UPDATE: The University of Pennsylvania is in the spotlight as it investigates a series of highly offensive emails sent from what appeared to be its own account. The vulgar messages, targeting the university’s reputation, were sent out early this morning, December 8, 2023, and have sparked outrage among recipients.
The emails, which falsely claimed to be from the Graduate School of Education, urged community members to “stop giving” money to the university. Describing Penn as a “dogs— elitist institution,” the messages attacked the university’s admissions practices and labeled it “unmeritocratic.” A subject line declaring “We got hacked” raised alarms, prompting swift action from university officials.
A spokesperson for the university confirmed to Fox News Digital, “These emails are obviously fake and highly offensive.” The Office of Information Security is currently investigating the source and nature of the emails, although initial reports indicate that the university has not been hacked.
“Fraudulent emails are currently being circulated that appear to come from a Penn Graduate School of Education account,” the university stated on Facebook. “These messages do not reflect the mission or values of Penn.” The university has apologized for the distress caused, acknowledging the hurtful nature of the content.
Elizabeth Cooper, the IT help desk manager at Penn, informed members of the Annenberg School for Communication that these emails were not only affecting individuals within the university but were also being received by external recipients. “It appears that some email list, which is beyond our control, was accessed by malicious individuals,” she noted.
As the investigation unfolds, the university is taking steps to mitigate any further incidents and enhance its email security protocols. The shockwaves from this incident are being felt deeply within the university community, as many grapple with the offensive language and sentiments expressed in the emails.
The university is urging all members of its community to remain vigilant and to report any similar messages. As of now, the full extent of the situation remains unclear, but the university’s swift response highlights the serious implications of such fraudulent communication.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops. This incident serves as a critical reminder of the vulnerabilities in digital communication and the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures at educational institutions.