News

Penn accepts 15% of early decision applicants to Class of 2025, a record low

The early decision acceptance rate for the Class of 2025 marks a 4.7 percentage point decrease from last year. This year, 7,962 students applied through the University's early decision program, a 23% increase from last year's 6,453 applicants.

Penn grad Rick Krajewski pledges to bring progressive reform to Pa. statehouse

Krajewski defeated three opponents in the June Democratic primary election. His campaign's three priorities are to enact progressive state healthcare and criminal justice reform, connect underprivileged Philadelphians with essential government services, and provide relief for small businesses and workers. 

Penn Law brought 551 students to campus for a hybrid fall semester deemed a 'success story'

Although the University decided last minute no longer to bring undergraduate students back to campus in the fall, Penn Law opened its doors to approximately 550 students of its estimated 751-person class for in-person learning through Nov. 25, when classes ended for the semester.

New Philadelphia law protects restaurants from eviction amid new COVID-19 restrictions

The bill offers financial relief to non-chain restaurants that have seen at least a 50% drop in revenue since the start of the pandemic and are currently operating with under 100 employees.

Penn Med's frontline health care workers praised for courage, yet denied COVID-19 tests

The Daily Pennsylvanian spoke to more than a dozen nurses, doctors, and clinical students who work across Penn Medicine’s hospital system. While Penn undergraduates enjoyed virtually unlimited access to COVID-19 testing this semester, some health care workers continue to be denied COVID-19 tests.

Penn clothing vendor has ties to company using forced labor, workers' rights group finds

University officials said they are aware of the reports of forced labor and are waiting for the results of a full investigation to find out the details of the alleged violations. 

Penn lays out plans for hybrid semester, will start vaccinating hospital staff next week

The virtual town hall, titled “From Campus Access to Testing and Vaccination: What to Expect for Penn’s COVID-era Spring Semester,” discussed the future of the COVID-19 vaccine, Penn’s plans for opening campus in the spring, and COVID-19 testing.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf tests positive for COVID-19

Wolf said he is currently experiencing no symptoms but is following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Department of Health guidelines. 

Penn undergrads living outside U.S. cannot hold work-study or TA positions in spring 2021

One CIS professor described the loss of TAs as a “major headache” for the CIS department, predicting more crowded office hours.

A Penn senior drafted a novel at 19 years old. That book just made her a NYT best-seller.

Gong’s debut novel “These Violent Delights” is a retelling of Shakespear’s “Romeo and Juliet” set in Shanghai in the 1920s.

Thanksgiving break travel prompts Penn’s semester-high COVID-19 positivity rate

For just the third time this semester, the positivity rate climbed above 2% for the week ending on Dec. 5. Penn recorded its highest weekly case count at 107.

Phila. prisons under ‘shelter in place’ measures after COVID-19 outbreak in city jails

After an outbreak inside city jails caused at least 150 infections, Philadelphia's Department of Prisons adopted shelter-in-place measures and indefinitely canceled prisoner transports to court dates, again prompting concern from prisoners-rights advocates.

Penn Dems phone banks ahead of January runoff to flip Georgia Senate seats

During phone banking events, held every Monday evening over Zoom for the past two months, Penn Dems members urge eligible Georgia voters to vote blue.

Profs. deem online semester a success, but hope to teach in person soon

Reflecting back on the positive experiences of the unprecedented semester, professors nevertheless said they hoped to return to teaching in person as soon as possible.

Bucks County introduces pilot program to partner social workers with police officers

The Bensalem Police Department plans to bring on two social workers for a two-year pilot program. The program will direct some people towards social services and away from the criminal justice system and reduce the time police spend on social service-related calls. 

Temple to pay $700,000 settlement for falsifying data to boost business school ranking

Following the university's 2018 scandal, Temple University will pay a $700,000 settlement to the U.S. Department of Education for the misreporting of its business school's data that falsely boosted its place in the annual U.S. News and World Report rankings. 

Penn's Basser Center for BRCA awards eighth Basser Global Prize for breast cancer research

Kaufman’s research played a major role in the development of a treatment for hereditary cancer caused by BRCA. The treatment uses PARP inhibitors, which prevent the body from repairing cancerous cells damaged by chemotherapy.

Pennsylvania reports record daily high of nearly 13,000 positive COVID-19 tests

Across the country, positive cases for the virus have increased following travel and visitations made in the week after Thanksgiving. 

New Penn course to examine the voting controversies of the 2020 election

The course will cover topics including voting rights, mail-in ballots, voter registration, felon disenfranchisement, and redistricting.

Penn geriatrician named one of 21 Carol Emmott Fellowship recipients

Walke has served as the Chief of the Division of the Division of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine since 2018. Previously, she served on the faculty of Yale University for fifteen years.