UPDATE: The University of Pennsylvania is currently investigating a series of highly offensive emails sent from a school account that have sparked outrage among its community. The emails, which appeared on Friday, December 8, 2023, under the subject line “We got hacked,” were directed at members of the university and criticized its values in a vulgar manner.
The fraudulent message, reportedly sent from the university’s Graduate School of Education, urged recipients to stop donating to the institution, labeling it a “dogs— elitist institution full of woke r——.” The email also claimed the university had “terrible security practices” and employed “morons” through “unqualified affirmative action admits.”
A spokesperson for the university confirmed to Fox News Digital that these emails are “obviously fake” and “highly offensive.” “Nothing in the highly offensive, hurtful message reflects the mission or actions of Penn or of Penn GSE,” the spokesperson stated. The university’s Office of Information Security is actively investigating this incident, although it clarified that it was not hacked.
The university has taken to social media, posting on Facebook to inform the public about the situation, stating, “Fraudulent emails are currently being circulated that appear to come from a Penn Graduate School of Education account.” The statement reassured that the Office of Information Security is aware of the situation and is addressing it promptly.
Elizabeth Cooper, the IT help desk manager at Penn, also addressed the incident in an internal email, indicating that the emails have reached individuals outside 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 reported.
The university’s leadership has expressed concern over the potential harm caused by these messages. “All of the emails are incredibly offensive and in no way reflective of Penn or Penn GSE’s mission or values,” the university stated in its communications. “We sincerely apologize for the harm this has caused and is causing.”
As the investigation unfolds, the university has committed to keeping its community updated on the situation. Authorities are urging anyone who received the offensive email to report it to the university’s information security team.
This incident raises significant concerns about cybersecurity within academic institutions, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced protective measures against malicious attacks. As investigations continue, the university community remains on alert for further developments.
Stay tuned for more updates on this evolving story.
