Hackers Breach University of Pennsylvania, Threaten Student Data Leak

On Friday, the University of Pennsylvania experienced a cybersecurity incident where hackers sent offensive emails to alumni, students, and staff, impersonating the university's Graduate School of Education. These emails, sent from official university accounts, criticized the institution's security practices and affirmative action policies, while threatening to expose personal data protected under FERPA. The hackers appeared to aim at discouraging alumni donations, coinciding with Penn's recent refusal to align with the Trump administration's "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education," which demands universities eliminate affirmative action and penalize departments perceived as hostile to conservative ideas. The university's Office of Information Security acknowledged the fraudulent emails and confirmed that its Incident Response team is actively addressing the issue. This incident follows a broader pattern of politically-motivated cyberattacks on Ivy League institutions, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding education policy and campus politics.