Jameson’s message comes at a time of increased federal scrutiny
Photo Credit: Penn Athletics
By Sarah Mester
In a message to the University released on March 25, President Jameson provided an update and clarification about the reported $175 million cut of federal funding announced last week that was reportedly due to Penn’s transgender athlete policy.
Jameson clarified that Penn “has never had a transgender student-athlete policy of its own” and that the participation of Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, in the 2021-2022 season, was “in full compliance with NCAA rules and Title IX policies in place at the time.” Lia Thomas was not mentioned by name, only a “student-athlete who had transitioned” was mentioned. Jameson emphasized that the University will “comply with the NCAA policy and the law as they exist today.”
The message then went on to address the effects of the announced funding cuts, listing several research projects—such as the prevention of hospital-acquired infections, drug screening against deadly viruses, and quantum computing—that were supported with the funding in question and received stop work orders. Jameson asserted that the University is “actively pursuing multiple avenues to understand and address these funding terminations, freezes, and slowdowns.”
It was emphasized that Penn values “the long-standing partnership with the federal government” that has made “America’s higher education system the envy of the world.” Jameson noted at the end that he hoped that the University could “restore trust and refocus on creativity, innovation, and training.” Readers were instructed to visit a Federal Government Updates website that was updated the same day the message was released.
Sarah Mester is a senior in the College studying Political Science and Classics from San Francisco, CA. She’s the News Editor for The Pennsylvania Post. Her email is smester@sas.upenn.edu.