Former UPenn Swimmer Paula Scanlan Takes a Jab at University Over Donation Request

Paula Scanlan, a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer and now a vocal conservative influencer, certainly isn't feeling charitable towards her alma mater. On the very day the Trump administration paused $175 million in federal funding to UPenn, Scanlan received a call from the university asking for a donation. Talk about awkward timing.

Scanlan, who became known for her outspoken criticism of UPenn after being forced to share locker rooms with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, didn’t hold back in her response to the university's request. "They always call me, and they call all alums… obviously, I'm not interested in donating any money. I don't think I would ever even consider that until I am given an apology about being forced to undress in front of a man in the locker room three times a week," she said.

She added, "Ironically, yesterday evening was one of the times they chose to call me to ask for a donation… they're always calling me asking, always asking for money and [Wednesday] was one of the times they chose to do that, which I thought was really funny considering the announcement." Scanlan noted that the last donation request she received was back in February via email. Timing, it seems, is not UPenn’s strong suit.

Scanlan also expressed broader concerns about higher education, criticizing the university’s curriculum for including degrees she deemed "useless" and suggesting a need for sweeping reforms not just at UPenn but across all universities. "Students are taking out hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans to major in useless things like gender studies," she said, calling for changes before she'd even consider making a donation to any university.

Scanlan has long been a prominent critic of UPenn’s decision to allow Thomas to compete on the women’s team during the 2021-22 season. She testified before Congress in 2023 alongside swimmer Riley Gaines about the emotional toll of these policies on female athletes.

Meanwhile, Scanlan’s former teammates, including Grace Estabrook, are doubling down on their demands for accountability. "We still need these institutions to be held fully accountable," Estabrook said, advocating for policy changes and the revocation of records and awards earned by trans athletes in women’s sports. Estabrook is part of a lawsuit with other former swimmers, seeking to have Thomas’ records removed.

Other teammates, Margot Kaczorowski and Ellen Holmquist, praised the Trump administration’s decision to pause funding, calling it a significant step in holding universities accountable for harming female athletes. "They have knowingly stolen opportunities and awards from women, placed women in physical danger, and facilitated the sexual harassment of female student athletes," they said in a joint statement.

Scanlan, however, remains skeptical about the impact of the funding cut. "I think that it's obviously a good thing, it's a good message to send. But it's only going to make a small difference," she said, noting that deeper systemic changes within the university’s administration and curriculum are necessary.

While the federal funding pause has sparked debate and support among Scanlan and her peers, the broader conversation about transgender inclusion in sports and Title IX protections continues to ignite controversy nationwide. UPenn, for its part, has yet to respond to requests for comment.