UPenn donor withdraws $100M gift over president’s controversial anti-Semitism testimony
Liz Magill, President of University of Pennsylvania, Faces Backlash Following Testimony on Campus Anti-Semitism
A generous donor to the University of Pennsylvania has decided to withdraw a substantial gift of approximately $100 million from the esteemed institution. This decision comes as a direct result of the controversy surrounding the testimonies of elite university presidents on the issue of campus anti-Semitism.
Ross Stevens, an alumnus of the university’s prestigious Wharton School of Business and the founder and CEO of Stone Ridge Asset Management, expressed his disappointment with the college’s response to anti-Semitism, particularly President Liz Magill’s statements during her recent testimony before Congress. According to Axios, Stevens cited Magill’s answers as a key factor in his decision to withdraw the donation.
“Mr. Stevens and Stone Ridge are appalled by the university’s stance on anti-Semitism on campus,” stated Stevens’s lawyers in a letter addressed to the university. “Its permissive approach to hate speech, which includes calls for violence against Jews, and its laissez-faire attitude towards harassment and discrimination against Jewish students, would violate any policies or rules that prohibit such behavior, including those of Stone Ridge.”
The lawyers specifically referenced Magill’s testimony, where she controversially suggested that calling for the genocide of Jews might not necessarily violate the college’s rules regarding bullying and harassment.
“It is a context-dependent decision,” Magill responded when questioned by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) about whether such calls would breach the school’s code of conduct.
Stevens’s lawyers pointed out that Magill only acknowledged the harassment aspect of such calls “after her Congressional testimony went viral and demands for her termination amplified.”
This withdrawal of the generous gift is just the latest in a series of repercussions faced by the university following Magill’s testimony. Her remarks drew strong criticism from political leaders in Pennsylvania, including Governor Josh Shapiro (D.), Senator Bob Casey (D.), and Republican Senate candidate David McCormick. In response, Magill issued a statement clarifying her comments and expressing a commitment to reevaluating the school’s policies in light of the alarming rise in hate incidents on campus and around the world.
During the testimony, Presidents Sally Kornbluth of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Claudine Gay of Harvard University also faced similar questions from Stefanik but declined to affirm that calls for genocide would qualify as bullying and harassment.
Gay released a statement asserting that “those who threaten our Jewish students will be held accountable.” However, this did not prevent David Wolpe, a visiting scholar at the university’s divinity school, from resigning from Gay’s newly established advisory board dedicated to combating anti-Semitism. Wolpe cited Gay’s “painfully inadequate testimony” and an ideology on campus that portrays Jews as oppressors and inherently evil. Nevertheless, he acknowledged Gay as “a kind and thoughtful person.”
What are some arguments made by critics of Magill and the university regarding her testimony and approach to combating anti-Semitism on campus?
L’s testimony before the House Education and Workforce Committee, where she appeared alongside other university presidents to discuss issues of campus anti-Semitism. During her testimony, Magill faced strong criticism for her perceived lack of action and ineffective response to anti-Semitic incidents on campus.
In his letter, Stevens’s lawyers pointed out that Magill’s statements failed to address the severity of the issue and did not provide concrete plans or strategies to combat anti-Semitism on campus. This, along with the university’s alleged permissive approach to hate speech and harassment against Jewish students, led to the withdrawal of the substantial donation.
The controversy surrounding Magill’s testimony has sparked a wider debate about the responsibility of university presidents in addressing and combating anti-Semitism on college campuses. Many argue that university leaders have the obligation to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
Critics of Magill and the university argue that her testimony fell short of acknowledging the systemic nature of anti-Semitism and the urgent need for tangible actions to counter it. They claim that her response only served to exacerbate the concerns of Jewish students and further marginalize them within the university community.
In response to the backlash, Magill issued a statement affirming the university’s commitment to combating anti-Semitism and fostering a welcoming environment for all students. She acknowledged the concerns raised by alumni and donors and expressed her determination to address the issue more effectively.
The controversy surrounding Magill’s testimony highlights the importance of university leaders taking proactive measures to address discrimination and hate speech on their campuses. It also emphasizes the need for meaningful dialogue and collaboration between university administrators, students, faculty, and alumni to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all members of the university community.
As universities strive to become more diverse and inclusive, they must address the concerns and experiences of all their students. Only by actively combating anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination can universities fulfill their mission of providing a high-quality education in a safe and respectful environment.
In the case of the University of Pennsylvania, the withdrawal of a significant donation serves as a reminder that actions and responses of university presidents can have significant consequences. It is now the responsibility of the university’s leadership to engage in meaningful discussions and implement concrete strategies to address the concerns raised by alumni, donors, and the wider community.
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