Announcements

We continue to be very troubled by the executive order, now upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, that prohibits travelers from seven countries from entering the United States, five of them majority-Muslim.

Important research undertaken by undergraduate students in the Penn Slavery Project independent study supervised by Penn Professor Kathleen M. Brown, the David Boies Professor of History in the School of Arts and Sciences, has given us a clearer understanding of the depth and breadth of Penn’s connections to slavery. This was a profoundly painful and odious part of our nation’s history. No segment of American society or institution founded during the 18th Century, including the University of Pennsylvania, escaped its scourge. Far from it.

This year, we have seen a vibrantly energized culture of wellness at Penn. In October, we held a Campus Conversation to discuss how we can best take care of ourselves and others. We followed this Conversation in November by launching a Campaign for Wellness and announcing increased staffing and an operational review at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Dear members of the Penn Law community, We write to share the sad and painful news that Jonathan Lumpkin L’20 died suddenly today in residence at Sansom Place East. Our hearts are heavy, and we extend our deepest sympathies to Jonathan’s family and friends. We want members of the Law School community to know that Penn Law, and Penn, are here to support you at this very difficult time. Jonathan, 25, was a 1L returning from a leave of absence. He began his law studies in the fall of 2015. He was from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Dear Penn undergraduates, I am devastated to write you again so soon about the loss of another classmate and friend. I am the mother of two Penn alumni, a grandmother, and your Vice Provost, and I long to share positive, uplifting news about the remarkable Penn community. Yet I regret that I must confirm what you may already have heard via social media: We learned today that the body of Blaze N. Bernstein, a College sophomore, was found Tuesday in California by authorities investigating his disappearance.

Dear Penn undergraduates, I regret that I must begin this New Year by writing to you with extremely sad news. William Steinberg, a first-year Penn undergraduate, died suddenly with his parents and two brothers in Costa Rica on Sunday. All of us, as Penn family members, are thinking of William’s family members and friends as they move through this terrible loss. Our hearts are full, and we give them our deepest sympathy.

Dear members of the Penn Law community: It is with sadness we write that Justin Hamano, L’18, passed away over the weekend at his residence off campus. We deeply regret and are saddened by this difficult news and we want each of you to know that the Penn Law family, and indeed, the entire campus community, stands with you in support. Justin, 31, completed his undergraduate studies at New York University. He worked as a paralegal and labor organizer before starting Penn Law. He also held a master’s certificate in Labor Studies from CUNY.

Dear Penn undergraduates, I am so very sorry that my first correspondence with you after Fall Break is to share sad news, but I am writing today to tell you that your classmate, Henry W. Rogers, W’18, died this morning in his residence off campus.   Henry, 22, was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and he was a former captain of the heavyweight rowing team. He was from St. Louis and concentrated in Finance and Marketing. Within Wharton, Henry was part of Shekel Cohort.

Dear PennVet community, We write with heavy hearts after learning of the loss of Brett Cooper, V18, who died today in his off-campus residence. Brett was 30 and from New Jersey. Brett graduated the University of Delaware, where he majored in animal science. He was deeply committed to completing his clinical year and a member of Alpha Psi, the veterinary fraternity. Any student death is difficult, but a loss in a small school community can be especially painful. We urge PennVet students, faculty, and staff to comfort each other.

With sadness I write to share the sudden death of your classmate, Nicholas A. Moya, a senior majoring in Math and Economics. He died last night off campus.