior Carson Eckhard, urged Penn to fire Schuyler to set an example for how institutions should deal with hateful speech. “The University needs to forcefully condemn any kind of Nazi rhetoric and make sure that it doesn’t have a place at Penn,” Eckhard said. School of Arts and Sciences Dean Steven Fluharty, the Penn Museum, and Penn Hillel released statements condemning Schuyler’s use of the Nazi phrase and salute, but University spokesperson Stephen MacCarthy declined to comment on Jan. 11 whether Penn is considering firing him. “Such behavior has no place in our academic discourse, which aims to celebrate the open exchange of ideas in an environment that promotes civility, respect, and inclusion,” Fluharty wrote. “Nazi symbols are antithetical to our values as an institution.” Two days after the video surfaced, Anthropology Department Chair Kathleen Morrison canceled ANTH 220: “Historical Archaeology Laboratory” for the spring semester, which Schuyler was scheduled to teach. Students — including several who were registered for ANTH 220 — supported Morrison’s decision to cancel the class, but continued to pressure Penn to fire Schuyler. On Jan. 11, College junior Dana Raphael launched a petition demanding that Penn fire Schuyler. The petition has since garnered over 1,850 signatures. “It’s the University’s responsibility as a well-renowned scholarly institution to take action in the right direction and to make sure that Robert Schuyler is no

INAUGURATION

>> FRONT PAGE

“Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded,” Biden said. “At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.” He spoke of challenges facing America, namely the pandemic, the economy, and racial injustice. “To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words,” he said. “It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity.” Biden was declared victorious against former President and 1968 Wharton graduate Donald Trump on Nov. 7 after he was projected to win Pennsylvania, propelling him above the 270 electoral votes necessary to win the election. Trump has since repeatedly refused to accept the election results, resulting in him being impeached for a historic second time. He was also the first president to skip his successor’s inauguration since Andrew Johnson in 1869. Biden was sworn in just after noon by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and Kamala Harris, the first woman, Black American, and Asian American to be vice president, was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The inauguration included a televised virtual “Parade Across America,” showcasing various organizations across the nation, such as the Youth Empowerment Project from Louisiana and the Chinese Cultural Arts Center from Delaware. A virtual lighting ceremony aired on Jan. 19 as a tribute to the over 400,000 American lives lost to COVID-19. As Trump left the White House on Wednesday morning, he spoke to a small crowd and touted various accomplishments made during his term. He wished the new administration “great luck and great success,” but did not name either Biden or Harris. “Have a good life — we will see you soon,” Trump said to his audience. Penn President Amy Gutmann, who attended the inauguration, praised Biden’s longstanding relationship with the Penn community in a Jan. 20 Instagram post. “[Biden’s] curiosity in each person within the Penn community was meaningful and real, and is a great testament to his character, his impact, and undoubtedly the way he’ll approach governing our nation,” Gutmann wrote. Due to the restricted nature of the event, far fewer Penn students attended the inauguration ceremony than in a more typical election season. Members of Penn Democrats’ Executive Board, many of whom volunteered to aid the Biden-Harris campaign, expressed their excitement for the president to take office as they watched the inauguration from home. “After such a chaotic and dangerous presidency, it’s comforting to see a person with such compassion and leadership inaugurated as our next president,” College sophomore and Penn Dems Political Director Noah Lewine said. “We’re incredibly hopeful for all of the progressive policy that the Biden administration will have the opportunity to enact.” Wharton sophomore Holly Anderson, who serves as Penn Dems’ communications director, added that she is eager for Biden and Harris to take office and begin acting on their campaign promises. “Between a $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package, aggressive climate action, and day-one commitment to modernize our immigration policies, this administration has their work cut out for them,” Anderson said. “Our club believes that Biden must remember who elected him to office and enact progressive policies that support working class Americans.” Biden was appointed to the honorary position of Benjamin Franklin presidential practice professor in early 2017. While he did not teach classes or appear on Penn’s campus frequently, he opened the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement in D.C. a year later, which continues to be a resource for students. Biden took an unpaid leave of absence from his role at the Center after announcing he was running for president in April 2019. Several of Biden’s family members have also attended the University, including his late son, 1991 College graduate Beau Biden, his daughter, 2010 School of Social Policy & Practice graduate Ashley Biden, and granddaughter, 2016 College graduate Naomi Biden. Biden also has two granddaughters, College senior Finnegan Biden and College sophomore Maisy Biden, who are currently at Penn.

ALANA KELLY

longer a professor at this institution,” Raphael told the DP. “Condemnation is not enough.” Since then, Schuyler has also faced criticism from his colleagues outside of Penn. Quinlan, the Ph.D. student Schuyler directed the Nazi salute and phrase at, co-wrote an open letter last week to Penn administration along with Harvard University Ph.D. student Melina Seabrook and Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History Ph.D. student Ayushi Nayak. The letter demands that Penn place Schuyler on administrative leave immediately, conduct a review of Penn’s grievance procedures so it can better address future instances of discriminatory behavior, and fire Schuyler. Addressed to Penn’s Anthropology faculty, Fluharty, and Co-Interim Directors of the Penn Museum Melissa Smith, Amanda Mitchell-Boyask, and Steve Tinney, the letter has gained more than 300 signatures supporting its demands as of Friday, Nayak said. “We wrote this letter because this sort of stuff happens all the time in academia, and there isn’t ever any form of accountability,” Nayak told the DP. “We wanted to put our voices out there, loudly and firmly against something like this.”

4 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

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COVID-19 testing sites

NEWS 5

1. TENT, DUBOIS/ RODIN/HIGH RISE FIELD

A guide to where and when students can get tested for COVID-19 on campus

The tent on high rise field is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. Testing is saliva-based for screening asymptomatic individuals.

2.TENT, RICHARDS PLAZA

The tent at Richards Plaza is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Testing is salivabased for screening asymptomatic individuals.

3.ANNENBERG CENTER FOR THE PERFOMING ARTS

The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Testing is saliva-based for screening asymptomatic individuals.

4. IRON GATE THEATRE

Iron Gate Theatre is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday through Friday. Testing is saliva-based for screening asymptomatic individuals.

3. 5.

5. IRVINE AUDITORIUM

7. 8.

6. 2.

When to get tested Undergraduate students must get tested twice a week as part of the Penn Cares COVID19 response program.

First years and sophomores: Monday and Thursday Juniors: Tuesday and Friday Seniors: Wednesday and Saturday

Irvine Auditorium is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Testing is performed on symptomatic/close-contact individuals using a nasal swab.

6. HOUSTON HALL Houston Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Testing is saliva-based for screening asymptomatic individuals.

7. PALESTRA CONCOURSE

The Palestra Concourse is open from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Testing is salivabased for screening asymptomatic individuals.

8. TENT, ACE ADAMS SOUTH

The tent at Ace Adams South Field, located within Penn Park, is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Testing is saliva-based for screening asymptomatic individuals.

*Student athletes may pick any two-day pair. PHOTOS BY KYLIE COOPER | DESIGN BY ISABEL LIANG

6 NEWS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

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In Photos: Spring Move-In 2021 From Jan. 10-17, thousands of students returned to campus for the spring semester during a move-in period unlike any other. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what it looked like.

PHOTO ESSAY BY MAX MESTER

MAX MESTER

SUKHMANI KAUR

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KYLIE COOPER

Need help finding your home for Fall 2021? W e have yo u r bac k. A P PLY F RE E TO D AY theradian.com | 215-222-4212

ANDREA MENDOZA

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OPINION 7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

OPINION First-year students: Coming to campus isn’t an excuse to party

EDITORIAL

THURSDAY JANUARY 21, 2021 VOL. CXXXVII, NO. 1 137th Year of Publication DANE GREISIGER President ASHLEY AHN Executive Editor HADRIANA LOWENKRON DP Editor-in-Chief ISABEL LIANG Design Editor CONOR MURRAY News Editor PIA SINGH News Editor HANNAH GROSS Assignments Editor BRITTANY DARROW Copy Editor KYLIE COOPER Photo Editor

ALICE CHOI

ALFREDO PRATICÒ Opinion Editor

Compact and could result in serious disciplinary consequences. Furthermore, campus closure is a real possibility if there are a sufficient number of COVID19 cases. If students contract COVID-19 through a party or other large gathering, they’re not just punishing themselves; they’re jeopardizing a semester that hundreds of people have worked so hard to build for thousands. More important than University consequences are health ones. As a whole, 18-year-olds are unlikely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19. However, unlikely does not mean impossible. Moreover, long-term health consequences, including cardiac and lung problems, are a very real possibility for young people who have recovered from the disease. All of this comes on top of the risk that students pose to the broader Philadelphia community. COVID-19 has devastated Philadelphia residents. By the time Penn students are infected, they will likely have interacted with restaurant employees

t long last, Penn’s campus has reopened. With extensive testing procedures in place, vaccinations initiated, and students permitted in on-campus housing, Penn students and faculty are able to return to some degree of normalcy, albeit through a hybrid semester and mostly online classes. However, our semester is already in jeopardy. Online, there have been reports of first-year students partying in on-campus locations such as the Quad. But, for the sake of themselves, the University, and the West Philadelphia community, first-year students must hold back from partying or attending large gatherings indoors. The temptation to hang out with peers and make new friends is understandable, especially given the very real isolation COVID-19 has brought to campus. However, it is one that first-year students must resist. Partying in the middle of a pandemic is something expressly prohibited by the University’s Student Campus

and grocery store workers who may not have the same access to treatment as us Ivy League students. None of this is to say that all first-year students must isolate themselves from the campus community. Small outdoor gatherings, as well as time spent with individuals in your household or pod, are good alternatives to attending parties. Nor is this to say that only first-year students are likely to engage in risky behavior. Upperclassmen, especially members of off-campus fraternities, hosted prohibited gatherings in the fall, and they must refrain from doing the same this semester. COVID-19 has been hard for everyone. First years have made countless sacrifices, giving up social gatherings and happiness, and they have been robbed of a traditional college experience for the time being. However, that experience will come. For now, first-year students must remain diligent — and refrain from partying.

SUNNY JANG Audience Engagement Editor

Greek life: will you help or hurt our COVID-19 count?

BRANDON PRIDE Sports Editor

Isabella’s Impressions | Greek life must lead Penn’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19

LOCHLAHN MARCH Sports Editor SOPHIE HUANG Video Editor QIANA ARTIS Podcast Editor ALESSANDRA PINTADOURBANC Business Manager PETER CHEN Technology Manager JASPER HUANG Analytics Manager GREG FERREY Marketing Manager EMILY CHEN Product Lab Manager ERIC HOANG Consulting Manager

THIS ISSUE ALANA KELLY DP Design Editor ALICE HEYEH 34st Design Editor QUINN ROBINSON Deputy Design Editor

or some, the second semester at Penn stirs up memories of long lines of black parkas snaking the sidewalks, social calendars packed with date nights and formals, and newfound bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood. These are elements of the Greek life culture that capture the attention of some Penn students during formal recruitment each spring semester. This year, recruitment will look different as Greek organizations adapt the rush ritual to comply with Penn’s Student Campus Compact. While formal rush is virtual and sets a good precedent for the incoming first years, this adherence to COVID-19 restrictions should not be a facade. Greek life organizations must follow Penn’s Student Campus Compact to set the tone for the semester. This spring, formal recruitment will be held virtually. This meant serious training in the last few months so recruitment chairs would be prepared to use Zoom in order to conduct recruitment with relative ease. Additionally, more informal virtual conversations between prospective and active members have

been taking place to answer questions about the rush process and give prospective members a better sense of the Greek culture. Greek life has, therefore, seemingly transitioned to a virtual platform, but this accordance with restrictions and regulations should not be limited to the formal rush process. Just because rush is being conducted virtually does not mean that Greek life could not be responsible for any potential spread of COVID19 on campus in the future. Other outlets for spread could include Bid Day or Bid Night events that bring on- and off-campus residents indoors without masks, outdoors in groups greater than 10, or to any other parties thrown off campus. Greek life, however, has the potential to take the lead this semester and show their predominantly firstyear new members how to have a safe, yet rewarding, semester. If Greek organizations were to neglect COVID-19 precautions and instead endorse the notion of herd immunity or rely on youth as a safeguard from the negative repercussions of COVID-19, the consequences could be immense.

While the data remains elusive, it is said that individuals can be reinfected by COVID-19. Other universities, such as the University of Tennessee, have seen the contagious nature of Greek partying during the fall. Even in Philadelphia, unsanctioned Greek life parties occurred. Penn’s director of Campus Health Ashlee Halbritter found that at one un-

named Philadelphia Greek House, 39% of the students living there tested positive for COVID-19. Even on Penn’s campus, parties were captured by the Instagram account @irresponsibleatpenn. While it may sound cliché, Penn

truly is a community. The actions taken by a few can ripple outwards and affect others. If Greek organizations become super-spreaders, the entire Penn and West Philadelphia community could potentially face greater risk of contracting COVID-19. Penn feared the problems associated with Greek life and communal housing this past semester after hearing reports of large gatherings, prompting more widespread testing and mitigation efforts. The University recognizes that Greek organizations are not isolated from Penn, and that they could spur spikes in positive rates of COVID-19. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s website includes a statement about the people involved in Greek life: “We are the vanguard, the forward-thinking leaders of the fraternity and sorority community at Penn, and we’re here to reinvent the meaning of Greek.” Reinventing what it means to be Greek starts now. Being social and building relationships does not need to happen in a crowded backlot or at a downtown event. Whatever the means, it is time

for Greek organizations to prove they can foster forward-thinking leadership and create outside-ofthe-box solutions in the face of an obstacle. Fraternities and sororities must embody the values that OFSL claims it follows as the semester progresses. First years will benefit from health-minded, risk averse leadership from Greek organizations, and the ripple effect of Greek leadership could prove to be intrinsically connected to the success Penn has in limiting COVID-19. Members themselves can mitigate the risks taken by their respective organizations by speaking up to executive board members if they feel uncomfortable and concerned with the actions of their peers or the chapter as a whole. Greek life cannot optout of the pandemic, so the chapters must step up or face the consequences. ISABELLA GLASSMAN is a College sophomore studying Philosophy, Politics, & Economics from Suffern, N.Y. Her email is iglass@sas.upenn.edu.

AVA CRUZ Design Associate NATHAN ADLER Design Associate ALICE CHOI Design Associate REBEKAH LEE Design Associate MAX MESTER News Photo Editor ANA GLASSMAN Opinion Photo Editor SAMANTHA TURNER Sports Photo Editor NICKY BELGRAD Associate Sports Editor AGATHA ADVINCULA Deputy Opinion Editor VARUN SARASWATHULA Deputy Opinion Editor VALERIE WANG Deputy Opinion Editor SOPHIE NADEL Copy Associate JORDAN WACHSMAN Copy Associate TIFFANY PARK Copy Associate MAAYAN WALDMAN Copy Associate

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

Pass/Fail is still around. Don’t overlook it as an academic tool. Wanna be a Baller | Penn’s continuation of the P/F option gives students both the strength and stability to succeed

his time last year we were all oblivious to what 2020 had in store for the world. But as the year began to unravel, the pandemic’s toll on every element of life became apparent. All planning went out the window; we left campus, the nonessential aspects of our daily lives transformed and we adapted to participating in a mostly virtual student environment. Now that Penn is welcoming everyone back to campus, we are beginning to gain a piece of what we abruptly lost after spring break last year. Taking baby steps towards getting back to our prepandemic normal is vital, but it’s important to note that some things have not changed, but instead have worsened. As of Jan. 19, over 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19; nothing short of alarming. Penn’s pioneering decision to extend the opt-in pass/fail grading system is an indispensable resource for Penn students. The policy will play a positive and essential role in many students’ ability to be productive and successful during the pandemic. Princeton University is also continuing to address its students’ pandemic-related needs by offering a pass/D/fail grading policy this spring. Although some of our other peer institutions are not offering their students this same type of flexibility with grading this term, it is evident that disadvantages have not decreased since the beginning of the pandemic. A portion of students remain unable to access a secure internet connection and/or a safe place to live and study. The upcoming semester will not resemble a prepandemic semester. It will have hurdles and students will continue to be hindered by barriers that they will not be able to control. Ultimately, a pass/fail system remains as necessary this spring as it was last spring. My work with the Student Committee on Undergraduate Education has provided me the opportunity to work closely with an abundance of dedicated body members. I recently caught up with SCUE Chair and Engineering junior Aidan Young about his thoughts regarding Penn’s response to

the pandemic. He shared, “I think the administration has done [a] fantastic job understanding student concerns and responding to them as soon as they are brought up, including the recent pass/ fail decision, housing, etc.” I also spoke with College senior and former SCUE Chair Carson Eckhard, who added, “I was really excited about the Dean’s decision to extend pass/fail, I think it shows a commitment to student wellness during the pandemic.” I agree with Young and Eckhard — although there have been many shocking ups and downs, Penn has been consistently responsive to the ranging needs of its students and community members. Penn should continue to offer the opt-in pass/fail option as a tool for any and all Penn students who feel they will benefit from participating. Although there are some perceived drawbacks to having pass/fail courses noted on a student’s transcript, we shouldn’t assume these notations will be looked at from a negative perspective. Ultimately, a student’s decision to opt in does not reflect their intellectual curiosity — it illuminates a practical response to an uncontrollable situation. COVID-19 has tainted and changed every aspect of American life, including academia. We will evolve from the deviations that have become essential to us. Our evolution should include a more pragmatic assessment of our grading system. It is hard to evaluate the magnitude of transformation that has and will continue to impact the world as a result of COVID-19. However, there is a great deal of beauty in the ways we have all shown up and combated the distinct transformations and sadnesses that have influenced the majority of us over the last year or so. No perfect remedy can be accessed during continuous change and chaos, but an everlasting space remains for appreciation and gratitude towards Penn’s thoughtful and compassionate student policies. JESSICA GOODING is a College senior from Philadelphia studying History and English. Her email is jgooding@sas.upenn.edu.

Is the pandemic already over? Dedalus | Medically, COVID-19 is still with us. But you wouldn’t know that by looking at Penn students.

t’s interesting to look back at how people’s attitudes toward COVID-19 have changed over the past year. Back in February 2020, when I was attending a boarding high school in Maryland, I was explicitly forbidden by my teachers from wearing a mask, even though my parents, a month into their self-quarantine in Shanghai, had mailed me a box of N95 masks. By April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first advised people to wear cloth face coverings in public. My friends refused to meet me at the tennis court fearing that their friends would judge them for being selfish and irresponsible. I flew back to China in April and have not returned to the United States since. Flipping through my social media pages, however, it seems that people’s attitudes toward COVID-19 have changed again. Trendy posts of outdoor dining and socially distant picnics from the summer were replaced by pictures of unmasked gatherings, oblivious to the fact that we are living amid a global pandemic. Many Penn first years who moved in during the fall semester posted pictures of themselves having a blast with their new squads in close quarters, all smiling without masks. I imagine that for my future peers, hanging out unmasked has become socially acceptable again. In contrast to the new social norm is a gloomy medical reality. Pennsylvania’s daily COVID-19 case count and hospitalizations peaked in mid-December, reaching over 10,000 new cases per day and 6,000 hospitalizations. In response to the surging COVID-19 cases, the CDC recommended universal mask-wearing for the first time, including indoors. This raises the question: Why do sensible people consciously violate official health guidelines? The answer, as Gina Kolata of The New York Times argues, lies in the conflict between the medical and social elements of the pandemic: Medically, the pandemic ends when the number of new COVID-19 cases and COVID-19-related deaths drop, but socially, the pandemic ends when the fear of the disease disappears. In other words, the social pandemic is over when we individuals — not public health experts — decide it’s over. It’s important to recognize that the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic will not only be a medical process but also a sociopolitical one. Some state governments, for example, insisted on reopening

the economy despite an upward trend in the number of new cases. Likewise, Penn’s decision to welcome all undergraduates back to live on campus is not only informed by effective testing and tracing, but also because Penn depends on us to plug its projected $91 million budget deficit. Students’ decisions to disregard health guidelines are based on individual cost-benefit analyses, which weigh both personal health and the fear of missing out socially. To be clear, I’m not singling out my peers for breaking social distancing rules. In fact, their behavior is representative of most Americans, who are simply tired of lockdowns, curfews, and self-quarantines. A Gallup poll from November shows that 49% of Americans would be very likely to stay home for a month if public health officials recommended it, down from 67% in early April. As the crisis drags on, people have stopped recognizing COVID-19 as an existential threat and have instead begun to treat it as a fact of life — hence the end of the social pandemic. Ryan McMaken, a senior editor at the Mises Institute, aptly analogizes this trend to people’s increasing tolerance of the risk of speeding: Everyone understands that driving at 55 mph saves lives, but some still choose to exceed the speed limit ignoring the fact that 9,378 deaths in 2018 involved speeding. By the same token, those who ignore public health recommendations have done their calculations and decided the risk of infection is worth the reward, whatever it may be. Given that college students are less vulnerable to COVID-19, it should surprise no one if they see a social end of the pandemic even with no medical end in sight. Therefore, I see no point in echoing calls for “holding your peers accountable” in the spring semester; it’s up to individual Penn students to follow the health guidelines, though I doubt many will. When future historians construct a narrative on how the COVID-19 pandemic dragged on, we will be remembered for defying health guidelines out of our own self-interests, and run the very real risk of being nailed to history’s pillar of shame. BRUCE SHEN is a College first year from Shanghai, China studying German Studies. His email address is xshen01@sas.upenn.edu.

8 SPORTS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

ESFORMES

The Ivy League could be playing basketball right now

worked closely with the Trump administration on criminal justice reform legislation. According to Aleph, Esformes donated $65,000 to the group over a period of several years beginning after his indictment. It is common for presidents to use the final days of their terms to grant executive clemency to a large number of inmates. Former President Barack Obama granted clemency to 1,927 people convicted of federal crimes, including 330 on his last full day in office. Trump has granted clemency 206 times. Howard Srebnick, Esformes’ attorney, did not provide any explicit comments on his client’s commuation, but said in a statement per the Chicago Tribune that the decision from the White House shows “that the president was deeply disturbed by the prosecutors’ invasion of the attorney-client privilege.”

>> PAGE 10

the Miami Herald. “Did that happen here? Seeing this decision today and knowing the history of health care fraud in South Florida, it’s tough not to become cynical about the justice system.” At first glance, Esformes’ commutation sticks out when compared to the other names on the list of 15 pardons and five commutations from the president on Dec. 22. Many of the people who received clemency on Tuesday were former public Trump allies who were implicated in political scandals. Esformes, on the other hand, has been an active donor to several Democratic Party candidates, according to the Herald. However, The New York Times reported that Esformes’ support for the Aleph Institute, a Jewish humanitarian organization that advocates prisoners’ rights, played a role in his commutation. Aleph

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM

2021-22

TYLER KLIEM

There will be no games at the Palestra this year, no conference tournament, and no chance to see Penn men’s or women’s basketball in March Madness.

June 1 - July 23.

SPORTS | All other Division I in March Madness. The league decision, which came from the conferences are in action MICHAEL LANDAU Sports Editor

It’s January, which means we’re in the heart of the college basketball season. It isn’t a normal season, of course, with the COVID-19 pandemic still raging across the country. Thirty-one of the 32 Division I conferences are currently competing, however — with the Ivy League the lone exception. That means no games at the Palestra this year, no conference tournament, and no chance to see Penn men’s or women’s basketball (or both!)

Feb. 7

A Project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center

SUDOKUPUZZLE

Skill Level:

8 4 5 6 Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) 1 6 3 contains every digit 1 to 9. Solution to Previous Puzzle: 4 5 1 Check back next 6 1 5 8 Thursday for 4 9 6 3 answers to today’s puzzle! 7 5 8 6 1 5 4 7 1 8 The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For 7 5 2Information 9 Call: 1-800-972-3550 prizesudoku For Release Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 Create and solve your Sudoku puzzles for FREE.

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NEWYORKTIMESCROSSWORDPUZZLE Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS

5 Language in which a nutty person might be told “Yer bum’s oot the windae”

10 Hunting store purchase

14 Hook’s henchman 15 Stamp holder 16 Birthday ___ 17 Basic idea

18 Items that are hard to throw away? 20 Remedy

22 Troublemaker of 1-Down 23 Important piece in échecs

24 Money-collecting org.

25 Word included to prevent libel, say 28 Rough write-up 30 Ballet basic

31 Losing tic-tac-toe row 32 Cry of dismay in 5-Across 34 Singer/songwriter Corinne Bailey ___ 35 Landed 36 Work suggested by this puzzle’s circled and shaded squares 41 Strongly advocate 42 -: Abbr. 43 One of the Kennedys 44 Pudding flavor 45 Big name in in-flight internet 46 ___ Nadu (Indian state) 50 America ___, star of TV’s “Ugly Betty” 52 Extinct flightless bird 54 Lead-in to puncture 55 Actress Chaplin 56 Like an unused air mattress

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE T R A C H E A

O H I O A R T

P E R S I S T S

S A C R A R S E A C C R H A C C K R E E R T E

S T A M P

K E F I R S

O S H P E E T C A R P E A Y S C A L E T W I R N S A V I R E C S E A T F I I I E N T B O T H N S E

P A R E N

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S L E E P Y

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Check back next Thursday for answers to today’s H L Epuzzle! E E R A M I G A S

K E N O B I

C R A V E N

I T R O N A N M T O S E

V O L T A S E A R E A K A D E O N D S I N O T L E G O

58 That’s gnus to me! 61 Shortcoming 62 Word before rich or talk 63 Rent 64 Swiss Alp next to Lake Lucerne 65 Just OK 66 Small and pointyeared, perhaps 67 What “exaggerated” is sometimes misspelled with DOWN 1 Mythical realm accessible only by the rainbow bridge Bifrost 2 Key to this puzzle’s theme? 3 Greek goddess of the hearth 4 Sight on Disney World’s Expedition Everest ride 5 Flavor: Sp. 6 Sticks together 7 Instrument featured in 36-Across 8 Rum ___ Tugger (“Cats” cat) 9 Most foul 10 Up 11 Puttering around? 12 Flavor enhancer 13 Exclamations of surprise 19 Credit line? 21 Leave behind 25 ___ Freed, early radio personality who coined the term “rock ’n’ roll”

25 30

43 46

MICHAEL LANDAU is a Wharton senior from Scarsdale, N.Y. and was the Senior Sports Editor for 136th Board of Editors of The Daily Pennsylvanian. He can be reached at landau@thedp.com.

schedules while implementing regular testing, which could easily be achieved at Penn since students living in Philadelphia are already being tested twice per week. With only eight teams involved and many of them geographically close to each other, a large fraction of the 14-game Ivy League slate could be pulled off without even having to stay overnight. There would of course be risk in the gathering of teams and the competitions themselves, but testing would help to mitigate that risk. It seems hypocritical for the league to not even attempt to find a winter sports plan that would work, especially when the same presidents making that decision are also bringing students back to campuses, where a variety of unsanctioned gatherings among students will inevitably occur. When announcing the cancellation of the winter season in November, the Ivy League presidents wrote about their disappointment given their “strong desire” to resume athletics. With the conference being the only one of the 32 to not compete this year, it becomes easy to question how strong that desire actually is.

26 31

.com

No. 1217

Crossword

1 Needing some kneading, say

at:

“Daily Pennsylvanian”.

eight school presidents in November, also canceled all other winter sports and postponed spring sports through at least February. We can commend the Ivy League presidents for their caution during the pandemic, as many already have, while still recognizing that they could have pulled off a winter season without taking on a health risk significantly different than they already are by bringing students back to campus for the spring. It’s important to preface this discussion by acknowledging that playing a basketball season takes on some risk of spreading the virus — just as any gathering of multiple people outside the household does. So if the one and only goal of the league presidents was to mitigate COVID-19 spread, they would indeed cancel the season. That clearly isn’t the case, however, since Penn, along with many of the other Ivy League schools, is housing a large number of students on campus in the spring. There are also hundreds, if not thousands, of students living together off campus in Philadelphia. By inviting students back, the school presidents acknowledge that there are other factors they value outside of simply minimizing COVID-19 cases (like allowing students to develop a sense of community, for example). Once you recognize this idea, it becomes difficult to understand why the league is unable to hold a season for basketball and other winter sports. College athletics have a lot of value, and they are a highlight of athletes’ time at school. I’m not going to use this space to explain the importance of college sports

(especially because I’ve never played one myself), but all you have to do is ask an athlete to get a great answer. As a result of that, it’s simply gutwrenching for a season to be canceled. “It’s just heartbreaking for those kids that have this short, four-year window that they worked their whole lives to do,” Penn men’s basketball coach Steve Donahue said to the Washington Post in November, “and it’s taken away.” Making matters worse is that the Ivy League stubbornly refuses to recognize the extra year of eligibility given to athletes as a result of the pandemic, barring graduate students from competing due to a “longstanding practice” that literally no one cares about. So there’s significant value to holding a winter sports season. Few people would argue with that. But aren’t the COVID-19-related risks of holding a season so large that cancellation is a no-brainer? Not when you compare them to the risks that the schools are already taking by bringing students back to campus. As a result of those decisions, students are already interacting with each other in person and will continue to do so throughout the semester. No “quiet period” or sternly worded emails will change that. Moreover, athletes themselves are living together and training together. Some COVID-19 spread is likely inevitable — just look at Penn’s case dashboard from the fall if you want proof — and canceling sports doesn’t change that. There’s a relatively simple way to pull off a basketball season. First, the league could have canceled all non-conference games (which it already did), eliminating all plane travel and a significant portion of the schedule. Next, it could restrict and regulate practice

54 57 61

PUZZLE BY KATHRYN LADNER

26 It takes people out

37 Tribe that fought the Iroquois

29 What the opening motif of 36-Across is said to represent

39 Summer Triangle star

27 Biblical verb

38 Servings with sweet-and-sour sauce

30 Response to “Grazie!”

40 ___ position

35 Lover of Radames, in opera

47 Oscar winner Marlee

33 Epithet for a judge

36 Muscly

45 Something editable using CRISPR technology 48 Cooling-off period?

49 First name of this puzzle’s dedicatee, born December 1770 51 Copland ballet with a hoedown 52 Longtime star of F.C. Barcelona 53 A lot 56 What 49-Down became in later life 57 Prefix with Cuban 58 Ill. neighbor 59 Formal “yes” 60 Reef predator

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KYLIE COOPER

One of Penn’s eight COVID-19 testing sites is located in the Palestra’s concourse, as pictured on Jan. 19.

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SPORTS 9

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

NFL player Brandon Copeland returning to Penn as a professor this spring SPORTS | Copeland’s course is about financial literacy BRANDON PRIDE Sports Editor

During a time in which almost half of the NFL is preparing for playoff games and the other half who missed out is watching at home, Penn football alumnus Brandon Copeland is getting ready to teach a class to current Quakers. An eight-year NFL veteran who spent this season with the New England Patriots, Copeland will serve as an instructor for a course about financial literacy and wellness that will be co-taught by Dr. Brian Peterson. While the course, EDUC 245, is titled “Urban Financial Literacy: Pedagogy and Practice,” Copeland likes to call it “Life 101.” Topics covered in the course include budgeting, planning for retirement, building credit, and understanding financial inequities. The seminar will be held every Monday from 5-8 p.m. and is currently open for enrollment to all Penn students. “It is literally the only class at Penn that — no matter what major you have — you will use something [you learn] in our class,” Copeland said. “Anyone who cares about their money should be trying to take this class.” Copeland has taught this class at Penn in the past under the course code URBS 140. While some course material will be revamped and refined due to the virtual nature of the semester, Copeland says it will mostly remain the same. Outside of personal finance, key concepts emphasized in the course are social inequities in relation to money, and the role of race in the passage of wealth and poverty between generations. While there has been an increased focus on racial inequality across the country over the last year, Copeland says the material covered likely won’t change because he and Peterson were already aware of these issues. “More people [now] will feel comfortable speaking up or adding

PHOTO FROM BRANDON COPELAND

Penn football alumnus Brandon Copeland will be co-teaching EDUC 245: “Urban Financial Literacy: Pedagogy and Practice” this spring semester.

depth to the conversation — that is probably highly likely,” Copeland said. “But, I don’t think Dr. Peterson or I will have to do many things differently, as opposed to in the previous years, because unfortunately the things we talked about in previous years are the same things we’ll touch on this year.” Outside of the classroom, Copeland practices what he preaches, and he has been for a long time. Born with what he describes as a “natural will and ambition to hustle,” he is always looking for ways to bring in money and put his money to work. Copeland’s work ethic was nurtured by the competitive environment at Penn, where he worked as a bouncer at the popular bar Smokey Joe’s and held a work-study job with Penn Athletics as an undergraduate student. “I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and do anything,” Cope-

land said. “I’ve worked everything from Walmart night shifts to Wall Street.” Copeland has taken on several

starting a consulting business. As a professional athlete with a high salary, Copeland saves 90% of his earnings, bucking the trend

I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and do anything. I’ve worked everything from Walmart night shifts to Wall Street. side jobs as an NFL player, including flipping houses in up-andcoming Detroit neighborhoods and

of many of his NFL peers, who often make poor financial decisions, resulting in 78% of NFL players

filing for bankruptcy after their careers are over. Copeland says he often has conversations with his teammates about making the right decisions early on. Last offseason, he held a free five-day seminar for active NFL players on financial wellness. This isn’t the only way Copeland gives back, however. He also founded a charity called Beyond the Basics, which helped provide families in need with shopping sprees before Christmas last month. For his work helping 40 families, Copeland was named the Week 15 National Football League Players Association community MVP. Copeland is no stranger to honors, as he was also named to the prestigious Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in sports last year for his accomplishments on and off the field. “It’s amazing to be honored with that group of people, [but] for me it’s [time to] put my head down and

just get back to work,” Copeland said. “There may be awards and accolades to my name, but I’m still up late as hell — way longer than I should be — and I am working my tail off harder than I ever have in my life. I know that I’m on the brink of some of the bigger things I’ve ever done in my life.” During the semester, Copeland will have to navigate NFL free agency, as his one-year, $1,047,500 contract with the Patriots will expire in March. He was a key defensive contributor this season, recording 12 tackles in six games before getting injured. But right now, his focus is on the class and helping Penn students succeed. Although the class usually fills up fast, Copeland encouraged students to audit the course if all spots are taken. “This course is the biggest investment in yourself that you can make,” Copeland said.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 VOL. CXXXVII NO. 1

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Kevin Stefanski’s Browns fall short to Chiefs in the Divisional Round of the playoffs SPORTS | Stefanski is a frontrunner for Coach of the Year NICKY BELGRAD Sports Editor

The theme of this year’s NFL season was resilience, and no team embodies this ethos more than head coach Kevin Stefanski’s Cleveland Browns. Propelled by gutsy play-calling and a standout performance from their backup quarterback, Chad Henne, the Kansas City Chiefs narrowly triumphed in a 22-17 win against the Browns in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs. A week prior in the Wild Card Round, the Browns conjured up a historic 48-37 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The victory snapped the Browns’ 17-game losing streak at Heinz Field and secured their first divisional round appearance since 1994. The Browns’ victory over the Steelers was their second consecutive win over their divisional rivals in two weeks, albeit the first triumph was helped along by the Steelers resting many of their starters. That Week 17 game marked the Browns’ first playoff berth since 2002, a year when Stefanski was still piling up AllIvy nods and career wins as a Quaker safety. Though Stefanski graduated in 2004, he was not quite ready to give up his time with the Red and Blue. He returned to Penn’s coaching staff for one year before launching into his ascension through the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff. Serving as a devoted coach in various capacities, Stefanski was finally named the team’s offensive coordinator in 2019. Stefanski then quickly stepped into an even larger role, as he was hired as the Cleveland Browns’ head coach in 2020. As an offensive guru, spectators and analysts were primed to see if Stefanski could unlock the potential of quarterback Baker Mayfield and the rest of the talented offensive roster. Stefanski relied heavily on his third-ranked rushing duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to open up the play-action game for Mayfield. Together, Chubb and Hunt racked up over 1,700 rushing yards, despite the former missing several weeks due to injury, and Mayfield notched his best sea-

son thus far in the NFL. Fans were rightfully expecting an electric offensive showdown between the Chiefs and Browns in the divisional round. However, to reach the awaiting Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium, the Browns persevered against several obstacles in the first round of the playoffs. Much of this adversity did not present itself during game time. In the week leading up to the Browns’ first playoff appearance in 18 years, Stefanski, two assistant coaches, and four players all tested positive for COVID-19. The positive test forced Stefanski to miss the game, leaving the head coaching reins to Cleveland native and Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer. The positive results also resulted in the Browns’ practice facilities being shut down, meaning the majority of the team’s preparations for its playoff matchup took place over Zoom. Even more drama transpired that week when wide receiver Rashard Higgins and offensive-lineman Jedrick Wills Jr. were cited for drag racing a couple days after the team’s playoff berth. The Browns entered their matchup with the Steelers without their head coach, without practice, but with the burden of reversing history. The Steelers were lauded all season for their stellar defense, which led the NFL in sacks and ranked third in scoring defense. However, the Browns flipped the script on the Steelers, not allowing a single sack on quarterback Baker Mayfield and creating five turnovers to their own zero. One such turnover was an absolute gift, when the first snap of the game sailed feet above quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, allowing the Browns to recover the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown. The momentum from this first play helped the Browns mount an astounding 28-0 lead just 13 minutes into the game, setting an NFL postseason record for most points in the first quarter. Going into halftime, the Browns were up 35-10 and simply needed to hang on to advance to their first divisional round appearance in over a quarter century. The Steelers, however, did not roll over and closed the gap to 12 points with a few minutes remaining in the third quarter.

DESIGN BY ALICE CHOI | BACKGROUND PHOTO BY ILANA WURMAN

Alumnus Kevin Stefanski made his postseason coaching debut after testing positive for COVID-19 prior to the team’s first-round victory.

The Browns would need to seal the deal with some big plays, and Chubb delivered on a perfectly executed 40-yard screen pass for a touchdown. Now leading 42-23, the game was all but finished. The Browns were set to play the No. 1 seed and defending champions in the Chiefs. With a win, the Browns would forge history yet again, becoming the first Browns team to win two playoff games since 1950. A close loss is oftentimes more devastating than a blowout, and this rings very true for the Browns’ 22-17 defeat to the Chiefs. The Browns suffered from missed opportunities, from key injuries, questionable coaching decisions, and a fumble inches away from the end zone. Just before halftime, the Browns had a chance to operate a ‘two-minute offense’ and close in on the 16-3 Kansas City lead. Against a team as offensively explosive as the Chiefs, the Browns needed all the possible points they could get. In Browns fashion, a terrific play quickly turned into tragedy, as wide receiver Higgins

fumbled a near-touchdown into the back of the end zone for a Chiefs touchback. The Chiefs then were able to drive the ball down the field, kick a field goal, and extend their lead to 19-3 moving into the break. The Browns were yet another victim of one of the NFL’s most unpopular rules, and the unlucky play ultimately caused a 10-point turnaround. Despite some of the Browns’ misfortune, the team was handed plenty of opportunities by the Chiefs. Not only did Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker leave four points on the board, but MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes was ruled out after suffering a concussion, bringing in backup Chad Henne, who hadn’t won an NFL game since 2013. The Browns capitalized on this massive momentum shift, scoring two touchdowns to bring the score to 22-17. Then, they were handed another gift, as Henne threw a lofty pass to the end zone that was easily intercepted by the Browns. With over a half of the fourth quarter to go, Mayfield and the Browns’ offense had plenty of time to operate — maybe too

much time. Stefanski was harshly criticized for the following drive, which ultimately ate up over four minutes of the clock and resulted in a punt. Now, it was up to the Browns’ suspect defense to stop the Henne-led Chiefs and give their offense another shot. Facing a third down with 14 yards to go, Henne miraculously scrambled near the first down marker. Though it appeared Henne captured the game-winning first down, he turned up short. On the ensuing fourth and 1, it appeared the Chiefs offense was seeking to draw the Browns’ defense offsides. To every viewer’s surprise, head coach Andy Reid was running a play at midfield: Henne rolled right and easily found wide receiver Tyreek Hill to grab the first down and seal the game. For the Chiefs, it was a celebration. For the Browns, the play marked another year of devastation. “It stings,” Stefanski said. “We came here to win and didn’t get the job done. There is a finality to that.”

However, setting the exciting finish aside, the Browns accomplished a great deal more than what was expected of them in Stefanski’s first year at the helm. Just a few years removed from a winless season in 2017, the Browns were single plays away from their first conference final appearance since 1950. Stefanski may tell you that without the Lombardi Trophy residing in Cleveland, this season was a disappointment. For every NFL head coach, a season falls short if their team does not win the season’s final game. But the truth is that Stefanski’s year as head coach is a resounding victory for the Browns and points towards their bright future. Stefanski is the frontrunner for the Coach of Year Award, which will be presented at the NFL Honors Ceremony on Feb. 6. The Browns seem to have found a successful tandem in Mayfield, Stefanski, and firstyear general manager Andrew Berry. The city’s loyal fans are hopeful that this season will usher in a new era for Cleveland Browns’ football.

Trump commutes sentence of Medicare fraudster involved in Penn basketball bribery scandal SPORTS | Esformes paid former coach Allen a $300,000 bribe BRANDON PRIDE Sports Editor

The seemingly never-ending story of the biggest scandal in Penn basketball history has had yet another chapter added to it on Dec. 22. As part of a round of preChristmas pardons, 1968 Wharton graduate and former President Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of Philip Esformes, who was incarcerated for a Medicare fraud scheme and played a central role in the Penn men’s basketball bribery scandal that occurred in 2015. Esformes was sentenced to 20 years in prison in September 2019 and was ordered to pay $44 million to the Medicare program and the United States government. Esformes managed more than 24 health care facilities that paid bribes to medical professionals to direct their patients to the Florida facilities that he

PHOTO BY ROB LATOUR / AP / INVISION

While many others who received clemency were former public Trump allies, Esformes has been an active donor to several Democratic party candidates.

owned. This venture raised $1.3 billion in Medicaid proceeds, in what the U.S. Department of Justice called “one of the largest

single health care bribery” cases in U.S. history. As a witness in Esformes’ trial, former Penn basketball

coach Jerome Allen testified that Esformes paid him a $300,000 bribe in 2015 to ensure that his son, a 2019 Wharton graduate,

would be ensured admission to Penn as a basketball recruit. Esformes’ son never appeared on a Penn basketball roster despite being an official member of Allen’s final recruiting class before his firing. According to prosecutors, the bribe money came from the Medicare and Medicaid revenues. Allen, who is now a coach for the Boston Celtics, plead guilty to one felony count of money laundering. While he avoided jail time, he was sentenced to four years of probation, 600 hours of community service, and a fine of $202,000 in addition to an $18,000 forfeiture judgment to the U.S. government. As a result of the scandal, the NCAA issued Penn Athletics a two-year probation, a $5,000 fine, a three-week ban on men’s basketball recruiting communications, and a reduction of its number of recruiting days by seven, but spared it a postseason ban. Allen received a 15-year show-cause penalty, the longest ever handed down to a head coach.

While Esformes’ imprisonment was commuted, the remaining elements of his sentence are still intact, as is the status of his underlying criminal conviction. The White House press release stated that several former attorneys general as well as other notable legal figures filed in support of challenging Esformes’ conviction because of prosecutorial misconduct relating to the violation of attorney-client privilege. It also stated that Esformes, 52, “has been devoted to prayer and repentance and is in declining health.” According to the Miami Herald, several former federal prosecutors from South Florida raised their concerns over the commutation. “In a perfect world, a commutation would be the result of a thoughtful, apolitical process intended to offset a grave injustice,” Ben Curtis, a former federal prosecutor who has tried dozens of Medicare fraud cases, told SEE PARDON PAGE 8

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