April 21, 2022 by The Daily Pennsylvanian

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA • FOUNDED 1885

PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022

VOL. CXXXVIII

NO. 13

Penn’s COVID-19 case count reaches over 800, marking 13-week high Undergraduate students comprised over 70% of new cases JONAH MILLER Senior Reporter

Penn’s COVID-19 case count more than doubled last week after Spring Fling weekend, reaching the highest number of positive tests in 13 weeks, at the same time that Philadelphia is on the brink of shifting to a stricter response tier. A total of 801 community members tested positive for COVID-19 during the week from April 10 to April 16 — up 377 from the week before. Undergraduates comprised over 70% of new cases, with 573 positive results, the highest in 10 weeks. Graduate students made up 170 new cases. The two populations combined for more than 90% of positive cases in the past week. Administrators wrote on the COVID-19 Dashboard that new transmissions continue to be primarily associated with social gatherings, such as parties, and household exposures. Executive Director of Campus Health and Wellbeing Ashlee Halbritter told The Daily Pennsylvanian that the Wellness Team will continue to follow the data before making any further revisions to the University’s public health guidance. The future course of in-person finals and end-of-semester activities will be guided by these recommendations, Halbritter said, adding that the only additional protective layer that has been added is masking indoors. “While we can always enforce more stringent requirements, we must continue to implement and follow the guidance and requirements the City of Philadelphia imposes,” Halbritter said. “It is worth noting that, unlike in the past, we have not seen a commensurate increase in hospitalizations due to COVID-19, which is reassuring.” According to research conducted by Penn Medicine in collaboration with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the BA.2 Omicron subvariant has become the dominant strain of COVID-19 found across the Delaware River Valley in recent weeks.

PHOTO BY JESSE ZHANG

‘A SHAMELESS COVER-UP’ University officials allegedly overhauled a Penn Medicine investigation into the Gene Therapy Program, removing all allegations against director Jim Wilson PIA SINGH AND CONOR MURRAY Senior Reporters

Top University officials allegedly manipulated a Perelman School of Medicine investigation into years of workplace abuse allegations within the Gene Therapy Program in order to protect its financial interests and director Jim Wilson, according to internal reports obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian.

Following our previous reporting on GTP’s toxic workplace environment, based upon testimonies of 11 current and former GTP employees, the DP obtained a selection of documents alleging that Penn administrators covered up a lengthy investigation into the program’s workplace and its leadership. See GTP, page 3

See COVID-19, page 7

Pritchett agrees to meet with UC Townhomes residents after protesters disrupt University event The protest took place during the Silfen Forum 2022 which hosted filmmaker Ken Burns, Penn’s 2022 commencement speaker RADWAN AZIM Staff Reporter

Penn students disrupted a forum moderated by Interim President Wendell Pritchett to demand that the University take action to prevent the imminent eviction of residents from the University City Townhomes — a housing development primarily occupied by Black and low-income Philadelphians. The protest took place during the Silfen Forum 2022, an event held on April 18, which hosted filmmaker and documentarian Ken Burns, Penn’s 2022 commencement speaker. The demonstration was organized by the Save the UC Townhomes Coalition, a group consisting of Penn students, residents of the UC Townhomes, and organizers from other activist groups in Philadelphia. The event was disrupted by approximately 15 demonstrators, consisting of Penn undergraduate and graduate students and alumni. The demonstrators called for the University to take action against the eviction of residents from the UC Townhomes and for Pritchett to hold a public meeting with Townhomes residents and key supporters of the cause to discuss their concerns and demands. After about five minutes of synchronized chanting from the protesters, Pritchett said he appreciated the protesters practicing their freedom of speech, adding that he would eventually speak with the Save the UC Townhomes group after the event. Pritchett previously told The Daily Pennsylvanian that Penn is “in conversations with” city leaders about how to help deal with the scarcity of affordable housing throughout University City, although he did not explicitly mention the Townhomes. At the event, the protesters held signs that read, “Save the UC Townhomes,” “Stop Penntrification,” and “Stop Displacing Black Families.” UC Townhomes residents were unable to attend the

The initial 21-page report detailing this investigation’s findings was ultimately slimmed down to a four-page draft following intervention from Penn’s Office of General Counsel, with the fifth and final draft devoid of all allegations against Wilson and GTP’s Executive Director of Research Administration Monique Molloy.

Black students egged and called racial, homophobic slurs at Spring Fling party At 11:15 p.m., students were heard screaming while individuals threw eggs at students that burst upon impact on their faces, body, hair, and clothes MATTEO BUSTERNA Staff Reporter

“The residents have a right to an open meeting with an institution so involved in their displacement and the threat of eviction,” Starobin said during the event.

Black students were hit with eggs and called racial and homophobic slurs at an off-campus party during Spring Fling weekend. Approximately 100 students attended the party, which was hosted on April 9 outside of a rowhome at 4111 Locust St. by Black students including College junior William Wallace. The party was scheduled to start at 10 p.m., and at 11:15 p.m., students were heard screaming while several individuals — who, according to College junior Tyler McCormick, were in a house adjacent to the party — threw eggs at students that burst upon impact on their faces, body, hair, and clothes. On Wednesday, April 13, members of UMOJA — the umbrella organization for Black student groups on campus — and the Black Student League met with Penn administration to discuss the incident, according to McCormick, who is also the BSL president. Attendees included Interim President Wendell Pritchett and Vice Provost of University Life Mamta Accapadi.

See TOWNHOMES, page 7

See PARTY, page 6

PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER

Students demand that Interim President Wendell Pritchett speak with residents of the University City Townhomes during the Silfen Forum event on April 18.

event because the forum’s attendance was limited to members of the Penn community. College sophomore Jack Starobin, a former DP staffer, was one of the organizers of the demonstration who spoke at the event.

Live in University City

Starting from $899 month Fully furnished, Cleaning included, Full amenity building 3701 Chestnut str. Philadelphia

masonchestnut.com SEND STORY IDEAS TO NEWSTIP@THEDP.COM

ONLINE AT THEDP.COM