Watch: The moment the top presidents of American universities evaded questioning regarding genocide
A major donor to the University of Pennsylvania has withdrawn a $100m (£79.3m) endowment following the university’s president’s controversial appearance in Congress.
In an email seen by the BBC, Ross Stevens said he was “appalled” that Elizabeth Magill avoided questions about how students calling for the genocide of Jews would be punished.
Ms Magill was grilled by politicians on Tuesday over anti-Semitism on campus.
She has since apologized for her comments, but is facing calls to resign.
US media reported that the advisory board at Wharton – the university’s business school – had written a letter to Ms Magill calling on her to step down “with immediate effect”.
American universities have witnessed angry protests and increasing incidents of anti-Semitism since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas two months ago.
Ms. Magill appeared in the House of Representatives alongside the presidents of Harvard and MIT, Claudine Jay and Sally Kornbluth.
New York Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik asked them: “Is calling for the genocide of Jews a violation?” [your university’s] Code of conduct or rules on bullying and harassment? yes or no?”
Ms. Magill and her counterparts at MIT and Harvard did not answer yes or no, but said – in different ways – that it depends on “the context.”
There has been widespread backlash since then, with the White House condemning the comments.
“The lack of moral clarity is unacceptable,” Doug Emhoff, the administration’s highest-ranking Jewish member, said Thursday at a ceremony marking the lighting of the national menorah.
In his letter about withdrawing the donation, Stevens said: “I have clear reasons to cancel Pennsylvania’s $100 million equity interest in Stone Ridge due to Chairman Magill’s conduct.”
The founder and CEO of Stone Ridge Asset Management, told the university that its “permissive approach” toward those who call for violence against Jewish people “would violate any policies or rules prohibiting harassment and discrimination based on religion, including those of Stone Ridge.” .
The University of Pennsylvania is one of the oldest universities in the United States and part of the elite Ivy League, which also includes Harvard, Columbia, and Yale universities as members.
Wharton’s alumni include former US President Donald Trump, Tesla and SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk, and many other powerful names in business and finance.
The donation, in the form of limited partnership units in Stone Ridge, was made by Mr. Stevens in 2017 to help Wharton create a center for financial innovation.
Image source, Getty Images
University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill has faced increasing calls to resign after her testimony before Congress
Ms. Magill in particular has faced increasing scrutiny over whether she can continue in her position.
She posted a video on the university’s website on Wednesday apologizing for her response during the hearing, saying she focused on the university’s “longstanding policies — consistent with the U.S. Constitution — that speech alone is not punishable.”
She added that she should have focused on “the irrefutable fact that calling for the genocide of the Jewish people is a call for some of the most horrific acts of violence that human beings can commit,” adding that it was “evil, plain and simple.”
While some welcomed her apology on Wednesday, Stevens’ letter appeared to call for her resignation.
He said Stone Ridge would welcome the opportunity to review its decision “if, and when, there is a new university president.”
On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro — a non-voting trustee at UPenn — criticized Ms. Magill for her “deeply disgraceful” remarks and called on the university to make a “serious decision” about her continued leadership.
He added: “It should not be difficult to condemn genocide.” “Leaders have a responsibility to speak and act with moral clarity, and Liz Magill fails to meet this simple test.”
A petition calling for Ms Magill’s resignation had collected more than 23,000 signatures as of Friday afternoon.
Facing criticism for her remarks at Tuesday’s hearing, Harvard President Dr. Jay apologized in an interview with the college newspaper, saying she had been “caught up in what had become, at that point, an extended combative exchange over policies and procedures.”
The House Education and Workforce Committee announced Thursday that it will conduct a formal investigation into Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and MIT over “rampant anti-Semitism.”
“Committee members have deep concerns about their leadership and their failure to take steps to provide Jewish students with the safe educational environment they deserve under the law,” committee chair Virginia Foxx said in a statement.
Two University of Pennsylvania students — both Jewish — filed a lawsuit against the school on Thursday, alleging it has become an “incubation laboratory for anti-Jewish hatred, harassment, and discrimination.”
The suit also accuses the school of “selectively” enforcing the code of conduct to “avoid protecting Jewish students” and employing “rabidly anti-Semitic professors who advocate violence against Jews.”
Anti-Islamic attacks on universities have also increased.
The Ministry of Education has launched an investigation into several schools over alleged incidents of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.