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INSIDE: VOTER’S GUIDE

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA • FOUNDED 1885 VOL. CXLI

PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2025

NO. 26

Jameson releases Penn’s letter declining White House compact in ‘spirit of transparency’ Until Friday, Penn was the only university that had declined to sign the compact but did not publicly disclose its response to the government RIANA MAHTANI Senior Reporter

According to Struck, the pilot program marks the beginning of a three-year process, with this year serving as “a year of vetting.” In the spring of 2026, SAS faculty will vote before a period of “implementation to roll out a broader curriculum” next fall. Multiple students said that the pilot has encouraged them to explore new disciplines, even if the

On Friday, Penn President Larry Jameson publicly released the full text of the University’s letter to the Department of Education declining to sign the preferential funding compact. In an Oct. 24 email to the Penn community, Jameson said he was releasing the letter “in the spirit of transparency” following requests from the Penn community after his Oct. 16 announcement that Penn had submitted feedback about the compact to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Of the seven schools that declined the White House’s offer, Penn was the only one that did not immediately disclose the contents of its written response. The letter emphasized that Penn’s “policies and practices are already aligned with many of the core principles” outlined in the proposed compact. “Our support of the nation is enduring,” the letter read. “We agree that universities must uphold the highest standards of excellence grounded in merit, integrity, and accountability.” However, Jameson wrote to McMahon that “significant portions of the Compact and its overarching framing would undermine Penn’s ability to advance our mission and the nation’s interests.” He raised five major concerns, including regarding provisions that established funding preferences based on “subjective standards and undefined processes.” Jameson expressed an additional concern that the compact harms academic freedom and promotes protections for “conservative thought alone.” The letter also criticized the compact’s focus on tuition-free

See COURSES, page 3

See LETTER, page 2

MAX MESTER | DP FILE PHOTO

Two months in, Penn first years express mixed reactions to new pilot College curriculum The new program, titled College Foundations, consists of four classes that fulfill up to six general education requirements ANVI SEHGAL, ARTI JAIN, AND ANANYA KARTHIK Senior Reporter and Contributing Reporters

Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences introduced a new pilot curriculum for first-year students this fall, aiming to provide a broad liberal arts education through an integrated set of courses. The new program, titled College Foundations, consists of four classes that fulfill up to six general education requirements — a writing seminar, a first-year seminar, and two courses known as “Kite” and “Key” that focus on the humanities and

sciences, respectively. The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke to College first years enrolled in the program about their experiences with its organization and content. In an interview with the DP when the program was announced, College Dean Peter Struck said that the program is meant to provide a “broad introduction to what the arts and sciences curriculum is all about.”

Allied Universal security officers rally across Philadelphia ahead of potential strike

2025 Penn graduate Shaan Mishra becomes ‘Jeopardy!’ champion in comeback win

The demonstrations come as workers prepare to strike against Allied Universal — Penn’s security contractor since 1996

In an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian, Mishra described the ‘shock and awe’ that followed his comeback victory after a series of losses from the start of the game

NORAH FINDLEY AND SAMEEKSHA PANDA Staff Reporters

SAMEEKSHA PANDA Staff Reporter

The union representing Penn’s security officers held numerous rallies throughout Philadelphia on Monday, calling on Allied Universal Security Services — the University’s security contractor — to raise wages in their new contract proposal. The demonstrations — which were organized by Service Employees International Union 32BJ across several locations in the city — come as workers prepare to strike against Allied Universal. According to a union spokesperson, around 200 individuals participated in the rallies across several Philadelphia locations. Attendees were handed informational flyers with the union’s grievances and instructions for petitioning Allied Universal leadership to pay “essential workers what they deserve.” “With wages as low as $16.25/hour, most of us struggle to afford even groceries and rent,” the flyer read. “The company we work for, Allied Universal, is refusing to pay us a livable wage.” In a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian, a spokesperson for Allied Universal said the company has “good working relationships with unions around the country, including the SEIU.” “We are engaged in good faith negotiations with the SEIU to renew the existing collective bargaining agreement in Philadelphia,” the Allied Universal spokesperson wrote. In an interview with the DP, a Penn security guard — who requested anonymity due to fear of professional retaliation — said that many of the

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guards believe they should have increased compensation because of their consistent dedication to their jobs. “We show up every day,” the Penn security guard said. “We show up tired, we show up sick, we show up confused, we show up belittled, we show up afraid, we show up every single day. So, I’m just asking that they would look at that and try to assist us the best way that they can, through our union.” 32BJ SEIU recently conducted a survey of over 500 Philadelphia security officers to determine their quality of life based on their wages, according to a union press release. According to the published findings of the union’s survey, more than half of the security officers reported having skipped meals or cut back on groceries. Two in five reported paying their rent or mortgage late or not able to pay at all, and over a quarter reported going without necessary medical care in order to save on expenses. “Every guard deserves to be paid good benefits, good wages so they can live,” Allied Universal security guard Beverly Thorpe told the DP. “Guards have children to take care of, mouths to feed on that little wage. How [are] you gonna feed your kids with that little bit of wage?” Allied Universal security guard Andre Dozier, who has been at the bargaining table with Allied Universal to discuss their proposal, expressed frustration at the company’s lack of transparency and See ALLIED, page 3

2025 College graduate Shaan Mishra became the latest “Jeopardy!” champion on Oct. 24. The trivia game show features three contestants who compete to solve clues quickly and formulate responses in question form for

monetary prizes. Mishra, who studied economics and computer science at Penn, faced off against Kristina Pohribnij — a stay-at-home mother — and three-time defending champion and 2007 See JEOPARDY, page 9

PHOTO COURTESY OF “JEOPARDY!”

Mishra (right) won “Jeopardy!” on Oct. 24.

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