The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) has reportedly lost a significant benefactor due to its perceived lack of response to the recent attacks on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas.
This information was revealed in an email obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Jon Huntsman Jr., a Penn graduate and former U.S. ambassador with an estimated net worth of $1 billion, sent an email to Penn President Liz Magill expressing his disappointment at the university's "silence" in the face of Hamas' aggression against Israel. Huntsman Jr. criticized the institution for its apparent ideological shift in recent years.
In his email, Huntsman Jr. stated, "To the outsider, it appears that Penn has become deeply adrift in ways that make it almost unrecognizable. Moral relativism has fueled the universitys race to the bottom and sadly now has reached a point where remaining impartial is no longer an option."
He continued, "The universitys silence in the face of reprehensible and historic Hamas evil against the people of Israel (when the only response should be outright condemnation) is a new low. Silence is antisemitism, and antisemitism is hate, the very thing that higher ed was built to obviate.
Huntsman Jr. also announced that the Huntsman Foundation would cease all future donations to Penn, a decision supported by his siblings. The Huntsman family has reportedly been a significant donor to the university for several decades, with the main building of Penns Wharton School of Business Huntsman Hall named in their honor.
On October 10, in an email to the Penn community, President Magill and Provost John L. Jackson expressed their devastation over the "horrific assault on Israel" that occurred at dawn on October 7. They stated, "These abhorrent attacks have resulted in the tragic loss of life and escalating violence and unrest in the region. Many members of our community are hurting right now. Our thoughts are especially with those grieving the loss of loved ones or facing grave uncertainty about the safety of their families and friends.
In a subsequent statement, President Magill condemned the violence, labeling Hamas' attack a "terrorist assault." However, this statement was made after Huntsman Jr. had sent his email, according to The Daily Pennsylvanian.
The perceived silence of elite university leadership, coupled with liberal student groups blaming Israel for the Hamas attack, has sparked donor outrage, leading several to distance themselves from their respective institutions.
For instance, Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer and his wife resigned from the executive board of Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government following the institution's response to over 30 student groups signing a letter condemning Israel in the aftermath of the attack.
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