Ryan Keytack of College Houses said that Penn tries to accommodate mutual roommate requests, but also encourages students to “experience something new.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/should-colleges-let-students-choose-their-first-roommate-some-say-no/2018/06/10/bd2a1d1a-4edf-11e8-af46-b1d6dc0d9bfe_story.html The Washington Post