UPDATE: The University of Pennsylvania is urgently investigating a series of “highly offensive, hurtful messages” that appeared to come from its own accounts, sparking outrage across its community. Sent on Friday morning, December 8, 2023, the vulgar email claimed to be from the university’s Graduate School of Education and urged recipients to “stop giving” money to the institution.
The message, which was allegedly sent from a university email address, blasted the school as a “dogs— elitist institution full of woke r——.” It accused the university of having “terrible security practices” and described its admissions policies as “unmeritocratic.”
A spokesperson for the university confirmed to Fox News Digital that the emails were “obviously” fake and highly offensive. “A fraudulent email has been circulated that appears to come from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. This is obviously a fake, and nothing in the highly offensive, hurtful message reflects the mission or actions of Penn,” the spokesperson stated.
The university’s Office of Information Security is actively addressing the situation. Officials clarified that they were not hacked but are investigating the source of this disturbing message. The university also acknowledged the incident on Facebook, reiterating that the emails do not represent its values and apologizing for the distress caused.
Elizabeth Cooper, the IT help desk manager, sent an email to members of Penn’s Annenberg School for Communication, indicating that the emails had reached individuals outside of the university. “It appears that some email list, which is beyond our control, was accessed by malicious individuals who then sent out these messages,” Cooper wrote.
The university has received widespread backlash from community members who are shocked and hurt by the content of the emails. The message has raised significant concerns about digital security and the potential vulnerability of institutional communications.
In light of this incident, the university is reviewing its security protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Community members are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious emails.
As the investigation unfolds, more information is expected to be released. The university is committed to restoring trust and ensuring the safety of its communications. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
