Former UPenn women’s swimmer and conservative influencer Paula Scanlan found humor in a coincidental request for a donation from her alma mater on the same day that the Trump administration paused $175 million in funding to the university. Scanlan, who was impacted by sharing facilities with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, insisted that she would not consider donating until she received an apology for being forced to undress in front of a man in the locker room multiple times a week. She also criticized UPenn for what she sees as useless degree programs, such as gender studies, and called for reforms in higher education before considering any donation.
Scanlan has been a vocal critic of UPenn’s decision to roster Lia Thomas on the women’s swim team since her debut in 2021-22. As a sexual assault survivor, Scanlan has testified alongside other former teammates, such as Riley Gaines, about the emotional impact of Thomas’ presence on the team. While the recent funding cut from the Trump administration is seen as a step in the right direction by Scanlan, she believes that further reforms are necessary, including the revocation of records and accolades of transgender athletes in women’s categories.
Scanlan’s former teammates, including Grace Estabrook, Margot Kaczorowski, and Ellen Holmquist, have joined her in seeking accountability from UPenn and other universities within the NCAA. They believe that these institutions have violated federal law by allowing transgender athletes to compete against women, leading to harm, physical danger, and the harassment of female athletes. They are part of a lawsuit seeking to have Lia Thomas’ records scrubbed, and hope that the recent funding pause will put pressure on universities to prioritize the well-being of female students and comply with Title IX protections.
Despite the positive response to the funding pause from former UPenn swimmers, including Scanlan and her teammates, they recognize that more action is necessary to address the issues they have raised. They hope to see clear policy changes, the restoration of records and awards to deserving female athletes, and a recognition of the harm that has been caused to women in collegiate athletics. UPenn has not yet commented on the funding pause or the concerns raised by Scanlan and her former teammates, but they continue to advocate for reform in higher education and women’s sports.
