Former Utah Governor and University of Pennsylvania alumnus, Jon Huntsman Jr., along with his family, announced on Monday that they will stop their longstanding financial support to the university. Huntsman cited Penn’s failure to condemn recent Hamas attacks on Israel as the primary reason for this decision.*
*In an email addressed to Penn President Liz Magill, Huntsman expressed deep disappointment at the university’s silence regarding the attacks orchestrated by Hamas, a group supported by Iran. He accused Penn of moral relativism and labeled their silence as equivalent to endorsing hate and antisemitism, principles contrary to the essence of higher education.*
*Huntsman’s family has a long history with Penn, with generous donations spanning generations. His father, Jon Huntsman Sr., notably contributed $40 million in 1998 to Penn’s Wharton School, marking the largest-ever donation to a business school at the time.*
*This decision follows similar actions taken by other influential figures within the Penn community. Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management and Chair of the Board of Overseers at the Wharton School, had earlier called for the resignation of President Magill and other university officials over their handling of reported incidents of antisemitism on campus. Rowan also urged fellow donors to withhold contributions until the university administration addressed their concerns.*
*One of the incidents that sparked controversy was a Palestinian literary conference held in September, which featured speakers accused of supporting terrorism and denying Israel’s right to exist. Rowan and others criticized the event, considering it a violation of Penn’s principles of academic freedom and integrity.*
*In response to the public outcry, President Magill released a statement condemning Hamas’s attacks on Israel and their violence against civilians. While she stated her commitment to addressing concerns raised by trustees, the statement did not specify any concrete actions or address Huntsman’s decision directly.*
*Huntsman’s decision to cut off donations has garnered support on social media, with academics and writers praising his stand against what they perceive as Penn’s hypocrisy and loss of credibility.*
*Penn now faces a challenging situation, as influential figures within its community express their discontent, urging the university to take a stronger stance against antisemitism and violence.*
*For further updates on this developing story, stay tuned to local and national news sources.*
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*Note: This news article is written in accordance with the Associated Press (AP) style format and uses simple language for easy understanding.*
