Former UPenn swimmer Paula Scanlan mocks university for donation request amid federal funding pause

Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Paula Scanlan joined 'America's Newsroom' to discuss her take on the Trump administration's decision to pull $175 million in federal funding and why she believes it's 'not enough' to protect women's sports.

Former University of Pennsylvania women's swimmer and conservative influencer Paula Scanlan is never in a giving mood when it comes to her alma mater, but she was in a joking mood when the university coincidentally came asking for a donation on the same day the Trump administration paused $175 million in its federal funding. 

Scanlan, who was one of the female UPenn swimmers forced to share a pool and locker room with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 2021-22 season, told Fox News Digital she often gets requests from the university call center for donations. 

By chance, she just so happened to get one on Wednesday, hours after the funding pause was announced. 

"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.

"But, 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 added that the last time she received a request from UPenn for a donation was in February via email. 

"This is not a new thing, but I'm sure they're pressing for cash and that's definitely something they're trying to do." 

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