September 23, 2021

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 VOL. CXXXVII NO. 20

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Students in isolation report unclear COVID-19 academic policies, strain on mental health Penn does not require professors to record lectures, forcing some students to rely on their friends’ class notes ELIZABETH MEISENZAHL & STEPHANIE CHEN Senior Reporter & Staff Reporter

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Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 while on campus this semester have found it difficult to keep up with their coursework, with some calling quarantine “demotivating” and “depressing.”

Students who are diagnosed with COVID-19, including those who are fully vaccinated, are required to isolate for at least 10 days. With classes primarily being conducted in person this semester, students reported varying degrees of accommodation and a lack of clarity from professors about what accommodations or extensions they were entitled to.

Penn required all students to be vaccinated before arriving on campus this semester, and the University

has not found a link between classes and COVID19 transmission despite new cases occurring each week. Some students have resumed to in-person gatherings and social parties, largely undeterred by the COVID-19 threat.

Penn’s campus positivity rate is currently 0.38%, down from 1.1% last week, and is operating at Level 2: Heightened Awareness, suggesting the University is experiencing an increase in transmission or cases.

The 124 students currently in isolation include students living on campus who have been moved into Sansom Place East where they have their own bathroom and kitchen and those living off campus

DPS says it will increase transparency, accountability of Penn Police The report’s recommendations are based on an independent review of DPS that was commissioned by Penn in July 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd KAMILLE HOUSTON Senior Reporter

The Division of Public Safety announced on Tuesday new measures to increase the transparency of its operations and improve its accountability to Penn and West Philadelphia communities.

The most recent measures are in response to a report released in April by the Penn Public Safety Review and Outreach Initiative, which recommended Penn increase transparency about the structure, funding, oversight, and activities of DPS. The report also urged Penn to reallocate funding from policing into campus and West Philadelphia initiatives and reduce the presence of Penn Police.

New measures include the establishment of the DPS Transparency Website, which includes documents describing DPS operations and the expansion of the Public Safety Liaison Program, in which Penn Police officers meet regularly with administrative leaders.

DPS is also expanding its advisory board to include three seats for West Philadelphia residents, developing a survey to solicit feedback from Penn and West Philadelphia communities, and is exploring options to expand its mental health responder model, according to the announcement by Vice President for Public Safety and Superintendent of the Penn Police Department Maureen Rush.

The report’s recommendations are based on an independent review of DPS that was commissioned by Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Wendell Pritchett in July 2020, following nationwide protests in response to the police killing of George Floyd and ensuing criticism of policing on campus.

The review process was led by Penn Law School

professor Dorothy Roberts and Vice President for Social Equity and Community and University Chaplain Charles Howard, with support from Penn Law’s Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice.

Documents released on the DPS Transparency Website include data on vehicle and pedestrian stops, information on the department’s equipment, police directives, the hiring and training process for Penn Police officers, and the process to file a complaint against DPS. The Tuesday announcement also pointed to current DPS initiatives that address the report’s recommendations. In response to the report’s recommendation that Penn invest less in policing and more in community initiatives, Rush emphasized the Tucker Police Athletic League Center, a partnership between Penn and the Philadelphia Athletics League designed to enhance youth athletics.

In response to the recommendation urging increased accountability of DPS, Rush pointed to the annual publication of complaints against Penn Police officers and the recent appointment of Nicole McCoy as the commanding officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli and Interim Provost Beth Winkelstein commended the new measures by DPS in a Sept. 21 statement.

“The Division of Public Safety has embraced these recommendations and developed new processes and procedures to implement them,” Carnaroli and Winkelstein wrote. “We will provide further progress reports to the community as this implementation continues to move forward.”

isolating in their bedroom. The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke to six of these students about their experience in isolation while trying not to fall behind during an in-person semester.

A demoralizing experience After testing positive during the first week of required testing, College sophomore Joy Onawola was notified that evening of the result by the University and was asked to pack her belongings to quarantine in Sansom East.

She said she found her time in quarantine to be demotivating, having little to do during the day besides occasionally stepping outside into the

courtyard.

“My perception of time was pretty much nonexistent, and I pretty much had no motivation.

There was nothing to look forward to in there,” Onawola said.

A Nursing sophomore, who requested anonymity due to health concerns, also tested positive this semester, though she is unsure where she contracted COVID-19 from. She lost her senses of taste and smell while in quarantine and became congested and

Weaker U.S. outdoor mask mandates were ‘culture shocks’ to some international students

“makes sense to some extent,” most people in Hong Kong still wear masks, even outside. On campus, masks are required in all indoor public and shared spaces, but not for vaccinated individuals in outdoor spaces.

Similarly, Wharton junior Samir Thakore said that seeing people unmasked outdoors on campus was initially “a bit of a culture shock,” adding that students seem to have a very different mentality about getting COVID-19 than people do in Hong Kong.

“I think people here seem to be like, ‘If I get it, I get it. I’ll live with it,’ so that’s sort of the feeling I get from what I’ve seen so far,” Thakore said.

Thakore and Wharton junior Harry Hou both mentioned that they have friends in their home countries who are taking more serious precautions against COVID-19 — such as wearing two N95 masks in their classes — and who prefer virtual learning instead of being on campus.

“A lot of my friends who have been in China for the entire time [of the pandemic] and just came back [to the United States] recently, I know that they see this from a completely different perspective,” Hou said.

Unlike Yeung and Thakore’s experiences in Hong Kong, Engineering junior Sarah Musa, who is from Sudan, said that she was often one of the only people wearing a mask when she was in Sudan during the summer. The country experiences regular spikes as a result of this, so Musa, along with the other students, said they appreciated Penn’s masking mandates.

Since the resumption of in-person learning, Penn faculty members and administrators have been involved in an ongoing dialogue about virtual options and COVID-19 safety.

This semester, classes are primarily in person, with a few exceptions because of departmental decisions and medical exemptions.

Instructors who qualify for an exemption from in-person teaching have the option to request a

The students are excited for in-person learning, but concerned about cases in the U.S. compared to the more limited spread in their home countries DELANEY PARKS Senior Reporter

International students largely support in-person learning and Penn’s COVID-19 mandates, but some want the University to implement more frequent testing and flexible learning options.

The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke to five students — from Hong Kong, Sudan, China, and Australia — who are excited for in-person learning, but concerned about cases in the United States compared to the more limited spread in their home countries.

Several students said there is a major difference in the attitudes toward COVID-19 displayed by people in their home countries compared to people in the United States.

Wearing a mask during flu season is a normal thing to do in Hong Kong, Helen Yeung, a junior from Hong Kong in the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology, said, whereas she believes people in the United States do not view it that way. She added that while unmasking outdoors

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experienced body aches and chills.

“Being in Sansom, in general, is a very isolating experience,” the Nursing sophomore said.

“All you can do is really go maybe outside to the courtyard if you really want to. So yeah, I think it does take a toll on your mental health.”

An Engineering sophomore, who also requested anonymity due to her health condition, got tested when one of her friends started feeling sick and ended up being the only one to test positive out of all her close friends.

“I was really scared I think because I wasn’t expecting it because none of my close friends had tested positive,” the Engineering sophomore said.

The Engineering sophomore experienced symptoms including sore throat, cough, congestion, runny nose, and fatigue. She also lost her voice.

The Engineering sophomore said she was dissatisfied with the food options offered in isolation, finding them not sufficiently nutritious or appetizing. On the first day students enter Sansom, they are provided with a bag of microwavable foods such as mac and cheese or frozen enchiladas, the Engineering sophomore said.

“It would have been nicer to have healthy options especially when you’re sick and you’re trying to get better,” the Engineering sophomore said.

The vegetarian options offered are also “limited,” the Engineering sophomore said, adding that “it’s not food you want to eat.”

Both the Engineering sophomore and Onawola said Sansom has limited and unappealing vegetarian options, with the Engineering sophomore saying that “it’s not food you want to eat.”

Students also have the option to have friends drop off food for them in the lobby, or to order meals through delivery services. These options,

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medical accommodation through the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs.

Faculty members with non-medical reasons, such as an immunocompromised family member, can also request accommodations from their department chair or dean.

225 instructors recently petitioned Penn to allow faculty to make their own decisions about remote learning, citing concerns about a lack of social distancing and air circulation and instructors with unvaccinated family members. ​​Additionally, on Sept. 11, Penn’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors sent a list of COVID-19 safety recommendations to administrators that included giving faculty the option to teach online – but the University has not budged.

Most of the students believe the University could increase the frequency of mandated COVID-19 testing for the Penn community, expressing concern about an increasing number of sick students

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however, would require the quarantining student or their friends to spend money.

A College junior, who requested anonymity, expressed how she has become more “passionate” about COVID-19 safety measures after her experience in quarantine.

“I think everyone should just continue to be cautious,” the College junior said. “It’s kind of scary and frustrating. I think that’s the main thing I feel towards COVID [and the Delta variant] now.”

Difficulty keeping up with coursework in isolation A College senior, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of her health status, said she spent 10 days in isolation beginning Sept.

11. Her ability to keep up in her classes varied, she said, adding that in one class, her professor had received a red PennOpen Pass, which led that week’s class to be held virtually.

But for her other courses, the College senior said getting caught up was more difficult.

Because she is enrolled in several small, seminarstyle classes, missing class meant she also missed the class discussion that makes up the bulk of the instruction. While she said she received PowerPoint slides from her professor and invitations to office hours to catch up for those classes, it was not possible for her to make up the discussion portion.

The University does not require instructors to record their classes. On the University’s FAQ for the fall 2021 semester, the only instructions for students who need to miss class because they are sick are to notify their instructor. The Center for Teaching and Learning has a list of recommendations for how instructors can support students missing class because of illness but does not have requirements for accommodating students.

None of the Nursing sophomore’s classes were recorded, forcing her to rely on her friends’ notes, and she had to take several quizzes she missed in

person on Zoom with her professor. Despite her friends’ help, she said she found it hard to keep up with her classes while in isolation.

The Nursing sophomore also quarantined last semester when she tested positive for COVID-19 for the first time. She has found quarantining to be more challenging this semester since classes are being held in person.

“Last semester, for classes, everything was virtual, so I wasn’t really missing out on much. And I didn’t really have to tell my professors that I had COVID-19 or anything. It really wasn’t interfering as much with my school stuff last semester,” the Nursing sophomore said.

Unlike the Nursing sophomore, the College senior said that her professors did not offer Zoombased options to catch up on schoolwork, though she said she did not mind this as she would have had to attend Zoom sessions while sick.

“For me, it wasn’t so much a priority to be like, ‘I have to be in class right now,’” she said. “It’s more like, ‘I’m going to concentrate on my physical and mental health and catch up when it’s time to.’”

The College senior praised some of her professors, including a photography instructor, who allowed her to take extensions on several assignments and even offered a session to make up missed in-class work. She added, however, that she had to ask for extensions in several of her classes rather than have them offered by her professors, which she believes might prevent younger students or students less familiar with Penn from receiving accommodations.

“You’re always free to ask for it and see what the professor says, but I don’t know if it’s always [assumed] that you’ll get an extension because you’re behind,” she said.

This was also the case for a College sophomore, who also requested anonymity. Because most of her classes were larger STEM lectures, she was able to keep up for the most part by

watching videos and filling out the worksheets posted online.

She added, however, that she was not granted any extensions while sick with COVID-19, despite both her illness and the time delay between when the actual lecture took place and when it was posted on Canvas.

“It’s kind of frustrating because I am missing the lecture, so I have to wait, for example, for when my professor is going to post pictures of the whiteboard,” she said.

The College sophomore said that in some cases, recordings of lectures were inadequate. In one class, for example, the professor posted only an audio recording of the lecture, which meant she still had to get the notes for visual elements of the lecture from a friend.

College junior Sam Lelyukh, who was required to isolate for seven days after his housemate tested positive for COVID-19, experienced some similar difficulties with posted recordings on Canvas during his isolation.

Although all his classes had some online option — whether a recorded lecture or the ability to Zoom in — Leylukh said for CIS 160: Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science, the audio recording of the lecture he missed did not work and contained no sound, making it difficult for him to stay caught up in the class.

Both the College sophomore and the College senior said that because they were sick relatively early in the semester before midterms began, they were able to avoid falling too far behind in their classes.

The College senior said that she hopes that as the semester continues, policies for classwork for students isolating because of COVID-19 become more clear.

“It kind of seems like, even though it is probably inevitable for students to get COVID-19 or be exposed to COVID-19 and have to miss classes, there’s not a protocol in place,” the College senior said.

still attending class.

The University requires students to get tested twice a month and to complete the daily PennOpen Pass symptom checks.

Thakore said Penn should require weekly testing because some students may be infected and recover without ever knowing about it, contributing to asymptomatic spread on campus.

Yeung similarly said that more frequent testing, especially for students who may have been in “risky places” or in contact with someone who has COVID-19, could be helpful in containing a potential outbreak.

On the other hand, College senior Yiwei Chai said that because of high vaccination rates on campus, she believes that Penn is not testing “too infrequently.” Currently, 97% of Penn undergraduate students and faculty are vaccinated.

Yeung and Thakore said Penn’s mask mandate and high vaccination rates are helpful in lessening COVID-19-related concerns, but they worry that transmission rates can increase if students with flulike symptoms continue coming to class.

“Emotionally, there’s definitely excitement, but then hygiene-wise, I was pretty concerned,” Yeung said.

Due to these concerns, Hou said he thinks the University has to balance the in-person experience with pandemic precautions.

“Penn, as an institution, should prioritize students, obviously,” Hou said. “On one hand, everyone obviously wants a more in-person experience. That’s what you signed up for. But on the other hand, COVID-19 is still very much a real thing.”

Coming from Australia, Chai said she likes inperson classes but still finds it “a little bizarre” that her classrooms do not enforce social distancing guidelines.

Musa, who was grateful to get vaccinated at Penn during the spring 2021 semester, especially given that vaccine supply was limited in Sudan, said she is still worried about classmates who are not as careful about COVID-19 as she is.

“There’s always the case of, is everyone else going to be as safe as I will be?” Musa said.

After witnessing their own friends from back home follow more stringent COVID-19 precautions, some of the international students, particularly Thakore, support virtual learning options alongside in-person classes.

Chai believes administrators should be more flexible with professors who have COVID-19-related issues and have to move class online, citing how one of her professors had difficulty getting permission to temporarily switch class to online after getting a red PennOpen Pass.

Thakore voiced support for instructors having the option to teach online as well, saying that older professors and instructors with young children should be given the option to teach online throughout the semester. He’s hopeful that cases will stay under control and that in-person classes will continue, but said he is prepared for the worst case scenario of increased transmission and the transition of classes to online.

“I just hope that cases stay manageable, and things can continue, but I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t,” Thakore said.

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Penn will launch a blockchain startup accelerator in spring 2022 Teams will have access to collaborators and advisors, such as Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban and venture capitalist Tim Draper ENRIQUE ROCES Contributing Reporter

Penn’s Stevens Center for Innovation in Finance will launch a blockchain-specific accelerator program, the Cypher Accelerator, starting in spring 2022.

The program will accept a cohort of 10-15 projects every semester to complete a three-month program that prepares them to launch a blockchain or cryptocurrency company. Blockchain is a type of database technology that stores information in separate, interconnected blocks which allows for increased data security. Project teams will have access to collaborators and advisors, such as Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban and venture capitalist Tim Draper.

The participants, who do not need to be affiliated with Penn, will have access to a variety of resources

First-generation, Iow-income students adjust to being on campus While many FGLI students are excited to be on campus, some FGLI students said coming to Penn was a culture shock EMI TUYETNHI TRAN Senior Reporter

Ma ny f irst-generation, low-income f irst years and sophomores are excited to be on campus for the first time, but some expressed concerns about adjusting to life at Penn.

Finally taking their first steps onto Penn’s campus was a welcome change for many FGLI students after a mostly virtual conclusion to high school, and for sophomores, a remote beginning to their college years.

College first year Andrea Barajas, who identifies as a FGLI student, said she was excited to be able to go to college in person after her entire senior year of high school was held online.

“The moment I stepped on campus, I was like, ‘I know I’m supposed to be here.’ I really

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 — including mentorship, networking, opportunities, and workshops — that will help them develop their blockchain-technology startup ideas.

The structure of the accelerator will consist of three phases, each one month long. Participants will go from consulting with industry leaders to developing an elaborate business model and investment plan. The process will culminate in the final phase, “Demo Day,” in which participants will pitch their project to investors to earn financing for the project.

Stevens Center Managing Director Sarah Hammer said she hopes the Cypher Accelerator will create a larger pool of cryptocurrency and financial technology presence on campus. Financial technology is the integration of technology and algorithms into financial processes.

“Part of our mission is to support the blockchain ecosystem and to provide rich opportunities for students and faculty in the Penn community,” Hammer said.

The Stevens Center was inaugurated in March 2019 to create a space for Penn community members to become involved in leading financial technology trends. Since its inauguration, the Center has also set a focus on blockchain technology and its practical use in finance innovation.

The Cypher Accelerator’s blockchain projects and startup ideas will cover a range of topics, Hammer said.

The accelerator will not only focus on cryptocurrencies and virtual coins, but also on varied applications of blockchain technology to other industries such as health care, insurance, and agriculture.

Wharton and College junior and student director at the Stevens Center Rishin Sharma, Cypher student

manager, said the initiative will help introduce Penn students to new career opportunities.

“If I’m very honest, personally speaking, I think at this school there are too many creative, smart people to just be working at [big] banks,” Sharma said.

He added that Penn students have the power to shape key industries based on the career paths they choose.

“If we can get more kids moving to FinTech and working on innovating and disrupting financial markets, that’s how Penn can truly shape how the 21st Century financial system exists,” Rishin said.

Hammer also said that financial technology is starting to shape the financial industry.

“Whether you’re interested in cryptocurrency trading or you’re looking at a more traditional industry like private equity, the reality is that blockchain and financial technology are infiltrating all of that,” Hammer said.

The Stevens Center will also be working on a development series to offer classes and workshops to Penn students who want to learn about finance and technology.

The first Cypher Accelerator cohort will begin in spring 2022, with applications due on Nov. 30. The program will run from February to late April or early May. “Our goal is to make the learning process easier, and get people to understand the technology and be able to develop it as well so that they can pursue their own projects,” Accelerator Manager and Engineering junior Sebastian Melendez said.

Melendez is working on the Development Series, which he said will provide an opportunity for Penn students to learn about blockchain and decentralized finance.

The Stevens Center for Innovation in Finance and the Cypher Accelerator are located in Tangen Hall.

do feel like I’m going to be able to grow and develop the experiences that I missed out on in high school,” Barajas said.

Some FGLI first yea rs repor ted feeling pleasantly surprised by Penn’s existing FGLI community and resources such as the Penn First Plus office and various FGLI student organizations on campus. Barajas said she has been excited to meet and make friends with other students, particularly those who also identify as FGLI. About 15% of the 3,404 and 3,202 applicants admitted to the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025, respectively, identify as FGLI students.

“It just surprises me how many people identify as FGLI as well, because when I find out that they also identify as FGLI, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh! Hey! We have something in common,’” Barajas said. “We’re defying expectations together.”

Despite having been on campus for just a month, some FGLI students have already taken on jobs at Penn, including work-study opportunities, to support themselves and their families. Barajas said that she currently works a job tutoring students remotely to help her family pay rent and to save up for expenses during the school year. She also hopes to get a work-study position at La Casa Latina, the cultural center for Penn’s Latinx community.

College first year Kathleen Hoang said she also quickly found two work-study jobs on campus, adding that her family’s situation necessitated that she find employment as soon as possible. While juggling two jobs on top of her schoolwork, she said it feels difficult to relate to wealthier peers who do not need to take on jobs.

“A lot of [students] are a lot wealthier than me, and I’m here on a QuestBridge scholarship, so I can’t really fathom that amount of wealth.

I’m working two work studies right now to support myself and my family back home, so it’s really different talking to someone who is given allowances from their parents,” Hoang said.

QuestBridge connects low-income students with top colleges.

For some FGLI students, coming to Penn was a jarring culture shock. Hoang said her high school and home community were entirely different to Penn’s demographics.

“I went to school with majority minority [students] — we were all black and brown students — and I knew few white people,” Hoang said. “I knew I was going to go to a [predominantly white institution], but then seeing that I was at a PWI was completely different when I came onto campus three weeks ago. It’s absolutely jarring and it also breaks my heart because a part of me feels like I left behind my community.”

Some FGLI students added that they are wor ried about sick nesses going a round on campus — COVID-19 and otherwise — because they do not want to infect themselves or their families. Hoang said that she was worried about the amount of people coughing in many of her in-person classes.

“Hearing everyone coughing in lectures was super scary,” Hoang said. “I’m also immunocompromised, so it’s terrifying to me that I can get sick, and then I go home in a few weeks, and I’m scared that I’m going to bring it to my grandparents that I live with.”

Students also said that while they appreciated the in-person semester so far, they hope that professors and club leaders will consider keeping some virtual options open considering concer ns about COVID-19. College sophomore Alexander Lee, who identifies as a FGLI student, said that he missed having recorded lectures and club meetings widely available online.

“I think online meetings — especially [general body meetings] — are helpful because a lot of those you can look at the same content online,” Lee said. “I really enjoyed last semester where we could re-watch lectures. In the classroom, recorded lectures are really helpful.”

Barajas said now that she’s on campus, she appreciates the opportunity to find a community of fr iends and peers with sim ila r experiences and backgrounds.

“When you’re a FGLI student in particular, it becomes very easy to compare yourself to people who have had way more resources in their life and that can lead to a very negative impact on your mental health,” Barajas said.

“Right now there are a lot of people at Penn that want to get involved and learn about blockchain and decentralized finance, but they don’t know how to do it,” Melendez said. “Our goal is to provide those resources to students.”

As one of the few academic centers in the United States focused specifically on FinTech and blockchain, Hammer said the Stevens Center will attempt to bring together all of Wharton’s strengths to support innovation through the Cypher Accelerator.

“Think about our strengths at Wharton in business and finance,” Hammer said. “If you can combine that with cutting-edge ability in the leading technologies, we’re just unstoppable.”

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EDITORIAL THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 VOL. CXXXVII, NO. 20 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 ALFREDO PRATICÒ Opinion Editor SUNNY JANG Audience Engagement Editor BRANDON PRIDE Sports Editor LOCHLAHN MARCH Sports Editor SOPHIE HUANG Video Editor QIANA ARTIS Podcast Editor ALESSANDRA PINTADO-URBANC Business Manager

T

Penn must address systemic ableism

he return of in-person classes has meant many things for Penn’s student body, most of them positive. However, one subgroup of students cannot always fully participate in on-campus activities. Last week, numerous students with physical disabilities reported accessibility problems on campus, such as with academic buildings, housing, and extracurriculars. This is not the first time the University’s students with disabilities have felt excluded from campus culture, as students with disabilities such as autism and deafness have also reported challenges in navigating campus.

Under the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act, various institutions, such as schools, are required to make reasonable accommodations for those with disabilities. Penn is legally compliant with the ADA; however, the students’ reports are a worrying indication of how far the University is from being truly accessible. To combat systemic ableism, Penn must go beyond mere compliance with the ADA and do more to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

Despite the passage of the ADA over 30 years ago, individuals with disabilities often still struggle with systemic societal gaps, such as finding appropriate jobs, living in affordable and accessible housing, and disproportionate poverty and incarceration rates. Furthermore, the ADA itself is marred by questionable standards for accessibility and a lack of effective enforcement mechanisms. Penn did not write the ADA, nor did it write any other anti-discrimination law.

However, that doesn’t mean the University is

isolated from America’s problem of systemic ableism.

On campus, students with disabilities face a wide array of challenges — far too many for one editorial to capture. For example, students with impaired mobility are forced to grapple with outdated building designs and a flawed accessible transport system, both of which can hinder the ability of students with

University Architect said there are no existing plans to modify on-campus buildings to promote accessibility. This is unacceptable.

Penn students with disabilities have suggested a number of possible solutions for promoting on-campus inclusion, such as the upgrading of existing ramps, an increase in accessible entrances, the creation of on-campus spaces for students with disabilities, and designing indoor lecture

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d i s abilities to navigate campus.

Moreover, such challenges can extend outside of the classroom, with physical barriers existing in college houses and the Platt Performing Arts House. To compound ableism, students with disabilities who face invisible challenges, such as autistic people, can be left feeling invalided by peers, many of whom are well-intentioned yet fail to recognize their challenges.

Penn can take several steps to reduce systemic ableism on campus. First, the University should invest in creating inclusive infrastructure. Last week, the director of architecture and planning in the Office of the

spaces to reduce echos. Given the proliferation of multimillion-dollar construction projects on campus, Penn is likely able to afford relatively minor upgrades. Given this, the University must at least strongly consider the feasibility of such building changes.

Inclusion extends beyond the administration and the classroom. Students without disabilities must do more to help their peers, and include those with disabilities in their activism. Some of this is already occurring.

For example, in 2019, the Penn Association for Gender Equity hosted a series of events surrounding “Body Reclamation Week” that included conversations regarding disability

and ableism. While this is a good start, the University’s student body needs more dialogue surrounding disability.

To promote such dialogue, Penn student groups should consider reaching out to disability umbrella organizations, such as the student group Disability Advocacy @ Penn, to gauge their interest in partnerships and cohosting events. If and when the opportunity presents itself, the 6B, Penn’s minority student group coalition, should consider adding a disability affinity group. Doing so would send a strong positive message to the disabled community at Penn, one regarding inclusion and understanding. Moreover, it would strengthen solidarity between different historically oppressed groups.

None of this is to say the University doesn’t care about helping students with disabilities.

On the contrary, not only is the University ADA compliant, but certain subgroups of the disabled community, such as deaf students, have praised Penn’s flexibility and accommodations with regards to academics.

Moreover, Penn was historically ahead of its Ivy League peers in promoting the study of American Sign Language on campus. However, it is important to recognize that students with disabilities face a wide variety of challenges, and Penn’s response to ableism must reflect that.

Ableism often gets lost in conversations surrounding social justice. At Penn, this is more of the same. To prevent future instances of ableism, and to create a more inclusive campus for all, the University and its students must do more to address systemic ableism.

RAUNAQ SINGH Technology Manager

How I used honesty and action to overcome my anxiety

JASPER HUANG Analytics Manager

Asaad’s Analysis | Taking advantage of the many resources around us can help prioritize our mental prosperity

GREG FERREY Marketing Manager EMILY CHEN Product Lab Manager ERIC HOANG Consulting Manager

THIS ISSUE ALANA KELLY DP Design Editor JONAH CHARLTON Deputy News 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 BRANDON LI Design Associate ALICE CHOI Design Associate TYLER KLIEM Design Associate BECKY LEE Design Associate KIRA LU Copy Associate TIFFANY PARK Copy Associate ELIZABETH XU Copy Associate

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vividly remember my first-year panic episode. It occurred the night before I had to deliver a major speech for my communications seminar. I woke up at 4:30 a.m., drenched in sweat, shivering, struggling to catch my breath. After realizing this was a panic attack, I began performing breathing exercises in an attempt to slow myself down, but these didn’t help. Eventually, it ceased on its own. But even though I’d stopped physically panicking, I continued to experience overwhelming anxiety for the remainder of that morning. It was overwhelming enough that I ditched my major speech.

That episode was just a single moment in a larger struggle with social anxiety during my first year of college — anxiety that hindered my ability to speak up in front of others, communicate with peers, and achieve a satisfactory social life. And I’m not alone; according to a September 2020 study, approximately 38% of college students in the United States reported having moderate to severe anxiety. In 2018, 63% of U.S college students reported having felt overwhelming anxiety at some point over the course of the year.

For those of you who are currently struggling with anxiety: know that it can be overcome. “Everyone will experience baseline anxiety at some point in life. But for those of us who experience more enduring anxieties, with treatment, we can still learn to fully function despite this,” says Dr. Batsirai Bvunzawabaya (who prefers to be called Dr. Batsi), the director of Outreach and Prevention Services at Penn’s Counseling and Psychological Services. My own experiences affirm Dr. Batsi’s words. As I enter my senior year, I hold multiple leadership roles on campus, speak up with ease,

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For other types of anxiety, CAPS counselors work with the student to craft a individualized approach that works best for them.

“Each person will have their own approach to treating anxiety,” noted Dr. Batsi. “The route of treatment that works for one person with anxiety will be different from the route that works for another.”

There are also practices that we can implement on our own in response to anxiety.

“Mindfulness, yoga, breathing exercises like the 4-7-8 technique, and power poses are all helpful in reducing anxiety,” says Dr. Batsi. In addition, there is a plethora of self-help literature regarding to anxiety. I’ve personally found the books of Dr. David Burns and Dr. Aziz Gazipura to be immensely helpful with social anxiety. One caveat with self-help practices that Dr. Batsi

notes is that they may not be effective for everyone given how generalized the practices usually are, which is why “it’s always best to seek help from a professional like CAPS that you trust.”

Anxiety can take a toll on its sufferer, as it unfortunately does for many students at Penn. With the vast amount of resources available to us, we owe it to ourselves to be honest about our mental health and seek help when we need it. Through self-compassion and self-honesty, we can learn to prioritize the mental prosperity that we all deserve.

ASAAD MANZAR is a College senior studying neuroscience from Dallas, Texas His email is asaad01@sas. upenn.edu.

How to make dining on campus a better experience

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LETTERS

and carry a comfortable social life. Of course, baseline anxieties still occasionally emerge, but the person who panicked over delivering a speech is a distant memory. So how did I overcome anxiety?

“One of the first steps in confronting anxiety is to be open with yourself,” explains Dr. Batsi. Although introspection may sound like a simple task, this isn’t the case when it comes to mental health. “Many people who have anxiety refuse to be open about it with themselves, and this can prevent them from seeking help,” says Dr. Batsi.

Reluctance to seek help is largely because of the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses in our society. For example, an Australian national survey found that a common societal misconception about social anxiety was that it was viewed “as a sign of personal weakness,” an ideology that was especially prominent within my own former self. For a long time, I repressed the notion that I may suffer from social anxiety because I didn’t want to cast myself as inferior, and doing so delayed my improvement.

The stigma surrounding mental illness is an issue everywhere — including here at Penn — and is likely something we will continue to face. But I managed to get past the stigma by assuring myself that I could seek help with full confidentiality if I wasn’t comfortable sharing, and that by acknowledging my anxiety and seeking help, I was actually performing an act of exceptional courage and compassion.

After I became honest with myself about social anxiety, the next step was to seek help and take action. At Penn, CAPS provides an abundance of resources for those with anxiety. For social anxiety, CAPS provides group therapy, talk therapy, and workshops.

Emily’s Eye | The influx of in-person and mobile orders creates chaos and confusion for students and staff alike

nyone who steps on Locust Walk immediately understands what it means for campus to be buzzing. Whether students are rushing to class, grabbing a bite to eat, lounging in the grass, or studying with friends, the back-to-school chaos has certainly set in. And while post-pandemic crowds are certainly an enjoyable experience for our socially-deprived community, one cannot deny the difficulty and inconvenience of navigating such a hectic environment.

Especially in dining halls that thousands of students are required to eat at, squeezing in meals between classes and extracurricular activities is often difficult. In the past, dining halls predominantly consisted of first years who were required to be on the dining plan, with the addition of select upperclassmen who chose on-campus dining. Now, with the second-year dining plan required

for all sophomore students, more than two full classes of students suffer long lines and battle for available seats and reservations.

At sit-down dining halls, there have been many instances of food running out an hour before closing, and often paper plates and plastic utensils must be used because dishes cannot be washed quickly enough. One has to guess if this is largely due to Penn operating dining halls in the same fashion as before without considering the fact that there are literally double the amount of students eating on campus than prior years.

More pressing issues occur in market-style dining halls, such as Houston Market and the 1920 Commons Starbucks, where long lines and wait times are inevitable. While this is partially due to the popularity of such locations, the confusion of both in-person and mobile PennEats orders is also to blame. For

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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example, Starbucks customers can witness the printing of a never-ending mobile order receipt chain, while a physical line simultaneously wraps around the cafe. Instead of waiting 15-20 minutes like the app predicts, wait times can extend to two times as long during peak meal times. It is not uncommon to see students repeatedly ask for their order status as they anxiously check the time before eventually giving up and sprinting to class.

There have been many instances where students have no choice but to forfeit meals and attend class hungry in an attempt to arrive on time. Furthermore, students are not allowed to eat in class anymore due to mask restrictions, so for students with back-to-back classes, there are only 15 minutes to walk to a dining hall, get food, finish eating, and walk back to class.

The system is even more unfair to dining hall workers who work tirelessly to fulfill student demands, as they not only have to deal with frustrated and demanding teenagers, but also the stressful responsibility of completing an influx of both online and in-person orders in a timely fashion. When Starbucks’ mobile order receipt chain hits the floor, it is impossible for the staff to complete orders within the promised wait time period.

Besides for crowds and occasional food and dish shortages, sit-down dining halls have been more successful in accommodating students. This proves that the combination of in-person and mobile ordering is the more prevalent cause of disaster. Therefore, Penn should provide only one option for mealordering to minimize confusion and prevent

staff stress. Some might argue that the implementation of only one option for ordering would result in longer lines or longer wait times, but in this system orders would actually be processed more efficiently since the staff’s entire focus would be dedicated to one stream of orders. Prioritization would also provide students with a better understanding of when their orders would be reavvvdy and how much time they would be waiting for food.

Utilizing either in-person or mobile ordering only would increase both student and staff satisfaction and productivity. Furthermore, if the latter were to become the sole policy, the potential for COVID-19 spreading would be reduced. Similar to last semester, ordering food ahead of time is an efficient way for students to eat according to their own schedules.

Familiarizing students with ordering through the app early in the semester is important in preparing for any potential changes due to the pandemic, especially for first years who do not necessarily know how to use the PennEats app.

Addressing the hectic, stressful nature of the dining halls is therefore not only important for the sake of student convenience and staff well-being, but also for COVID-19 preparedness. While everyone seeks to preserve the bustling nature of campus, it is important to be mindful of how such chaos affects the community.

EMILY CHANG is a College sophomore studying sociology from Holmdel, N.J. Her email address is changem@sas.upenn.edu.

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OPINION 5

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

How many lanternflies have you stomped on today?

A last plea for climate action

Caroline’s Queries | Philadelphia’s urban ecosystem is ailing, and we need to pay attention

Andy’s Angle | The IPCC’s reccent report illuminates the hopelessness of the climate crisis — and our chance at redemption

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ith unusual fervor, my friends and I scoured the perimeter of the Perelman Center, squishing bugs and exclaiming with joy when we landed a hit. To the untrained eye, we’re no better than the kids that burn ants with magnifying glasses. But these are not just any bugs. These are spotted lanternflies, or as Billy Penn calls them, “public enemy No. 1.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture does not mince words over what to do if you spot one: “Kill it! Squash it, smash it … just get rid of it.” It seems that Philadelphia’s residents have answered. Penn’s veterinary school has trained dogs to detect lanternfly egg masses, and a Penn alum developed Squishr, an app that tracks spotted lanternfly kills.

Spotted lanternflies seem harmless at first.

They don’t attack people or animals and appear to have no survival instinct. They smack into walls with audible thumps, and barely flinch when approached. That said, they also decimate plants, feeding on over 70 different species in Pennsylvania, including economically important plants like grapevines and maple trees. Their excrement attracts wasps and f lies, and leads to the growth of sooty mold on plants, causing further damage. According to a study ca r ried out by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, the spotted lanternf ly could cost Pennsylvania’s economy at least $324 million annually and 2,800 jobs.

Because these lanternflies are an invasive species, they have no natural predator. Their preferred plant to feed on, the tree-of-heaven (also an invasive species) contains toxins which the lanternfly ingests, rendering them unappetizing to most local wildlife. They also spread like wildfire — a single lanternfly can lay 60 to 100 eggs in the fall — and they are master hitchhikers.

The spotted lanternfly first arrived in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014, but since then they have spread to 34 counties in Pennsylvania and neighboring states. In Kansas, a spotted lanternfly was the centerpiece of a local boy’s entry in the State Fair. He won a blue ribbon, and prompted a federal investigation of how the creature traveled 850 miles from the nearest site of infestation: Ohio.

Perhaps the most frustrating part of this ordeal is that there is so much we don’t know. From 2019 to 2020, Philadelphia reports and sightings of the lanternfly went up 500%, but they are now relatively scarce in the area, and it’s not clear why. Karen Verderame, an animal programs developer at Drexel University, hypothesized

three potential reasons for this change: increased predation by other insects and birds, soil-based fungi that are fatal to the insect, and lanternfly spread to other Pennsylvania counties and states.

We are swift actors when our own health is directly at stake: though the COVID-19 pandemic response has not been perfect, we developed a vaccine in a record-breaking 11 months. Invasive mosquitoes introduced the West Nile virus to the United States in 1999, but regular insecticide spraying makes cases of the virus rare. However, when the effects on our well-being are less obvious, like with the spotted lanternfly’s spread, it’s harder to take action. Lanternflies have been a plague on our valued crops since 2014, but I doubt there will be concerted efforts to protect our local ecosystems beyond public announcements calling for lanternfly slaughter.

Unfortunately, lanternflies are just the beginning of the story when discussing threats to our ecosystem and well-being. For instance, the lack of “green” infrastructure in Philadelphia worsened the effects of Hurricane Ida, contributing to the flooding of the Schuylkill River and nearby areas. Rain gardens, green roofs, and ot her nat u ra l a reas could have soaked up runoff via plants and soil, but such infrastructure is scarce in urban areas like Philadelphia.

Philadelphia released its first heat M E I KL relief plan in 2019, as ER L Y T neighborhoods with less tree cover and green space get less shade, leading to temperatures 22 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than other Philadelphia neighborhoods. Warmer falls in Philadelphia have also been encouraging population growth in invasive plants accustomed to warmer weather, displacing native plants like the lanternfly does.

With climate change, stories like this will grow more common. There is so much about our ecosystems we don’t know, and threats can come out of nowhere. As such, we can’t afford to only pay attention to our environment when it’s directly jeopardizing our health. Seemingly harmless inaction, like sparing a lanternfly’s life or delaying greenspace construction, can lead to exponential damage in the long run. Going forward, let’s keep tabs on where we can give back to our local ecosystem, even in urban spaces like Philadelphia. And of course, when you see a lanternfly, be sure to kill it!

CAROLINE MAGDOLEN is a College and Engineering sophomore studying environmental science and systems engineering from New York City, N.Y. Her email address is magdolen@sas.upenn.edu.

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ver the summer, I decided against a jog in Hudson River Park after reading that Manhattan was engulfed in an intense heat wave, with temperatures rising to what forecasters estimated felt like 105 degrees Fahrenheit. And three weeks ago, Penn canceled all university operations, including classes, due to flooding from Hurricane Ida. For the most part, this is frankly the extent of my experience with climate change. It appears in headlines, and when this crisis does land on my doorstep, it is limited to minor inconveniences rather than calamities.

It is this privilege — shared by millions around the world — that facilitates a detachment from global warming, undermines climate science, and empowers climate skeptics. As long as we are not the ones fighting for our lives — fleeing inundated homes or struggling to put food on the table during a drought — the urgency of this disaster will never truly be apparent to us.

The least we can do is absorb the most pertinent information and advocate for the most appropriate solutions.

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The least we can do is absorb the most pertinent information and advocate for the most appropriate solutions.

On Aug. 9, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its sixth assessment report since 1990, written by 234 authors and approved by 195 national governments. A 3,949page document, it is the global community’s most comprehensive summary of our current understanding of the climate crisis, relying on evidence from more than 14,000 studies. In addition to reaffirming the conclusions from previous IPCC reports, raising “medium confidence” statements to “high confidence” ones, it sheds light on several new findings that change the way we view the trajectory of our planet. If they do not elicit a stark feeling of foreboding, almost nothing will.

Studies estimate that the planet was 1.09 degrees Celsius warmer from 2011 to 2020 than from 1850 to 1900. Such a rise in global temperatures can be attributed to the approximately 2,400 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions since pre-industrial times. The report estimates that we can afford only 500 billion more tonnes for even a chance to stem this damage, one of the many goals identified in the Paris Agreement. At our current pace, the global rise in temperature will likely rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius in just 15 years.

In practice, that would require every country

to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and virtually eliminate them by 2050. With what the countries of the world are currently promising, we will far exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark, potentially moving towards 2.0 degrees.

However costly the complete transition to renewables in the United States may be, it will need to occur at some point. Until then, Penn students should start implementing more sustainable practices at home, such as using more cold water, less air conditioning, and more recycled products.

On an even more bleak note, due to the chemical nature of atmospheric carbon dioxide, it takes a considerable amount of time to dissipate. As such, even if we were to reduce net emissions to zero tomorrow, we are locked into three more decades of global warming. For the foreseeable future, Penn can start to expect more climate change disasters like Hurricane Ida, except in higher frequency and higher intensity. We are traveling down an inescapable path toward climate extremes — rising sea levels, retreating glaciers, heavy rainfall, long-lasting droughts, intense heat waves — and there is nothing we can do about it.

All of the IPCC’s ominous projections raise significant questions about what the appropriate course of action is. Each country clearly needs to reconsider its environmental policy in light of these findings; virtue signaling through marginal cuts to emissions is pitifully inadequate to avoid the disastrous consequences of the climate crisis.

Beyond this, the report introduces another public policy consideration: increased action on methane. While total U.S. methane emissions in 2019 were an eighth of its carbon dioxide emissions, methane’s atmospheric half-life is shorter than that of carbon dioxide, lasting less than a decade.

What this means is that any decrease in atmospheric methane would pay off more quickly.

Such measures, in addition to countless others, could put a hamper on the dangerously rapid pace at which we are approaching the 1.5-degree mark.

At the end of the day, the difficulty of climate advocacy stems from how distant this crisis appears to be. What we gain from arduously working to halt climate change is avoiding an unfathomable dystopia and merely continuing the status quo. Moreover, most of this column points the finger at governments, not individuals.

However, the benefits of sacrificing our own convenience will undoubtedly manifest themselves during our lifetime. We are at an inflection point, and corrective action cannot be taken when it is too late. Attend events held by on-campus student groups related to environmentalism.

Question whether Penn can do more than cutting emissions. At the very least, stay aware and acknowledge that we have been warned.

ANDY YOON is a College and Wharton sophomore from Seoul, South Korea. His email address is andyy327@wharton.upenn.edu.

The pandemic isn’t going away — and Penn isn’t prepared

Brick in the Wall | Penn must increase campus COVID-19 restrictions

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it in any Penn lecture hall and you’re likely to hear a chorus of coughs, sneezes, and sniffles — something that, as COVID-19 cases rise and new variants develop, is enough to make any person uneasy. Colleges across the country have been experiencing the consequences of in-person learning amidst the pandemic. Just weeks after opening their doors, numerous colleges — including Connecticut College, the University of Dallas, Liberty University, and Rice University — temporarily transitioned back to online learning after an outbreak of cases, many of which were among vaccinated students. And despite a vaccination rate of 85%, La Salle University in Philadelphia temporarily went virtual last week after a “concentrated increase” of COVID-19 cases.

Back at Penn, administrators seem to be optimistic that the entire semester will remain inperson, as the campus positivity rate is currently at 0.38% with no detected classroom transmission.

But if Penn wishes to make good on their promise of maintaining an in-person experience, they must prioritize prevention. Despite their stringent COVID-19 protocols last semester when classes were still virtual, after inviting students back for a fully in-person school year, the guidance from the administration this semester has thus far been disjointed, uncommitted, and confusing.

In their initial guidance on their COVID-19 protocols, Penn emphasized the implementation of a screening test program, wherein a random sample of vaccinated students and faculty would supposedly be selected and required to get tested within two weeks of their selection. But four weeks into the year, the university has been painfully slow on public updates to the screening process.

In the absence of this program, the University has absolutely no line of defense against COVID19 outbreaks, and no way to discern the true positivity rate on campus. Not implementing a testing system after stating they would speaks to Penn’s lack of commitment towards containing the pandemic.

But even if this testing program is implemented, it will not be enough to track new cases on campus. The CDC recommends isolation for ten days after symptom onset, allowing potential cases to completely evade detection on this random bimonthly testing system. So even if the positivity rate appears promising right now, it does not reflect the true number of cases on campus. Consistent and frequent campus-wide testing is needed to truly get an accurate picture of campus transmission and detect cases before they spread out of control.

In addition to a lack of a testing system, there are no obstacles in place that would prevent a sick student from entering buildings or going to class.

Last semester, testing was strictly enforced — if you skipped your weekly tests, you would receive a red PennOpen Pass and be prevented from entering any campus buildings until you scheduled a new test. This semester, a green pass is only required to enter the libraries and medical buildings

KYLIE COOPER

and relies entirely on students self-reporting symptoms. But considering the coughing you might hear in any library, PennOpen Pass is doing little to control the spread of sickness throughout campus, COVID-19 or otherwise.

The lack of a safety net for sick students who must miss class has also posed a significant problem. Considering recording class lectures and recitations is not mandatory, sick students are incentivized to come to class regardless of health to avoid falling behind in their classes. They even avoid getting tested out of fear that they will be placed in isolation. While recording lectures is up to the professor, the administration has largely failed to present a unified front on the procedure for sick students, leaving many confused and apprehensive about the university’s protocols.

Despite a few COVID-19 outbreaks last semester, the University’s policies as a whole were much more robust and allowed the University to quickly respond to any cases. But against all logic, the 2 0 3 4 T H S T R E E T M AG A Z I N E S E P T E M B E R 21 , 2 0 21 new policies this semester are more for show and accomplish little, even though thousands more students are now on campus, attending classes, and socializing together. Instead of a symptom tracker that relies entirely on honor or a random bimonthly testing system that hasn’t even been implemented yet, Penn ought to establish a mandatory campus-wide weekly testing program, and give clear and comprehensive guidance to sick and exposed students.

Penn has a responsibility both to their students, faculty, and the larger community of West Philadelphia to do everything they can to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Considering the prevalence of breakthrough COVID-19 cases and the rise of possible vaccine-resistant variants, we can’t just rely on vaccination rates and mask mandates to keep us protected.

Penn has proven that they have an effective testing system and adequate resources to stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep their students safe; they just need to use them to ensure we have a safe, completely in-person year.

DINING GUIDE FALL 2021:

2 0 3 4 T H S T R E E T M AG A Z I N E S E P T E M B E R 21 , 2 0 21

TAJA MAZAJ is a College sophomore from King of Prussia, Pa. Her email is tajam@sas. upenn.edu.sas.upenn.edu.

2 0 3 4 T H S T R E E T M AG A Z I N E S E P T E M B E R 21 , 2 0 21

SEPTEMBER 28TH

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

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Penn begins testing wastewater in campus housing for earlier detection of COVID-19 cases Wastewater monitoring can detect the virus two to three days prior to symptoms and can identify both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases DELANEY PARKS Senior Reporter

Penn will start monitoring wastewater in the College House system to detect and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The University’s Environmental Health and Radiation Safety department began wastewater-based monitoring efforts as of Sept. 20 and will continue throughout the fall semester, according to an email sent to all College House residents on Sept. 19 by Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dubé. Wastewater monitoring can detect the virus two-to-three days prior to symptoms because of viral particles that are shed, and can identify both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, Dubé wrote.

Though wastewater testing results “cannot be tied to an individual or a particular room or location within the College House,” Dubé wrote that the program may send a targeted request for further testing to residents if a positive signal is found.

“We don’t anticipate this changing anything for students. It’s just another data monitoring system,” Director of Campus Health Ashlee Halbritter said.

A sampling device in wastewater pipes will “continuously collect small volumes of

KYLIE COOPER

A bathroom in Kings Court English College House

Many local businesses report significant uptick in sales with students back at Penn The DP spoke to management at several local restaurants, food trucks, and bookstores about recovering from the pandemic TORI SOUSA & ECE YILDIRIM Senior Reporter & Staff Reporter

wastewater,” which will be collected and transported twice a week to EurofinsQC, a third-party laboratory, according to an FAQ attached to Dubé’s email. The laboratory analysis data will then be sent to the University Faculty Senate Committee focused on Planning for Post-Pandemic Penn.

The wastewater monitoring program will correlate with PennOpen Pass symptom reports and test positivity rates, according to the email.

Wastewater testing for COVID-19 has already been implemented by some state and local governments, as well as other colleges and universities. In October 2020, more than 65 colleges and universities had implemented wastewater testing programs, according to NPR. The University of Arizona was able to prevent an outbreak of the virus with the help of wastewater testing in August 2020.

Dubé wrote that the program is intended to complement the existing requirement that students get tested for COVID-19 twice monthly, as well as other mitigation measures, like Penn’s vaccination mandate, indoor mask mandate, and contact tracing efforts.

“Wastewater testing is not a substitute for any of the other mitigation strategies. It is just part of our monitoring system,” Chief Operating Officer for Wellness Services Erika Gross said.

After a brief uptick in cases, the COVID-19 positivity rate on campus decreased to 0.38% for the week of Sept. 12 through Sept. 18. The University also announced on Sept. 14 that no instances of classroom transmission have been detected, and at least 97% of students and faculty have been vaccinated.

“As we navigate this pandemic as a community, we must now learn to coexist with COVID[-19].

We must continue to remain vigilant and follow public health guidance in order to minimize any risk of transmission,” Dubé wrote in the email.

“We all benefit when we all do our part.”

New College House West residents pleased with dorm’s amenities Students are enjoying the luxury perks, which range from a dining café to a private courtyard to a coffee bar MOHAMMAD ABUNIMEH Contributing Reporter

New College House West’s first group of residents are largely impressed with the amenityfilled living experience.

So far, students are enjoying the luxury perks, which range from a dining café to a private courtyard to a coffee bar. Students’ only complaints included the building’s location on the far side of campus at 40th and Locust streets, as well as the crowded nature of certain amenities and building elevators.

The brand-new College House, which offers suite-style apartments, is home to 430 sophomores, juniors, and seniors after two years of construction. Some of the amenities include seminar, fitness, music practice, and meditation rooms.

NCHW also has its own dining hall, Quaker Kitchen, which serves a restaurant-style dinner four to five nights each week.

College sophomore Arjun Marwaha said he is thrilled to be one of the building’s first residents.

“We’re lucky; we know,” Marwaha said.

“Residents and visitors alike love the modern architecture, group study rooms, and renovated kitchens.”

College sophomore Michael Nolan also said that he appreciates the “novelty” of being one of the first students to live in the building.

New luxury amenities Nolan said everything in NCHW is brand new and feels “very homey.”

“The club rooms are all super pretty, the kitchens are all equipped with high-quality electric stoves and fridges, and the place kind of smells like an IKEA sometimes — in a good way,” Nolan said. He added that the college house is incredibly clean, and he has yet to see any mice or bugs except for a singular lanternfly that flew in through his window.

College sophomore Lynne Kim said she and her roommates are also enjoying all of the amenities NCHW has to offer.

“We thought it was really nice that the building has a lot of different facilities like shared kitchens and dance and study rooms, so we don’t have to travel as much as if we lived in a different building without the same facilities,” Kim said.

Her favorite part of living in NCHW is Quaker Kitchen, which has 75 seats available for reservation and serves up to 150 students per night.

“Although the menu doesn’t really rotate that often, the food is really good and is served on a really nice plate that makes it seem extra fancy,” Kim said.

Nolan added that he was pleasantly surprised by the new dining hall in NCHW. “While I haven’t been yet, it’s cool to know that if I ever feel like taking a ‘lazy Sunday’ on a Tuesday, I can stay here practically all day,” Nolan said.

Popularity among non-residents Engineering sophomore Joseph Lee, who lives in NCHW, said one of the best parts of the building is all of the different lounges.

“Everyone comes here for the lounges and [group study rooms], and it’s always filled during

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

KYLIE COOPER

New College House West features a number of amenities including se minar, f itness , m u si c p r a c t i c e , a n d m e d i t at i o n ro o ms .

the weekends,” Lee said. “Obviously, as an NCHW resident that can be annoying sometimes, but it’s more so really cool to see such a busy building.”

Engineering sophomore Tony An, another resident, agreed that the lounges are often full, which he considers a drawback of the new building. He added that he wished there was another set of elevators, since they are often very crowded.

Lee said that a lot of clubs host their meetings in NCHW, and many of his friends come to the building to study or hang out. He added that the grassy area outside of the building is popular for students to hang out and play spike ball.

Isolation from the rest of campus Although students are largely pleased with the amenities, several residents said one of the negative aspects of living in NCHW is its location at 40th and Walnut streets, which is further away from most academic buildings than other college houses. Most academic buildings are located on the opposite side of the Class of 1949 Bridge which spans 38th Street.

“I feel as though we’re kind of isolated from the rest of Penn,” Nolan said. “Compared to living in the Quad last year, I feel as though everything is happening far away from me, including my classes.”

Nolan said his 8:30 a.m. astronomy class in David Rittenhouse Laboratory, on the corner of 33rd and Walnut streets, is a 15-minute walk from his dorm without accounting for any traffic on Locust Walk. Marwaha and An agreed that the building’s distance from classes and location at the edge of Penn’s campus is one of the negative aspects of living in NCHW. Lee, however, said the location is one of his favorite parts of living in NCHW, since it has similar facilities to Lauder College House but is located closer to the part of campus where many upperclassmen live. “[NCHW] is the new spot everyone comes to play at,” Lee said.

SUKHMANI KAUR

Magic Carpet — now with two carts located at 36th and 34th streets — has been a staple on campus since it first opened in 1984.

Many local food trucks and businesses are earning pre-pandemic revenues and business practices, as campus is back in full swing.

The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke to management at several local restaurants, food trucks, and bookstores about adjusting to the return of a large portion of their clientele — the students, faculty, and staff members of the Penn community.

Smokey Joe’s Smokey Joe’s owner Paul Ryan said the beloved “Pennstitution” has had sales comparable to its pre-pandemic sales in the last few weeks, with students filling the bar up again.

“Most of our business is students — the juniors and the seniors — so we lost a year of meeting students. It is nice now because we’re starting to get to know students again, which is really great,” Ryan said. “It’s almost like normal business pre-pandemic. I feel like I was the captain of the ship that went through a hurricane, and now, it’s smooth sailing.”

He said that for the first three weeks of each school year from 2010 to 2021, Smokes’ sales have all been within a few thousand dollars of each other, proving that sales are now fairly consistent.

After operating at 50% capacity during the pandemic, Smokes’ is back to full capacity now and requires its patrons to show proof of vaccination prior to entering. The bar opens at 3 p.m. rather than noon, as it had in previous years.

Greek Lady Greek Lady, the family-owned Greek eatery that has served Penn students and members since 1985, said that its regular customers allowed the restaurant to remain open throughout the pandemic.

“We didn’t close at all, and that’s thanks to our regular customers who kept supporting us.

We’ve been following all the city [COVID-19] guidelines, and our customers notice that, so I think they feel more safe coming into our store,” the restaurant’s manager said.

He said that while the restaurant’s sales have still not reached pre-pandemic levels, business has been increasing, and the restaurant has seen many new faces come in for a meal since previous regulars have graduated from Penn.

“Definitely sales have been picking up, but it’s not the same as before the pandemic,” he said. “To be honest, we’re just trying to survive right now. We’re just trying to take care of our regular customers and so that’s really our main goal.”

The New York Gyro Truck The New York Gyro Truck, located at 41st and Walnut streets, was forced to close at the onset of the pandemic and only recently reopened, according to owner Amir Khan, and his daughter Nazish Khan, who spoke about what business has been like since reopening.

“Before 2015, we used to be on 38th Street and now, we’ve moved, so now we have more locals since it’s a bit farther from Penn students.

It was about 90% students [before the truck moved],” Nazish Khan said. “Our business was closed for the pandemic, and now that it’s open, it’s a little better, but it was pretty tough times.”

Nazish Khan said that the truck is appreciative of the loyalty of their customers, who often bring friends and other students to eat with them.

“We often get students from the football team — those are our regular customers — and others from all over campus. Once they try our food, they come, and even on special occasions like move-in and move-out days, they’ll bring their parents over to our truck, so it’s nice to meet and talk to them,” Nazish Khan said.

Looking towards the future, Nazish Khan said the truck may move a bit closer to campus in order to become more accessible to their student customers.

Magic Carpet Foods Magic Carpet Foods, the popular vegetarian food truck that has served Penn’s community for over three decades, said business has been

steadily picking up after they reopened both trucks on Aug. 25 with full staff.

“We first closed back in March of 2020, when people went on spring break and didn’t come back, and that was so sad,” the truck’s manager, Debbie Varvoutis, said.

Magic Carpet opened briefly for the fall semester of last year before closing again at Thanksgiving, and reopened again last semester. In the spring, Varvoutis said the truck served about 40-50 people per truck a day, as compared to the truck’s pre-pandemic average of roughly 300 customers a day. Sales for both trucks are now at about 70% to 75% compared to normal rates, she added.

The cart also had to make budget cuts, reduce staff, and shorten operating times to cope with the financial loss that the pandemic brought upon the business, Varvoutis said.

“We had an amazing GoFundMe page, and we got all the grants and loans that the government offered,” Varvoutis said. “We were eligible and they approved all of our grants and so that was really a blessing for us. Without them, we wouldn’t be in business today.”

Allegro Pizza & Grill Elias Kosnatos, the general manager of Allegro Pizza & Grill, described his time leading the restaurant through the pandemic as “a crazy scene.” His family acquired the beloved latenight food staple in 2005.

Following the city’s previous indoor dining mandates, Allegro operated only in take-out form for the first six months of the pandemic.

Kosnatos said they got rid of three of their four registers and had to put up a giant sign up front that said “OPEN,” as most people assumed the restaurant was closed.

“We were pretty fortunate to be in a good location, where we could still operate. But it’s tough, you know, paying the rent and paying the bills was tough,” Kosnatos said, adding that they lost 75% of their employees in the first few months of the pandemic.

Kosnatos said Allegro has still not been able to make up for the lost income from its initial six-month closure due to the pandemic, when he said University City became a “ghost town.”

“There were some government funding programs available, but we weren’t able to take advantage of them because all the big corporations were the ones that got all the money,” Kosnatos said. “We were just trying to stay afloat; our main concern was trying to [help] our employees [in] feeding their families.”

But Kosnatos is hopeful for business now that students are back on campus.

“This [New Student Orientation] was one of the craziest,” Kosnatos said. “I have been in this area for 20 years, and every year, it’s pretty much the same but this year it was crazy. Everybody was glad to be back.”

The Last Word Bookshop The Last Word Bookshop, located across Penn’s campus on 40th Street, has been operating for almost 20 years.

The owner Larry, who prefers to go by his first name, as he likes “to stay under the radar,” said the shop closed for three months due to Wolf’s city-wide mandate to shut down all nonessential businesses. Larry said the shop has still not been able to financially make up for that period, but added that the store’s financial situation is “not as bad as it could have been” due to grants from the city and from the Local Businesses Association in University City.

Customer visits have resumed back to normal levels after a slow reopening process, Larry said, especially in the last two to three months.

“We got over the hump,” Larry said. “I’m glad we stuck it out.”

He thinks a rise of interest in reading during the pandemic contributed to his business staying afloat.

“More people are reading [books] now than before, because of lack of other things to do,” Larry said.

8 SPORTS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THEDP.COM

Field hockey splits weekend games with loss to St. Joseph’s, win over Towson SPORTS | The Quakers begin Ivy League play this Friday KRISSY KOWALSKI Sports Reporter

Rebound and reload.

This weekend, the Quakers (3-3) invited two formidable foes to Ellen Vagelos Field. First, on Friday, Penn played the No. 9 ranked Saint Joseph’s Hawks (5-2) and lost by a score of 4-0.

Later in the weekend on Sunday, the Red and Blue played the Towson Tigers and won 1-0.

Both of the games this weekend were played with awareness campaigns, with Friday’s game being their Gold in September game and Sunday’s game the annual Believe in Brynn game.

In the first game of the weekend, the Hawks came out strong and the Red and Blue were unable to find an answer. With about two minutes left in the first quarter, St. Joe’s opened the scoring with a corner from junior Freke van Tilburg.

Later in the second quarter, the Hawks doubled their lead with a shot by sophomore Manu Ghigliotti that fooled sophomore goalkeeper Sabien Paumen. About six minutes later, Ghigliotti struck again off of a pass to extend the lead to 3-0. The third quarter remained scoreless, with the Penn defense standing up to the task. With six and a half minutes left in the game, St. Joe’s increased its lead when sophmore Lily Santi scored off of a creative move at the top of the circle.

Penn had two great opportunities late in the game, but both were denied by St. Joe’s’ goalkeeper. Freshman Sophie Freedman had a wideopen opportunity to get the Quakers on the board but was stonewalled by the goalkeeper.

“For the St. Joe’s game, we definitely did some nice things,” head coach Colleen Fink said. “It wasn’t all 4-0 loss material. We did some really nice things through the midfield, we just didn’t take advantage of the opportunities that we had offensively. We had a lot of missteps and miscues and cuts that didn’t result in the right ball or balls that didn’t produce the right cut.”

Coming into the second game of the weekend, the Quakers were hoping to rebound with a win.

Notably, the game marked the second time senior captain Maddy Fagan played against her mother

ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL

Junior Julia Russo takes the ball down the field in the game versus Towson on Sept. 19.

E.A. Jackson, who is the head coach of the Tigers.

The Quakers dominated the game from the beginning, and it did not take long for them to open up the scoring. Less than seven minutes into the game, senior Ashley Wetzel sent a feed across the cage to junior Julia Russo, who chipped it past the Towson goalie. That was all that the Quakers needed on the day to get the win, but they would end up outshooting the Tigers 14-5 on the day.

“I think it was coming from our defense, and then Ashley took it in the midfield and went all the way down the right,” Russo said of her goal.

“She took it down the baseline and it was a really good run and then she passed it. I was off-stroke a little, and she made a really good pass, diagonal stroke. I just one touched it, and it deflected.”

The Quakers are hoping that their recent games against high-level competition will set them upwell when it comes time for Ivy League play.

“It was a tough defensive game for us, so it is like showing that resilience, showing what we can do, how we can adapt. And hopefully that is going to prepare us for a tough Ivy League defensive game,” Fink said. “When we are playing these top-10 teams, hopefully it is preparing us for some of the tougher Ivy games.”

Next weekend, Penn will be back in action when it opens up its Ivy League play with a home game versus Princeton on Friday at 3 p.m.

Women’s soccer wins hard-fought battle over Rice in overtime SPORTS | The Quakers move to 5-0 at home with the win

For Release Friday, September 17, 2021

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Freshman forward Janae Stewart fights to maintain control of the ball during a game versus Rice on Sept. 19.

scored and Gladu suffered a head injury.

The move was controversial, but ultimately, the Owls were awarded the point with just four minutes left on the clock. In this moment, the Quakers had to internalize that the lead that they held onto for the entire game was lost.

“Whenever you concede a goal late like that, it’s always challenging,” head coach Casey Brown said. “But the girls just showed how resilient they are. It didn’t throw us off course.

We were ready to go, we turned the page mentally.” The score ended in a tie, sending the two teams into overtime. Senior forward Jackie Bruder said that she was mentally focused on passing the ball and staying composed as she got back onto the field.

“I was thinking, let’s just play our game,” Bruder said. “We’re a very skillful team and I think that sometimes in those moments, you can get really frustrated. We did a really good

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job of just staying composed and calm in that moment.”

During overtime, the ball spent time on both sides of the field. In the seventh minute of overtime, Bruder was able to send the ball sailing into the goal from the corner, clinching a victory for the Quakers in their eighth game of the season.

“I saw that [the goalie] was blocking the right side, so I said, “stay calm you got this,” and finished it in the left bottom corner,” Bruder said.

“I was so elated and so happy that our team got the result. We all just celebrated; we got in a dog pile. I couldn’t breathe for a second, but it was amazing and a great way to end non-conference.”

With the win, the Quakers moved to 5-0 in home games. Up next, they will travel to Harvard to try to improve their road record in a matchup against the Crimson (6-0-1).

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lead comfortably in the first half, illustrating their teamwork and skill through passing action.

The ball was moving among the Quakers far ANUSHA MATHUR more fluidly than among the Owls. Sophomore Sports Associate forward Ginger Fontenot and junior midfielder Sara Readinger were continually sending the ball After an early lead, a controversial goal, sev- to each other as well as other open players. Penn en minutes of overtime, and over a dozen head- managed to get the ball into its opponent’s peners, Penn women’s soccer won its game against alty box far more frequently than Rice.

Rice, 2-1.

However, the game was far from a blowout.

The Quakers (5-1-2) started off with a vet- The Red and Blue had five corner kick opportueran crew of upperclassmen on the field against nities in the first half and were unable to clinch the Owls (7-2-1). The only freshman starting for any of the points. Junior midfield/forward Sizzy the Red and Blue was forward Janae Stewart. Lawton also had a window of opportunity to She has played in the five most recent games of score a goal in the 24th minute that was thwartthe season, assisting on two goals and scoring ed by the Owls’ defense. At the end of the first one of her own. Stewart earned the Quakers an half, the match began to feel even more even. early lead in this match, scoring her second goal Rice brought the ball to Penn’s defense numerof the season, unassisted in the third minute of ous times, nearly scoring twice. the game.

In the second half, the Red and Blue contin“It was important to score early and take ad- ued their solid passing, while the Owls stepped vantage of that early lead because [Rice is] a up their game on the offensive front. tough team,” Stewart said. “It was good to be The Owls attempted two corner kicks. Sophocompetitive and in there, in the mix, early on.” more goalkeeper Laurence Gladu easily thwartThe goal was met with jubilation from Stewart ed the second, but the first kick came very and her teammates. However, the tone quickly close: Gladu fell to the ground while the ball shifted as they realized that just seconds before was still in the penalty box. However, Lawton the goal, senior forward Abbey Duncan was stepped up and was able to get the ball out of injured. She had a serious limp and had to be the danger zone swiftly. helped off the field.

In perhaps the most intense minute of the “Seeing her on the ground was really hard, game, the Owls tried to score and junior Emily but we all pick up each other,” Stewart said. Pringle blocked the ball with her head, send“We kept the energy, kept the lead as we con- ing it sailing out of bounds. This move resulted The New Times Syndication Sales Corporation tinued on. It was hard to The take that York fall,Times but we in a corner kick in which every member of the New Syndication Sales Corporation 620 York Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 definitely recovered well from620 it.”For Rice team, including the goalie, came to help Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 The Red and Blue were ableFor toFor maintain their at Penn’s penalty Release Thursday, September 23, 2021 box. During the play, Rice

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Ivy League football roundup: opening weekend

CHASE SUTTON & ARI STONBERG

The last time Penn played any of its Ivy counterparts was in their 2019 season.

SPORTS | Ivy League football returned to action on Saturday, with the teams going 5-3 in their opening matchups EZRA TROY Sports Associate

After Penn football’s convincing 30-6 defeat of Bucknell this Saturday, we take a look at how the rest of the Ancient Eight fared on opening weekend.

Brown The Bears returned to action on Saturday with a 45-24 loss to the Rhode Island Rams. Brown kicked off scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass early in the first quarter but never led again.

After going into the half trailing 17-14, Rhode Island scored 21 straight points to pull away and hand Brown an opening weekend loss. The Bears travel to Boston next weekend to take on Harvard in both teams’ first conference game of the season.

Columbia In their opening game, Columbia took on the Marist Red Foxes in a home game at Wien Stadium in Inwood, N.Y. The Lions were the only Ivy League school that didn’t have spring practices, but that clearly did not affect them, as they trounced the Red Foxes by a score of 37-14. Led by sophomore quarterback Joe Green’s 152 passing yards and running backs Dante Miller and Ryan Young combined 212 rushing yards, the Lions racked up 463 yards of total offense and scored 37 unanswered points to win their fourth straight season opener. Columbia hosts Georgetown (1-1) next weekend.

Cornell Cornell hosted the Virginia Military Institute Keydets yesterday in Ithaca, N.Y. The Big Red fell behind before the half and never led again, dropping their opening game by a score of 3121. Despite pulling within three after a touchdown with four minutes left in the third quarter, Cornell’s offense fell flat in the fourth quarter,

SPORTS 9

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

not managing to score. The Big Red will travel to Yale next weekend to take on the Bulldogs in both teams’ first Ivy game of the season.

Dartmouth The Big Green traveled to Valparaiso, Ind. on Saturday to take on Valparaiso Crusaders, taking care of business with a 28-18 win. The 2019 co-Ivy League champions were led by fifth-year quarterback Derek Kyler’s three passing touchdowns and managed to overcome five fumbles on their way to an opening weekend victory. The Big Green plays their home opener next Saturday again Sacred Heart.

Harvard Harvard opened up its season with a victory over Georgetown, throttling the hosting Hoyas 44-9 in Washington, D.C. Reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year Aidan Borguet opened the scoring with an impressive 56-yard run on his second carry of the game, and Harvard never looked back, finishing the game with 24 unanswered points through the final three quarters.

The Crimson host Brown next weekend in their home opener.

Princeton The Tigers toppled the Lehigh Mountain Hawks in Bethlehem, Pa. this weekend, pitching a 32-0 shutout to spoil Lehigh’s family weekend matchup. The Tigers offense gained 516 yards, led by senior quarterback Cole Smith’s 412 passing yards and 2019 second team All-Ivy selection Collin Eaddy’s 70 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Tigers host the Stetson Hatters (2-0) next weekend.

Yale Yale lost its home opener at the Yale Bowl, dropping a 20-17 contest to FCS opponent Holy Cross. After jumping out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, the defending co-Ivy League champions managed to score just three points the rest of the way. Holy Cross won its first game at Yale in nearly 40 years on a last-second, 47-yard field goal by Derek Ng. Yale hosts Cornell next Saturday in both teams’ league opener.

Sprint football throttled by Army in 38-13 season-opening loss SPORTS | The game marked Jerry McConnell’s debut as sprint football head coach CARTER LYNN Sports Reporter

After a much longer-than-anticipated break from action, Penn sprint football finally got to don red and blue once again. Additionally, after dipping his toes in the water with the annual alumni game last Saturday, coach Jerry McConnell was primed for his first official game at the helm.

Unfortunately for the Quakers, their return to the field was spoiled by a 38-13 loss against Army.

After coming out of the gate slowly, Penn quickly fell behind in the first quarter — the offense had trouble getting much movement while Army quarterback JC Watson meticulously picked apart the Quakers’ defense. Watson threw for two scores through the air and ran one in from 18 yards out to give the Black Knights a three-score lead.

Then, 30 seconds into the second quarter, Penn was already down 24-0 after Army kicked a field goal.

The Black Knights never looked back.

Dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, Army was able to contain Penn’s rushing attack for the majority of the game. Senior running back Laquan McKever couldn’t get much going on the ground. Despite his numerous carries, he touted the ball 18 times for 62 yards. Junior quarterback Andrew Paolini — who’s often capable of making plays with his legs as well — struggled in that dimension too, as he ended up with negative 37 yards rushing on 12 attempts.

To add further trouble, Penn’s offensive line had difficulty containing Army’s pass rushers, forcing Paolini to scramble out of the pocket on numerous occasions.

As bleak as the situation seemed, Penn was able to keep the Black Knights from scoring again in the first half after their early field goal in the second quarter. The Quakers managed to leave the quarter maintaining a score of 24-0.

Penn knew they had work to do in the second half.

With the ball in the offense’s hands to begin the third quarter, Penn had the chance it was looking for. The Quakers got a quick spark on the second play of the drive.

Paolini found a soft spot in the Black

Knights’ zone coverage, hitting freshman wide receiver Jake Wang for a solid 10-yard gain and a first down.

While Penn seemed to have found some momentum to kick off its attempted comeback, Army’s pressure on the defensive front came back to haunt the offense, forcing Paolini to throw an incompletion to avoid a sack, then losing nine yards on the subsequent play.

Soon, Penn had given up another touchdown courtesy of Watson, leading Army to another seven on the board.

Immediately after receiving the ball again, Penn’s offense went for yet another three-andout, being forced to give the ball back to the Black Knights.

In the blink of an eye, the Black Knight’s special teams broke through Penn’s front line and blocked the punt, leading to Army having the ball at the Penn 13-yard line. Watson made quick work of this fortunate situation, throwing another touchdown to make the score 38-0, Army.

Things seemingly couldn’t get any worse.

Yet, from another perspective, Penn could only go up.

After getting a stop on Army’s rolling offense, the Black Knights drew a lucky bounce off a punt and pinned Penn at their own fiveyard line. Despite this unfavorable situation, Paolini was able to march the team to their own 20.

On first and 10, Paolini dropped back deep and heaved a nearly half-field throw to the Quaker’s top pass-catcher, senior Brendan McCaffrey, who reeled it in for a touchdown.

Finally, Penn was on the board.

On the next drive, it was the defense’s turn to shine. Reinvigorated, freshman linebacker Matt McKillop drove past Army’s offensive line, nearly sacking Watson for a loss. On the next play, Penn redeemed itself from the prior missed tackle, as sophomore linebacker Drew Zimmer and junior defensive lineman Travis Legum combined for a Watson sack.

Forced to punt, Paolini got another chance to work. On the first play of the drive, Paolini launched another 50-yard bomb down the field to McCaffrey, who ran it in for another score.

Despite the late-game efforts, Penn wasn’t able to complete the comeback, falling 0-1 to start their season. The Quakers will nonetheless appreciate the late game chemistry built between Paolini and McCaffrey and look to build on it next week. The Red and Blue have a shot to get to .500 next Saturday at Mansfield at 7 p.m.

ANA GLASSMAN

Despite late-game efforts, Penn wasn’t able to complete the comeback, falling 0-1 to start their season.

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DOMINATES SEASON OPENER, BEATING BUCKNELL 30-6

SON NGUYEN

Running back and captain Isaiah Malcome, pictured here in 2019, finished with 80 yards on the ground against the Bison.

SPORTS | Senior quarterback John Quinnelly threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns COBY RICH Sports Reporter

Killing bison is illegal without a permit in the United States, but that didn’t stop Penn football against Bucknell.

The Quakers (1-0) defeated the Bison (0-3) by a score of 30-6 in Lewisburg, Pa. in what was Penn’s first game in 665 days. Senior quarterback John Quinnelly made his first collegiate start in the season opener, and by the third quarter, the outcome was never in doubt.

The Red and the Blue were firing on all cylinders, executing well in all three phases of the game. Making the win even more impressive, a considerable portion of the roster had never played a snap of college football, let alone started a game or seen meaningful playing time, due

to last year’s canceled season.

Quinnelly recently won the starting quarterback job for the Quakers, and the Daphne, Ala. native made coach Ray Priore look brilliant for handing him the keys to the offense. Quinnelly threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns, one each to seniors Ryan Cragun and Rory Starkey Jr., with both passes over 40 yards. Quinnelly’s afternoon was impressive, as he completed 15 of 22 passes without a single turnover.

“I thought [Quinnelly] played with great poise, under control,” Priore said. “He hit short balls, his timing was great, and then we hit some long balls down the football field. He really came out and his first start was real impressive in my book.”

Senior running back Trey Flowers tacked on a rushing touchdown as well. Flowers played second fiddle to graduate student Isaiah Malcome, who led the way on the ground for the Quakers, with 11 carries for 80 yards and no scores. Quinnelly notably kept the ball for himself 10 times throughout the game, finishing with 32 rushing yards.

“You know, every time I step on a field, it’s a unique feeling, but I’d be a whole lot more nervous if my coaches didn’t get me prepared — if we weren’t prepared,” Quinnelly added. “To play at Penn, we’re really lucky to have the coaches we have that let us succeed by being so prepared.

They worked their butts off to make sure we are gonna be successful, and I appreciate that.”

Senior kicker Daniel Karrash made all three of his extra points and added three field goals in an efficient night.

Penn’s defense, after allowing a touchdown to Bucknell’s sophomore running back Danny Meuser on the Bison’s second drive of the game, shut out their Patriot League opponents the rest of the way. The PAT was blocked following the touchdown, and a combination of third- and fourth-down stops, a Jason McCleod Jr. interception, and several Prince Emili sacks shut down Bucknell’s offense for the remainder of the game. The Quakers’ special teams provided the defense with a huge boost, as junior punter Ben Krimm repeatedly pinned the Bison deep in their own territory.

“I feel like we came out and we did what we were supposed to do,” Flowers said. “We still have to clean up some stuff, but I think we’re gonna come back stronger each week.”

The Quakers combined all of these facets to finish the game with a resounding 30-6 win, starting off the season 1-0 and dropping the Bison to 0-3. As they try to capitalize and improve upon this successful start to the season, Penn will face Lafayette in Easton, Pa. next week at 3:30 p.m. before its home opener against Dartmouth on Oct. 1.

The Quakers’ quarterback is optimistic as he looks ahead.

“Just an all-around great first game,” Quinnelly said. “I think after this long of a period of time, we’re very excited to play, and I think now a lot of questions are answered. Are we gonna flow as a team? Are we gonna move the ball?

I think we have a baseline now, and I think we have a lot to build on — a lot of things that we’ll see on film that we can build and go from here.

I’m proud of everybody.”

Penn men’s squash senior Aly Abou Eleinen looks to turn pro post-graduation SPORTS | Eleinen currently sits at 125th on the PSA world rankings MATTHEW FRANK Deputy Sports Editor

Aly Abou Eleinen happens to have been born right at the turn of the millennium on Jan. 1, 2000, which might be an unconscious factor in his desire to establish himself as one of the elite squash players of this millennium so far.

Eleinen, who hails from Egypt, is preparing to enter his senior season for Penn squash and is expected to have another huge year after a sophomore season in which he was deemed first team CSA All-American and unanimously named first team All-Ivy. His junior season was unfortunately canceled due to COVID-19, but Eleinen found a way to make the most out of the year, and subsequent summer, with what he called an “internship” on the professional squash circuit.

“So my coaches, my family, and I have decided for sure that we want to pursue this professionally and just get myself ready for after college to get going,” Eleinen said. “So this summer, I played professional squash tournaments in Egypt, Denmark, and in the United States. I think this is gonna put me in a good position for when I graduate. I’m right there to start competing with the best players.”

Eleinen, who currently sits at 125th on the Professional Squash Association world rankings, believes that his most recent tournament in Marietta, Ga., where he upset the world Nos. 100, 97, 52, and 40, will move him into the top-100.

In addition to playing in numerous tournaments, Eleinen followed a rigorous training regimen, meeting with mental coaches, nutrition coaches, and strength and conditioning coaches throughout the summer. On top of all that, he would also track his training on Excel SEND STORY IDEAS TO DPSPORTS@THEDP.COM

in order to see ways in which he could improve his game.

“I would approach it like a job, which was definitely very hard,” Eleinen said. “And it was definitely a lot of hard work [that was] physically, mentally and emotionally draining, but it was absolutely worth it. I love doing it.”

Consistently defeating top ranked squash players worldwide and working to improve nonstop would certainly seem to indicate that Eleinen is capable of turning pro, a belief that Penn squash coach Gilly Lane also holds, especially given his own experience playing professionally.

“I definitely think that he has the ability to do it, and what he did this summer was he put in the work,” Lane said. “He trained like a professional to see what it was like, and the results are showing. I think people know who he is on the world stage right now, and having played on the World Tour myself, I know that he’s gonna be very successful.”

“The goal right now is obviously moving up the rankings as much as possible so that when he graduates he could go right on to tour and play some of the bigger events, but I have no doubt that if he sticks with it long enough, he’s going to put himself in a position to be one of the best.”

While coach Lane and Eleinen have their sights set on his professional aspirations — which Eleinen has envisioned ever since he was 10 years old — the Egyptian native still has his senior season to play through.

For Lane, that fact comes as a welcome surprise, given how fond he is of Eleinen from a coaching perspective.

“He grew up playing soccer — a team sport — and he’s brought those team values over to an individual sport, such as squash,” Lane said.

“But from day one, he kind of led by example with his work ethic, and he came in and worked extremely hard and established himself as the

number two player on the team pretty quickly. Over the course of these last couple years, he’s just matured and his game has grown and grown, and he’s become a world class squash player.”

“For me as the coach, it’s just an absolute thrill to be around. I hope I’m teaching him something, but he’s teaching me a lot of things each and every day, and [I’m] just really lucky to be able to work with someone like him.”

With sports finally back in full swing, Eleinen has been energized by what he calls an “incredible” last couple weeks of practice. In addition

to a new group of freshmen boarding the team, a couple of seniors from last year are returning for a fifth year. Eleinen will likely become a key leader and asset for the group, especially given his 34-9 overall record as a Quaker.

Once this next season is completed, Eleinen will fully begin his professional squash career, which he hopes will eventually end with him becoming a top-five or 10 player in the world, if not number one.

If his past is any indication, becoming one of the world’s top squash players might not be so far-fetched.

CAROLINE GIBSON

Now-senior Aly Abou Eleinen competes in a weekend match versus Harvard on Nov 24, 2019.

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