A cache of confidential University files released by the cybercrime group ShinyHunters appears to contain never-before-seen donor records and protocols for combating antisemitism.
The documents — which were released on the group’s forum and reviewed by The Daily Pennsylvanian on Wednesday — seemingly show how Penn tracked donor activity as recently as 2025. Multiple individuals whose information appear in the leak had previously pledged to halt donations to Penn over the administration’s handling of on-campus antisemitism allegations in 2023.
Outgoing 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 then-University Board of Trustees Chair Scott Bok resigned from their posts.
In response to Rowan’s request, 1983 Wharton graduate Jonathon Jacobson pledged to donate no more than $1 until Magill announced her resignation — which eventually came in December 2023.
According to the leaked records, Jacobson’s most recent donation to the University was on May 30, 2025.
After making the same pledge, Lynne Tarnopol — a 1960 College and Wharton graduate — donated to Penn Hillel as recently as Oct. 3, 2025, the files show.
1969 College graduate Richard Wolf similarly threatened to end donations unless both Magill and Bok resigned. A $1 million donation was recorded from him on Dec. 23, 2024.
Among the other donors included in the leak were 2001 Wharton graduate Matthew Nord and 1979 College and 1986 Wharton graduate Bruce Jacobs — who both joined the backlash against Penn in 2023 but made donations in 2025, according to the files.
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“We are analyzing the data and will notify any individuals if required by applicable privacy regulations,” a University spokesperson previously wrote to The Daily Pennsylvanian.
The recent leak also included a 2023 file titled the “Antisemitism Action Plan Dashboard,” which mentions various initiatives to “develop solutions to call out and combat antisemitism” across the University.
The plan details the University’s strategy for responding to allegations of antisemitism across three focus areas: safety and security, engagement, and education.
According to the document, Penn was “on track” to review safety measures for religious spaces on campus. A separate measure to ensure the Penn community was informed of the process for reporting antisemitism was marked as “complete” but “ongoing.”
On Oct. 31, mass spam emails were sent from multiple University-affiliated email addresses to the Penn community and contained criticisms of the University’s security practices and institutional purpose.
“This is the direct result of advisors advising you against paying a ransom,” the alleged hackers wrote in a document included in the Feb. 4 release. “It has the opposite affect. Do NOT provoke us again and pay the ransom when we contact you.”
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Senior reporter Anvi Sehgal leads coverage of the University's administration and can be reached at sehgal@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies philosophy, politics, and economics. Follow her on X @anvi_sehgal.
