The University of Pennsylvania publicly rebuked a federal request that sought lists of Jewish staff, calling the demand a chilling echo of troubling history. Penn said the government's demand raised serious civil‑liberties and privacy concerns and likened the request to a "frightening" precedent. The incident is part of a broader pattern of heightened federal scrutiny of campuses and raises questions about data privacy, civil‑rights enforcement and institutional responses to government demands. Legal experts warn universities must navigate compliance while protecting employees and preserving trust on campus.