Former UPenn Swimmer Paula Scanlan Voices Displeasure Amid Funding Pause
Paula Scanlan, a former University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) women’s swimmer and prominent conservative voice, has once again expressed her discontent with her alma mater, particularly in light of the recent pause on $175 million in federal funding. The timing of the funding pause coincided with a donation request from the university, a situation Scanlan found ironic and indicative of UPenn’s financial pressures.
Scanlan’s criticism stems from her experience sharing a pool and locker room with Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer, during the 2021-22 season. She has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights in sports and has publicly shared her concerns about the impact of Thomas’s presence on the team.
According to Scanlan, the university’s call center frequently contacts alumni for donations. However, she has made it clear that she is unwilling to contribute financially until UPenn issues an apology for what she perceives as a violation of her privacy and safety. She specifically cited being "forced to undress in front of a man in the locker room three times a week."
Beyond a personal apology, Scanlan believes that UPenn needs to undergo significant reforms to earn her support. She argued that the university offers too many "useless degrees" and that students are accumulating substantial debt to pursue them. She cited gender studies as an example of a major that she deems unnecessary and financially imprudent.
Scanlan’s concerns extend beyond UPenn. She wants to see universities across the country prioritize academic rigor and financial responsibility. She believes that institutions should focus on providing students with practical skills and knowledge that will enable them to succeed in the workforce.
Scanlan’s outspoken criticism of UPenn began during Thomas’s debut season in 2021-22. She initially shared anonymous insights with news outlets about the emotional toll that Thomas’s presence had on her and her teammates. In July 2023, she testified publicly before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, alongside Riley Gaines, another prominent advocate for women’s sports.
Scanlan sees the recent funding pause as a positive step but believes that it is insufficient to address the underlying issues at UPenn. She fears that the university will simply cut administrative positions without making meaningful changes to its academic programs or ideological orientation. She hopes that the funding pause will serve as a catalyst for further scrutiny and reform.
Other former UPenn swimmers have echoed Scanlan’s sentiments and expressed their desire for more comprehensive action. Grace Estabrook, another member of the team, called for the revocation of Thomas’s records and accolades in women’s swimming. She also wants institutions to be held accountable for facilitating what she describes as "sexual harassment" and causing "suffering" to female athletes.
Estabrook is a plaintiff in a lawsuit alongside Scanlan and their former teammates, Margot Kaczorowski and Ellen Holmquist. The lawsuit seeks to have Thomas’s records scrubbed from the record books.
Kaczorowski and Holmquist issued a joint statement praising the Trump administration for the funding pause. They argued that universities are beginning to realize that there are consequences for harming female students. They expressed hope that the pressure on institutions like UPenn will continue to increase.
Kaczorowski and Holmquist accused UPenn and other NCAA institutions of violating federal law, stealing opportunities from women, placing women in physical danger, and facilitating the sexual harassment of female student athletes. They emphasized that every woman on a college campus is entitled to Title IX protections.
The controversy surrounding Lia Thomas and the broader debate over transgender athletes in sports has raised complex questions about fairness, inclusion, and the rights of women. Scanlan and her former teammates have become leading voices in this debate, advocating for policies that they believe will protect the integrity of women’s sports. Their lawsuit and public advocacy efforts have brought national attention to the issue and sparked a wider conversation about the future of women’s athletics.
Scanlan’s refusal to donate to UPenn is a symbolic gesture that reflects her deep dissatisfaction with the university’s handling of the Lia Thomas situation and her broader concerns about the direction of higher education. Her actions, along with those of her former teammates, highlight the growing frustration among some athletes and advocates who believe that women’s sports are being unfairly compromised by the inclusion of transgender athletes. The legal and political battles surrounding this issue are likely to continue for the foreseeable future, and Scanlan is poised to remain at the forefront of the debate.
