Dear Penn,

GOOD MORNING! Today, we cover Black students at Penn’s usage of viral instagram page Black Ivy Stories to allege a pattern of racism in the Chemistry Department and other fields at Penn, and some professors’ formation of a new chapter of the American Association of University Professors to amplify their calls for University support. Also, Penn professors weigh in on President Biden’s controversial student loan forgiveness policy.

Today’s Top Stories

1. BLACK PENN STUDENTS ALLEGE PATTERN OF RACISM IN CHEMISTRY DEPT. ON VIRAL INSTAGRAM PAGE 

Black Ivy Stories, an Instagram page where Black members of the Ivy League share their experiences in the institution, launched in June 2020 — since then, allegations against the Chemistry Department have surfaced alleging a pattern of alienation by faculty against Black students.

In response to student testimony describing discouragement from taking chemistry courses, faculty have attempted to create an equitable learning environment within the Chemistry Department by holding faculty trainings and creating a new committee focused on diversity and inclusion. However, students and members of the department still believe there is a long way to go.

“We have lots of work to do to break the structural barriers and gatekeeping that keep underrepresented students away from chemistry,” Chemistry professor Zahra Fakhraai wrote in an email to The Daily Pennsylvanian.

2. PENN PROFS. FORM ORGANIZATION TO PUSH U. FOR GREATER SUPPORT

After being disillusioned with University-wide decision making during the pandemic, Penn professors formed a new chapter of the American Association of University Professors, with the hope that the University will give a greater voice to faculty.

Emily Steinlight, associate professor of English and communications secretary at AAUP-Penn, said that Penn’s unilateral decisions to freeze hiring, lay off subcontracted staff, and make changes in the grading policy, and shut down admissions to Ph.D. programs, were among some of the motivations for creating AAUP-Penn.

“Those actions raised real concerns about how institutional decisions are being made at Penn and the substance of those decisions, which in a lot of cases is focused on making profits,” Steinlight said.

3. PENN PROFS. WEIGH IN ON BIDEN’S CONTROVERSIAL STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS POLICY 

Despite garnering widespread backlash from college students and progressives, President Joe Biden’s statement that he will not consider a plan that favors loan forgiveness for students who attend elite institutions like Penn, Harvard University, and Yale University was met with validity and understanding from some Penn professors.

Yet experts maintain that those who graduate with the highest amount of student loan debt often end up with higher earnings after graduating from four-year university programs, and believe that Biden should prioritize other policies that target wealth inequality more directly.

“We are having all this conversation on debt without saying why it is necessary for all of these young people to borrow this much money,” Penn adjunct professor Joni Finney said.

Here’s what else is happening:

• In an effort to prevent the usage of fraudulent passes, Penn has added a randomly generated, three-digit alphanumeric code that changes each day on green PennOpen Passes.
• Here’s a breakdown of how all eight Ivy League schools are planning to honor their graduates this year.
• Penn Libraries created a reading list for students to celebrate Black History Month.
• The Annenberg Performing Arts Center is livestreaming performances that students can watch free of cost from home.

Opinion

COLUMNIST SURAYYA WALTERS makes the case that Wharton has a long ways to go efore becoming an equitable institution and uplifting the experiences of BIPOC women to feel comfortable in the workplace.

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Sports

• After the graduation of veteran Ryan Glover, the quarterback role for Penn football will be wide open. Here is a brief rundown of the six candidates on the roster who can take over next fall.
• Mark DeRosa starred on the baseball diamond and the gridiron for Penn, and the 17-year MLB veteran has gone on to do much more, including writing for the Players’ Tribune and appearing on Impractical Jokers.
• More than 40 years ago, NFL legend Gale Sayers was nearly Penn’s Director of Athletics. Find out why Sayers interviewed twice for the position and was shortlisted, but was not ultimately selected.

Podcast

This week, Dean Wertz introduces GOODWELL NZOU. Nzou takes listeners on his journey from Zimbabwe to researching the blood-brain barrier here in the beautiful city of Philadelphia.

From 34th Street Magazine

• “Minari” glimmers with its understated yet honest depiction of the Asian American immigrant experience, writes Film & TV Editor Harshita Gupta.
• For the first time in nearly two decades, there won’t be an Asian American in any of the president’s secretary-level cabinet. The exclusion, says Focus writer Kira Wang, is a slap in the face to the Asian Americans who turned out in droves to elect Biden.

From Under the Button

• BREAKING: If Wendell Pritchett Sees His Shadow, We Get Vaccines Before May
• New Seasonal Starbucks Menu To Come!: Vaccine Boost for 10¢ or Adderall Pump for 15¢
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Newsletter by Iman Syed.

Are you enjoying this newsletter? Please share any ideas or concerns with us by emailing Executive Editor Ashley Ahn at ahn@thedp.com.

Dear Penn is published Monday through Friday by The Daily Pennsylvanian. You can update your subscription preferences or unsubscribe at any time.

Newsletter by Iman Syed.

Are you enjoying this newsletter? Please share any ideas or concerns with us by emailing Executive Editor Ashley Ahn at ahn@thedp.com.

Dear Penn is published Monday through Friday by The Daily Pennsylvanian. You can update your subscription preferences or unsubscribe at any time.