The Graduation Issue 2026: 2022-23 Year in Review

The 2022-23 academic year at Penn saw a rise in student activism alongside changes to housing, dining, and admissions.

Student advocacy

In August 2022, more than 100 demonstrators interrupted then-Penn President Liz Magill’s Convocation speech to demand administrators take action in opposing the eviction of residents from 70 affordable housing units across the city.

Later that semester, protesters affiliated with Fossil Free Penn organized a five-week encampment on College Green. The group urged the University to divest from fossil fuels, preserve the University City Townhomes, and support Philadelphia public schools. The group stormed Franklin Field during the Homecoming football game, resulting in the arrests of 19 protesters and an hourlong play stoppage.

The next month, students marched across campus to protest the proposed construction of a Philadelphia 76ers arena near Chinatown. The group — Students for the Preservation of Chinatown — continued their demonstrations through late March, when they led a protest during the University Board of Trustees’ meeting.

Heightened campus activism led to broader debates about free speech on college campuses. Student groups, including FFP, raised concerns in April 2023 about Penn’s Committee on Open Expression’s proposed interpretation of guidelines governing campus demonstrations. At the time, administrators told The Daily Pennsylvanian that the guidelines were meant to protect free speech within the limitations of University functions.

Housing and dining

Penn entered a three-year lease with the College House at the Radian in September 2022 to provide additional campus housing amid renovations to the Quad. At the time, over 700 juniors and seniors were placed on a waitlist for on-campus housing for the 2023-24 academic year, sparking student concerns over housing options.

Penn Dining also expanded its offerings to accommodate student requests, including breakfast smoothies, all-day breakfast sandwiches at Gourmet Grocer, increased supply of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and made-to-order pasta at each location.

In February 2023, Penn Dining locations received 100 health code violations across its locations during a city inspection. Hill House and 1920 Commons failed to meet Philadelphia’s health code standards, prompting Penn Dining to release an action plan to comply with regulations. Hill House passed its reinspection in April 2023.

That month, Penn Dining cracked down on meal swipes, requiring students to display their PennCard before swiping into dining halls. The policy, which was intended to prevent students from sharing swipes, led to widespread backlash.

Admissions

Over 59,000 students applied to Penn in 2023 — the largest applicant pool in University history until that point. Despite the record-breaking year, Penn declined to share the admission rate and application data for the Class of 2027. Penn also eliminated enrollment deposits for incoming students.

Later that year, the DP spoke to students, alumni, and college admissions experts about changes to Penn’s legacy admissions policy. Jordan Pascucci was also selected as vice dean and director of admissions, replacing John McLaughlin.

Penn also planned for the possibility that the United States Supreme Court might overturn affirmative action. After the Court’s June 2023 decision outlawed the practice, Magill and Provost John Jackson Jr. released a statement emphasizing the importance of diversity at Penn, while confirming that the University would comply with the federal law.

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