Another financial bigwig is withdrawing funding from the embattled University of Pennsylvania, citing “hate and violence” in social media posts by political science professor Anne Norton.
Investor Henry Jackson and his wife, Stacey, confirmed to The Post that they are in talks with UPenn to cut ties with Norton following a series of controversial posts and retweets, including endorsing a publication that claims Jews are better for “playing victims.”
The Jacksons have sponsored Norton through their President’s Distinguished Professorship since 2018.
“We are proud to have supported the University of Pennsylvania for many years and remain passionate believers in the power of higher education to expand opportunity,” the Jacksons said in a statement provided by The Post.
“However, we are deeply concerned by comments made by Professor Anne Norton on social media that appear to endorse hate and violence.”
The controversial comments in question – highlighted by the Stop antisemitism nonprofit group last week — included a post on X that Norton had liked, which said, “Playing the victim is what Jews do best.”
The donor couple confirmed that they are in talks with UPenn to withdraw funding for their professorship, currently held by political science professor Anne Norton, after her anti-Israel posts. University of Pennsylvania
UPenn – JUST when you think things can’t get any worse here, Anne Norton, Distinguished Professor of Political Science:
– liked a post that said “Playing the victim is what Jews do best” – shared a post that called the brutal rape of a Jewish woman “alleged” –… pic.twitter.com/Lxo6ov9afk
– Stop antisemitism (@StopAntisemites) December 8, 2023
In another post, Norton responded to a tweet denouncing the conditions of Israelis taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.
“The freed hostages testified that they ate the same food as their captors, slept on mattresses and had access to medical care,” the professor tweeted.
He also re-shared a post on X that described the rape of a Jewish woman as “alleged.”
“We accept that Professor Norton has made these comments in his personal capacity,” the Jacksons said in their statement.
“However, we strongly condemn any form of racism or anti-Semitism and are currently in discussions with the university to end our association with this chair. “We hope the university can quickly and successfully address the many challenges it currently faces.”
Henry Jackson is co-founder and CEO of OpCapita LLP, a British private equity firm. His wife, Stacey, is a singer and executive producer of 3B1G Records. Statement from FilmMagic The Jacksons provided to The Post
It was not immediately clear whether the Jacksons, who are listed as parent donors on UPenn’s website, planned to withdraw all future donations to the school or simply eliminate the endowed chair that bears their name.
New York native Henry Jackson graduated from UPenn’s Wharton Business School and is co-founder and CEO of OpCapita LLP, a British private equity firm. His wife, Stacey, is a singer and songwriter.
A UPenn spokesperson declined to comment on the couple’s decision to defund Norton’s professorship, saying they could not discuss personnel matters.
Meanwhile, Norton did not immediately respond to the Post’s request for comment.
The couple is the latest in a series of deep-pocketed donors who have slammed their checkbooks shut (or at least promised to do so) over UPenn’s response to Israel’s war.
The most notable is the billionaire founder of AQR Capital Management, Clifford Asness; Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Management; former US ambassador Jon Huntsman; and hedge funder David Magerman.
Billionaire Ronald Lauder was among those who threatened to withdraw donations if the school did not do more to combat anti-Semitism.
On Sunday, UPenn President Liz Magill “voluntarily” resigned from her position in the wake of her recent disastrous testimony before Congress about the school’s failure to protect Jewish students.
The development comes just days after UPenn President Liz Magill “voluntarily” resigned from her position in the wake of her recent disastrous testimony before Congress. Robert Miller
Magill had appeared before the House Education Committee last week, where she and the presidents of Harvard and MIT were questioned by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who asked each of them whether to ask for the genocide of the Jews was considered “intimidation.” and harassment” according to the codes of conduct of their universities.
“It’s a decision that depends on the context, Congressman,” Magill responded at the time.
After news of Magill’s resignation broke, Stefanik tweeted: “One less. Two are missing”.
“This is just the beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of anti-Semitism that has destroyed America’s most ‘prestigious’ institutions of higher education,” the congresswoman added.
“These universities can anticipate a robust and comprehensive Congressional investigation into all facets of the negligent perpetration of anti-Semitism at their institutions, including administrative, faculty, financial, and overall leadership and governance aspects.”
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn