February 5, 2026 by The Daily Pennsylvanian

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

PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026

VOL. CXLII

NO. 4

More stolen files leaked The alleged hackers said they released additional data after Penn failed to pay ransom ANVI SEHGAL Senior Reporter

Notorious cybercrime group ShinyHunters appears to have claimed responsibility for the October 2025 data breach at the Graduate School of Education — releasing thousands of pages of internal University files on Wednesday. In a Feb. 4 post on the group’s forum, ShinyHunters wrote that it leaked the data because Penn “did not pay a ransom or cooperate.” The post — which came days after a court filing claimed the Oct. 31, 2025 data breach “impacted less than 10 people” — alleged the incident affected 1.2 million records. “This is the direct result of advisors advising you against paying a ransom,” the alleged hackers wrote in a document. “It has the opposite affect. Do NOT provoke us again and pay the ransom when we contact you.” The files include private documents that were not released in the initial breach, including University donor records and a November 2023 progress report from the University’s Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism. “We are analyzing the data and will notify any individuals if required by applicable privacy regulations,” a University spokesperson wrote to The Daily Pennsylvanian. The leak appears to contain personal information of several high-profile individuals — including 1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump and members of his family. Multiple Trump family members were internally labeled by Penn as “Confirmed Ultra High Net Worth” individuals. A request for comment was left with a White House spokesperson. Multiple donors whose information was included in the leak previously pledged to halt contributions to Penn over the administration’s handling of on-campus antisemitism allegations in 2023. Wharton Board of Advisors Chair Marc Rowan, for instance, publicly cut financial ties with the University in 2023 and called for others to reduce their donations until then-Penn President Liz Magill and former University Board of Trustees Chair Scott Bok See HACK, page 2

GUNDAPPA SAHA| DP FILE PHOTO

Penn braces for new budget cuts In a message last week, University administrators instructed all schools and centers to reduce ‘certain expenditures’ by 4% in response to financial uncertainty ANANYA KARTHIK AND DANNA CAI Senior Reporter and Staff Reporter

Nearly a year after Penn first implemented “proactive financial measures” in response to federal funding uncertainty, the University is set to institute another round of budget cuts throughout the upcoming fiscal year.

Provost John Jackson Jr. and Executive Vice President Mark Dingfield outlined Penn’s financial plan in a message last week, instructing all schools and centers to reduce “certain expenditures” by 4%. The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke with faculty

Penn administrator recalls ‘fond memories’ with Epstein in 2012 email Penn Senior Vice President David Asch previously told The Daily Pennsylvanian he had not contacted Jeffrey Epstein — his former high school teacher — in ‘nearly 50 years’ ISHA CHITIRALA News Editor

Penn Senior Vice President David Asch previously stated that he had not contacted Jeffrey Epstein — his former high school teacher — in “nearly 50 years” after an email exchange surfaced between an old classmate and Epstein that referenced Asch last month. But newly released documents show that Asch reached out to the convicted sex offender with a friendly email in 2012, offering to buy him coffee. In the September 2012 email exchange, Asch wrote in a message to Epstein that he’d be “happy to buy” Epstein “a cup of coffee in NY,” adding that he hoped the Manhattan financier would “remember” him. Days later, Epstein wrote back that he’d “love” to catch up with Asch. The exchange appears in the thousands of Epsteinestate documents released by the Department of Justice on Friday. Asch messaged Epstein four years after he was sentenced to an 18-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to charges of solicitation of prostitution as well as solicitation prostitution from a minor.

Asch has not been accused of any involvement in Epstein’s crimes or wrongdoing. “I hope this email reaches you. I also hope you remember me from Dalton so many years ago where, as I remember it, I did a substantial amount of your calculus teaching for you,” Asch wrote. “It’s been more than 35 years since I’ve seen you.” Four days later, Asch received a response from Epstein’s estate that said that the financier would “love to catch up.” “Sounds great!” Asch replied a day later. “I will find a time to call. But let me know if there is a good time. Otherwise, I’ll just try when I can.” “I sent that note before knowing what we all know now. Along the way I learned how despicable he was, and so I did not have a call with him or meet with him,” Asch wrote in a statement. “I am deeply saddened by the profound harm he caused his many victims.” The Daily Pennsylvanian previously reported a 2015 email exchange between New York Univer-

sity adjunct professor James Rosenwald III and Epstein, where Rosenwald wrote that he and Asch had “toasted” to Epstein months before while celebrating Thanksgiving in the Hamptons. “Epstein was my high school physics teacher. The last time I had contact with him was nearly 50 years ago,” Asch wrote in a statement to the DP at the time. Asch and Rosenwald attended the Dalton School, a Manhattan private school where Epstein taught physics and math from 1974 to 1976. A request for comment was left with a University spokesperson. In September 2025, Penn President Larry Jameson announced “Penn Forward,” a new campuswide strategic framework spearheaded in part by Asch. Jameson also charged Asch with coordinating “In Principle and Practice,” the University’s earlier initiative on which “Penn Forward” expands. Asch served as the director of Penn’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics between 1998

members who expressed confusion and concerns over the latest budget reductions. “No budget cuts have been decided or implemented,” Division of Finance Communications See BUDGET, page 3

Nursing students frustrated over clinical selection process Throughout Penn’s course selection and drop periods, many nursing students experienced scheduling challenges, describing the process as ‘disorganized’ ADDISON SAJI Staff Reporter

In the week following a winter storm that brought record snowfall and freezing temperatures to Philadelphia, Penn experienced water-related infrastructure issues affecting buildings across campus. From flooded hallways to frozen fan coil units, multiple college houses sustained damage that affected residents. Plumbing issues under and around Locust Walk also limited access to academic buildings and community spaces. “During a period of sustained, unusually cold weather, Facilities & Real Estate Services has been responding to several water‑related issues at different locations on campus,” a Facilities and Real Estate Services spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian. “This is a time of year when these types of inci-

The Daily Pennsylvanian took a behind-the-scenes look at the Weitzman School of Design’s first major building project in 60 years

Multiple students at the School of Nursing expressed frustration over the program’s course selection process in interviews with The Daily Pennsylvanian. While navigating selection process for clinical practices, many nursing students experienced scheduling challenges — describing the process as “disorganized,” “last-minute,” and “unprofessional.” Clinicals are required for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and are typically taken in the spring of a student’s sophomore year. Nursing sophomore Carliana Mejia Ortiz described the clinical scheduling process as “a complete shit show.” “They are super disorganized,” she said. “They will literally change you at the last minute, even after they give you your assignment.” “Penn Nursing recognizes the frustrations students can face regarding scheduling,” a Nursing School spokesperson wrote to the DP. “Because clinical placements are hosted by external health care partners, timing is often dictated by hospital operations and staffing, which are outside the School’s direct control.” “While our BSN curriculum is structured to meet rigorous national accreditation and licensing standards, we remain committed to supporting our students in receiving a well-rounded experience while at Penn,” the spokesperson added. Mejia Ortiz expressed frustration with the Nursing School administration, saying they “care more about themselves than about the nursing students.” She urged Penn to provide additional support and resources to help students navigate the process. She added that the structure of the curriculum limited her “freedom” to explore other course offerings, noting that students are sometimes expected to “sacrifice either a club or a class” to keep up with the academically rigorous courseload. Nursing first year Maggie Coors explained that clinicals help students “gain practical experience.” Each semester, she said, students take a course that focuses on a different area of nursing — including pediatrics, labor and delivery, and psychology. Students complete their clinical rotation concurrently with a class and are assigned to shadow a nurse throughout their day.

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See ASCH, page 2

Facilities flood during freezing temperatures From flooded hallways to frozen fan coil units, multiple college houses sustained damage that affected residents CHRISTINE OH Senior Reporter

NEWS Penn received a national award honoring community engagement efforts across the University’s 12 schools.

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