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

PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2025

VOL. CXLI

NO. 7

DANA BAHNG | SENIOR DESIGNER

Penn to reduce graduate admissions amid federal funding cuts

The cuts to graduate program admissions — a decision faculty members say will force them to rescind informal admissions from newly accepted students — come as Penn grapples with the impacts of federal funding cuts ISHA CHITIRALA AND FINN RYAN Senior Reporters

Faculty in the School of Arts and Sciences and the Perelman School of Medicine were instructed to reduce admissions rates by about one-third for the upcoming academic year, sparking uncertainty and concern about the future of the University’s educational and

research mission. The two schools cited federal funding reductions — particularly the National Institutes of Health’s proposed 15% cap on indirect costs, which could lead to a $240 million loss for the University — as the primary reason for the

graduate admissions cuts. Faculty members expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and consultation, as many said the decision was made after programs had already offered informal acceptances to students. Multiple requests for comment were left with

a University spokesperson and a spokesperson for the Office of the Provost. In a Feb. 23 email obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian, Interim SAS Dean Jeffrey See CUTS, page 3

Faculty and student groups call on Penn to protect undocumented, international students

‘Cowardice’: Pa. lawmakers express disappointment with Penn’s DEI response at meeting with admin.

‘It is imperative that university leadership offer unequivocal reassurance and a concrete commitment to protecting those most vulnerable,’ their letter read

One lawmaker said that Penn ‘has made a cowardly move’ in ‘rushing to heed dogwhistle demands from a feckless federal leadership’

CHRISTINE OH Staff Reporter

ALEX DASH Staff Reporter

Several student and faculty groups sent a letter to University administrators calling on Penn to clarify its policies and reaffirm its commitment to undocumented, immigrant, and international students and employees. The letter — addressed to Interim Penn President Larry Jameson, Provost John Jackson Jr., and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee — comes amid growing concerns regarding recent executive orders from the White House imposing stricter immigration policies. The letter was sent on Feb. 20 and signed by the Executive Committee of Penn’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors, Penn’s Undergraduate Assembly, the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Leadership Student Council. “Now, in this moment of heightened risk, we call upon you to reaffirm Penn’s commitment to freedom of expression and to expand its commitment to include protections of undocumented staff and workers as well as those community members on F-1, J-1, and H1-B visas—and to make clear that Penn will not cooperate in any way with these unjust policies of intimidation and deportation,” the letter read. A request for comment was left with a University spokesperson. The letter says that previous messages by the University “did not go far enough in addressing the climate of fear and uncertainty these orders have created,” and called on Jameson to more explicitly communicate Penn's position and response

to federal immigration policies. “In this moment, it is imperative that university leadership offer unequivocal reassurance and a concrete commitment to protecting those most vulnerable. Specifically, the university must publicly clarify its stance and the steps it will take regarding cooperation with the federal government in the enforcement of these executive orders,” the letter read. In particular, the statement calls on the University to clarify “campus policy with regard to working with federal immigration authorities” and questions whether Penn administration has plans to inform students, faculty, and staff about their privacy rights — including who they should contact in the event that they are approached by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The statement also asks whether Penn will designate certain “private/limited-access spaces” where ICE agents cannot enter without a valid warrant and if Penn will provide legal support and representation to individuals who are “faced with visa or deportation problems.” In January, 1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump announced a reversal of a policy that previously declared “sensitive locations” such as schools, churches, hospitals, colleges, funerals, and rallies off-limits for ICE raids. In November 2016, shortly before Trump took office for his first term, then-Penn President Amy Gutmann announced that Penn would be a “sanctuary” for undocumented students and that the University would not allow ICE raids to take place on campus.

Senior Penn administrators met with Pennsylvania lawmakers on Tuesday morning to discuss the University’s rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, with multiple elected officials expressing concern about recent changes — and one calling the meeting “bullshit.” On Feb. 25, local lawmakers met with Interim Penn President Larry Jameson, Provost John Jackson Jr., and members of Penn’s Office of General Counsel and Office of Government and Community Affairs at College Hall “to discuss the

decision and urge action to reverse it,” according to a press release. The elected officials criticized Penn’s swift rollback of DEI policies in response to recent federal actions and alleged the University lacked accountability, failed to defend DEI compared to its legal fight for funding from the National Institutes of Health, and delivered damaging messages to marginalized communities. Pennsylvania state Sens. Anthony Williams See MEETING, page 2

Meet the staff leading Penn’s African American Resource Center The center continues advocacy efforts dating back to the 1970s and is currently led by Director Valerie Dorsey Allen, Associate Director Darin Toliver, and staff assistant Colleen Winn PHOEBE ANAGNOS Staff Reporter

As Black History Month progresses, meet the staff of the African American Resource Center at Penn — an organization aimed at providing support for faculty, staff, and students alike. In April 1987, Black community members at Penn advocated for a Black Resource Center after reporting racial discrimination on campus. Former Penn President Sheldon Hackney initially rejected this proposal, but following community protests and continued pressure, he reversed his decision in September 1987,

leading to the establishment of the AARC two years later. It now continues advocacy efforts dating back to the 1970s and is currently led by Director Valerie Dorsey Allen, Associate Director Darin Toliver, and staff assistant Colleen Winn. Before joining the AARC, Allen served as the director of a community center and as a regional operations director for a company running Job Corps See AARC, page 2

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