The University of Pennsylvania is facing criticism for its stance on the Israel-Hamas war, similar to the backlash Harvard University is experiencing. A coalition of pro-Palestine student groups at Harvard blamed Israel entirely for the violence, leading to severe online backlash. UPenn has also faced severe criticism for its pro-Palestine stance, causing major donors like the Huntsman family, David Magerman, and Marc Rowan to cut ties with the university.
In a letter, philanthropist and computer scientist David Magerman expressed his deep embarrassment and disassociation from UPenn. He criticized the university’s leadership for failing to demonstrate the values expected from an educational institution. Magerman’s disassociation came after UPenn hosted the Palestine Writes Literary Festival, which some believed promoted antisemitism.
UPenn President Elizabeth Magill issued a statement condemning Hamas’s terrorist assault on Israel and their atrocities against civilians. She acknowledged the pain caused to the Jewish community by the presence of certain speakers on campus. However, Magerman believes that UPenn is ambivalent to the evils represented by Hamas’s acts and declared his refusal to donate any more money to the university.
Before Magerman, the Huntsman family, who had been donating to UPenn for three generations, halted their donations. Jon Huntsman Jr, in a letter, criticized the university for moral relativism and its failure to condemn Hamas’s actions. He stated that the Huntsman Foundation would no longer provide financial support to UPenn.
Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global, condemned UPenn for not taking a stronger stance against antisemitism and called for Magill and board chairman Scott Bok to step down. He also urged fellow alumni to stop donating to the university. A letter with over 4,300 signatures expressed concerns about the festival’s platforming of antisemitism without denunciation from the university.
Meanwhile, a coalition of pro-Palestine groups at Harvard issued a statement blaming Israel entirely for the war, which received severe backlash. Harvard distanced itself from the coalition’s statement, stating that it does not represent the institution as a whole.
Sources:
– https://twitter.com/sfmcguire79/status/1450550199333886466
– https://www.news18.com/news/world/harvard-students-slammed-for-blaming-israel-for-hamas-attacks-5319487.html
