Penn community members rally outside Sen. McCormick’s office, denouncing attacks on higher education

Penn community members gathered in Center City on Friday to protest threats to federal funding and academic freedom across institutions of higher education.

The Nov. 7 rally — which took place outside the office of Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) on Market Street — was organized by the American Association of University Professors in collaboration with the United Academics of Philadelphia, the American Federation of Teachers, and other related organizations. The event featured a range of speakers, including faculty, students, and researchers from Penn.

Representatives from several on-campus groups attended the rally, including members from AAUP–Penn, Graduate Employees Together — University of Pennsylvania, and Research Associates and Postdocs United at Penn. 

In her speech, AAUP–Penn Chapter President Jessa Lingel discussed the importance of cooperation between University faculty during the event. She pointed to the organizing efforts of teachers at the Los Angeles Unified School District, calling the group’s March 2023 strike a potential “roadmap" for university faculty.

“Solidarity across the campus is power,” Lingel said. “The LA success wasn’t just about teachers or support staff, it was about every worker in the education ecosystem standing together.”

Lingel argued that the fight for higher education must be presented as "essential investments in our students’ learning and the integrity of our University’s mission.”

In an interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian, Lingel described AAUP–Penn's intention to “continue building coalitions with other working people on campus … and try, more than anything else, to hold Penn accountable to its own values.” 

Emily Perkins, a postdoctoral psychology researcher at Penn and RAPUP organizer, told the DP that the union is “in the midst of scheduling our first bargaining session with Penn.” 

RAPUP launched its contract campaign and initial demands for the University in October.

Based on survey data, Perkins said, the most important issues for postdocs and research associates include improved “compensation and better health care.” She also emphasized the importance of “increased protections against sudden and unjust terminations” for international workers.

The Nov. 7 protest also focused on attempts to counter “the agenda” of Marc Rowan, who currently chairs the Wharton School’s Board of Advisors and served as chief architect of the White House’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," which Penn rejected on Oct. 16.

The rally coincided with a national “day of action” for higher education, with similar protests in over 50 cities across the country — including four other cities in Pennsylvania. Members of AAUP–Penn also denounced funding cuts and political influence on college campuses during a Nov. 7 protest in New York City, which used the slogan “Tell Billionaire Marc Rowan: Hands off Higher Ed.”

During the rally, 2013 Engineering graduate and Pennsylvania state Rep. Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia) denounced the “neo-fascist billionaires,” who he argued have attempted to “sink their teeth into our campuses.” 

“The University of Pennsylvania makes billions of dollars in mRNA vaccines, but those dollars don’t go towards the paychecks of the grassroots [workers],” Krajewski said. 

He added that Penn’s financial decisions — including the possibility of using funds from the endowment — have resulted in the “corporatization” of the University. According to Krajewski, Penn’s argument against tapping into the endowment is often that those funds are “restricted” or reserved for emergency cases. 

“You’ve got workers who are not making a livable wage,” he said. “If that is not an emergency, I don’t know what the hell is.”

Krajewski also called on McCormick to publicly protect federal funding for research, health care, and education.

During his 2024 election campaign, McCormick listed one of his "key priorities" as making "federal funding for U.S. universities contingent on stamping out antisemitism." In May 2024, he visited Penn's Gaza Solidarity Encampment, and told the DP that he would consider removing federal funding from Penn based on its response to antisemitism on campus.

In September 2024, McCormick demanded that Penn take immediate action after Michael Mann — an earth and environmental science professor at Penn — posted and reposted comments regarding the assassination of conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk.

AAUP-Penn and other campus organizations similarly demanded the reversal of federal funding cuts outside McCormick’s office in April 2025.