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

PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2026

VOL. CXLII

NO. 15

Penn community criticizes ‘unsalvageable’ open expression guidelines Students, faculty, and staff discussed the draft guidelines at two University-wide listening sessions held last week ANANYA KARTHIK, LUKE PETERSEN, AND JAMES WAN Senior Reporter and Staff Reporters

told The Daily Pennsylvanian. “He’s very driven academically, very deliberate, and never, never made rash decisions.” Feehery said he and Ternus became friends after working together in mechanical engineering classes and study groups. They went on to live together in an off-campus house near 39th Street and worked together on their senior project.

Members of the Penn community criticized the University’s draft Guidelines on Open Expression at the first of two listening sessions last Thursday. The April 23 session was held at Perry World House and was moderated by University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School professor and former Faculty Senate Chair Eric Feldman. The session comes after Penn released its first draft of revised open expression guidelines last month. Outside the event, Penn’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors gathered nearly 25 people in opposition to the University’s most recent draft. “It’s totally unacceptable that students, faculty, and staff are not being given a real, meaningful voice in approving these guidelines,” Mathematics professor and AAUP-Penn Communications Secretary Phil Gressman told The Daily Pennsylvanian before the session began. “A listening session is nice, but it’s not the same as actually following the process, which is in writing and should have been followed.” Second-year Perelman School of Medicine Ph.D. candidate Maya English, a member of Graduate Employees Together — University of Pennsylvania, called the guidelines “extremely vague” at the demonstration. She argued that the University has attempted to “muddy the waters” of what “is and isn’t appropriate.” The demonstrators moved inside PWH’s forum once the event began. Feldman opened the session by explaining that the discussion was a “rare opportunity” for the Penn community to come together and provide feedback on the guidelines. He told attendees that he had “zero authority” over the final draft and that comments would be shared with the University administrators as part of the revision process.

See APPLE, page 3

See OPEN EXPRESSION, page 2

JULIA WANG | SENIOR DESIGNER

Penn knew Apple’s next CEO long before the world did As John Ternus prepares to lead one of the world’s largest corporations, his former classmates, teammates, and mentors say the traits defining his career have been visible for decades ADVITA MUNDHRA Staff Reporter

Decades before 1997 Engineering graduate John Ternus was named Apple’s next CEO, he was a student and varsity swimmer at Penn — known to classmates for his discipline, calm temperament, and easy-going humor. Apple announced earlier this month that Ternus, currently the company’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, will succeed current CEO Tim Cook in September. As he prepares to take the helm

of one of the world’s largest corporations, Ternus’ former classmates, teammates, and mentors say the traits that defined his career were first visible decades ago. 1997 Penn Engineering graduate Paul Feehery — Ternus’ friend, roommate, colleague, and senior project partner — said Ternus stood out for his consistent approach to work. “He was always just a very low-key guy,” Feehery

College faculty approve new undergraduate curriculum

A peek inside senior societies at Penn

The revised curriculum is set to take effect for the Class of 2031 and includes a new College Foundations program CATHY SUI Staff Reporter

College of Arts and Sciences faculty voted to approve a new undergraduate curriculum earlier this month. The new program, set to take effect for the Class of 2031, comes after nearly four years of development. The revised curriculum includes three parts: a new College Foundations program, a revised distribution of general education requirements, and revamped elective options. “This new framework gives us a way to elevate our community of inquiry,” College Dean Peter Struck wrote in an April 22 announcement. “Right from the start, we’re putting each student’s individual curiosity in the driver’s seat.” The Committee on Undergraduate Education commissioned a revision of the College’s general education requirements in 2024, seeking input from faculty across a variety of disciplines. Proposals were shared and extensively reviewed over the past two years. The final draft was presented to faculty in March and passed with 70% approval in “mid-April.” The College Foundations program was piloted by 120 first-year students in the 2025-26 academic year. The program includes “Kite and Key” courses, a writing seminar, and a first-year seminar that allows students to fulfill six general education requirements. Last year, students expressed initial mixed reactions to the pilot program in conversations with The Daily Pennsylvanian. The revised program also aims to “streamline and simplify” general education requirements for See COLLEGE, page 2

NEWS All-male South Asian fusion dance team Penn Dhamaka won the Desi Dance Network national circuit

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Centered around shared interests or identities, these groups help graduating students connect with likeminded peers AMY LIAO Senior Reporter

Senior societies have long been a part of campus life at Penn, providing students with an opportunity to find a new community during their final year at the University. Ranging from groups that date back to the early 20th century to modern organizations centered around shared interests or identities, these societies help graduating students connect with like-minded peers. The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke with individuals associated with senior societies at Penn to explore how the groups benefit students and recruit new members. Traditional societies Traditional societies — such as the Friars Senior Society, Mortar Board, and the Sphinx Senior Society — are among the first established at Penn. While Friars and Sphinx are comprised of campus

leaders and are exclusive to the University, Penn’s chapter of Mortar Board is part of a national honor society that recognizes “scholarship, leadership, and service.” Wharton senior and Friars member Erin Guzmán described Friars as “a community of leaders that brings together people who have done really well and across many different disciplines or areas on campus.” Guzmán — who also serves as the president of Mex@Penn — said the society has connected her with other leaders on campus. “The point is to meet people who you wouldn’t have otherwise met,” she explained. Unlike traditional campus greek life organizations, Penn’s senior societies have a less formal recruitment process that takes place during a prospective member’s junior or senior year.

Guzmán explained that the selection procedure for many senior societies — a process known as being “tapped” — involves current society members referring people from the junior class who they believe would be “a match” with the organization. She added that students can also be tapped through alumni or by word-of-mouth, emphasizing that “you don’t have to know them personally.” For Friars specifically, Guzmán said interested juniors “have to be either in a leadership pool or [be] very well-accomplished in a specific area of campus.” She added that while she does not believe that Friars is a “super exclusive” society, the group’s 40-person cap helps members “make a genuine connection with everyone in the group” and ensures “everyone feels supported by our See SENIORS, page 2

How Penn’s sustainability initiatives have evolved Through partnerships with nearly 30 groups and centers across the University, Penn Sustainability coordinates efforts to address emerging climate challenges SAMANTHA DASIKA Staff Reporter

Established to ensure an environmentally conscious campus, Penn Sustainability works with students, faculty, and other services to address the University’s role and long-term impact on the climate. Through partnerships with nearly 30 groups and centers across the University, the office coordinates efforts to address emerging challenges and efficiently carry out projects. With Penn’s latest Climate & Sustainability Action Plan now underway, The Daily Pennsylvanian explored the history of the University’s environmental initiatives and how they have changed over time. An evolving approach to sustainability While Penn has shown a commitment to OPINION The Daily Pennsylvanian Editorial Board comments on the failures of Penn’s emergency communication

sustainability dating back to the 1970s, the first University-sponsored sustainability initiative was created in 2007. That year, the Penn Green Campus Partnership was established as a student-led umbrella organization to promote sustainable planning and policy development. At the time, College junior Mike Poll — the thendirector of the Penn Green Campus Partnership and the associate director of the Penn Environmental Group — told the DP that the University “finally has an idea of where we are and what we do well.” In 2009, PGCP launched the Student Eco-Rep program, an environmental leadership opportunity for Penn undergraduates. See SUSTAINABILITY, page 2

SPORTS Penn men’s tennis punched a ticket to the NCAA championships, where it will take on Stanford in the first round

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ANNA VAZHAEPARAMBIL | DP FILE PHOTO

Penn Climate tabled on Locust Walk on April 21, 2023.

SPORTS After a weekend sweep against Harvard, Penn baseball clinched an Ivy League tournament berth