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☆ Activists helped shut down an oil refinery after a series of explosions. The consequences weren’t what they expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Philadelphia CNN —Bilal Motley, utilities manager at a former Philadelphia oil refinery, was working the graveyard shift when a massive explosion broke out in the early morning hours of June 21, 2019. “This oil refinery was talked about and passed down through generations,” Sanders said. Rachael WarrinerPES is no longer functioning as a refining company, but Sunoco, whose subsidiary Evergreen owned the former PES site, did not respond to requests for comment. The PES refinery complex was the largest source of particulate air pollution in Philadelphia. Hilco Redevelopment PartnersBut UPenn’s Neises said given the scale and history of the property, Hilco will need to take its time to redevelop the area of redevelopment.

Persons: Philadelphia CNN — Bilal Motley, I’m, ” Motley, ’, ”, Motley, trekked, Hilco, Ellen Neises, they’ll, Sonya Sanders, Sanders, ” Sanders, “, Rachael Warriner, Rachel Ramirez, Phil Rinaldi, Matt Rourke, Mike Smith, ” Roberto Perez, Amelia Chasse Alcivar, UPenn’s Neises, Neises, she’s, you’re, Philly Thrive’s Sanders, there’s Organizations: Philadelphia CNN, Philadelphia Energy Solutions, US Chemical Safety, Hazard Investigation, Hilco, Partners, CNN, University of Pennsylvania’s Weitzman, of Design, longtime, Evergreen, PES, Environmental Protection Agency, Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine, Philadelphia International Airport, City of, City of Philadelphia Refinery Advisory, Hilco Redevelopment Partners, Industrial Realty, ., Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining, United Steelworkers Union, Oil Bargaining, EPA, “ Locations: Philadelphia, East, Schuylkill, New York City, Chicago, longtime South Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, Grays Ferry, Breeze, City of Philadelphia, New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Bellwether District, ”, Bellwether

☆ Harvard applications dip — but don’t plunge — following historic turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Matt Egan | Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The application figures are also the first look at Ivy League school admissions after the Supreme Court gutted affirmative action, although the data does not include demographic breakdowns. Harvard said Thursday it received 54,008 applicants for the class of 2028, down 5% from the year before. This marks the fewest applicants to Harvard since the class of 2024’s enrollment period during the Covid-19 pandemic. Harvard said it accepted 1,937 students for the class of 2028, translating to an admissions rate of 3.58%. The all-time low admissions rate was set just two years ago at 3.19%.

Persons: Claudine Gay, Liz Magill, Logan Powell, Virginia Foxx Organizations: New, New York CNN, Harvard University, Ivy League, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Cornell University, Brown University, US, University of North, House Education, Workforce Committee Locations: New York, Israel, Columbia, University of North Carolina

anna martinAfter the break, Penn talks about unconditional love and learning how to say “I’m sorry” as a parent. anna martinI mean, as a dad yourself now, do you remember a time where your kids saw you be vulnerable? You really, really can, of course. How do you think about unconditional love in your roles as a father and as a husband? penn badgleyI think unconditional love is actually very hard and rare in a way.

Persons: anna martin, ” I’m Anna Martin, Penn, Dan Humphrey, anna martin Dan Humphrey, It’s, ” penn, anna martin So, penn, We’re, anna martin You’re, it’s, anna martin You, anna martin Huh, there’s, I’ve, you’re, Dean E, Murphy, “, welling, Let’s, don’t, ”, frosting, confections, I’d, ” anna martin, Danny Murphy’s, he’s, they’ve, I’m, anna martin I, anna martin Oh, penn badgley, they’re, They’re, anna martin Wow, anna martin Absolutely, he’d, anna martin Yeah, that’s, I’ll, There’s, anna martin Hm, That’s, anybody’s, Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, You’re, anna martin Listeners, Miya Hawke, miya hawke Organizations: The New York Times, Netflix, Penn Locations: East Siders, Santa Barbara , California

☆ UPenn submits documents to Congress in antisemitism investigation
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The University of Pennsylvania submitted documents Wednesday evening to the Congressional committee investigating antisemitism on campus, beginning what could be a weekslong process of turning over documents. Nick Barley, a spokesperson for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, confirmed to CNN the committee received documents from UPenn and is currently reviewing them. The university told CNN on Tuesday that it planned a “rolling production” of documents that would take place over the next few weeks. Last month, the committee wrote a letter to UPenn demanding a slew of documents to aid that investigation. “We have grave concerns regarding the inadequacy of Penn’s response to antisemitism on its campus,” Rep. Virginia Foxx, the Republican chairwoman of the Education Committee, wrote to UPenn leaders last month.

Persons: Nick Barley, It’s, UPenn, Liz Magill, Virginia Foxx Organizations: CNN, The University of Pennsylvania, Education, Workforce, Ivy League, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ” Rep Locations: UPenn, Palestinian

WASHINGTON (AP) — Women are far more likely than men to get autoimmune diseases, when an out-of-whack immune system attacks their own bodies — and new research may finally explain why. One theory is that the X chromosome might be a culprit. The X chromosome is packed with hundreds of genes, far more than males’ much smaller Y chromosome. Every female cell must switch off one of its X chromosome copies, to avoid getting a toxic double dose of all those genes. “We think that’s really important, for Xist RNA to leak out of the cell to where the immune system gets to see it.

Persons: ”, John Wherry, wasn’t, Howard Chang, Chang, ” Chang, Epstein, Barr, Chang’s, Xist, hadn't, Penn’s, they’re, Stanford’s Chang Organizations: WASHINGTON, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Associated Press ’ Health, Science Department, Associated Press Health, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP

☆ At Penn, Tensions May Only Be Growing After Magill’s Resignation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Stephanie Saul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Campus protests are not usually aimed at a single person. But last week at the University of Pennsylvania, professors staged a rally targeting Marc Rowan, the New York private-equity billionaire. A Penn alumnus and a major benefactor of the university, Mr. Rowan deployed his formidable resources in a relentless campaign against Penn’s president, M. Elizabeth Magill, leading to her resignation in December. Mr. Rowan sent a four-page email to university trustees titled “Moving Forward,” which many professors interpreted as a blueprint for a more conservative campus. Amy C. Offner, a history professor who led the protest, called the document a proposed “hostile takeover of the core academic functions of the university.”

Persons: Marc Rowan, Rowan, Elizabeth Magill, Amy C, ” Organizations: University of Pennsylvania, New, Penn Locations: New York

☆ House demands UPenn turn over trove of documents in antisemitism investigation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —A House committee sent a letter to the University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday demanding the school turn over documents related to an investigation into antisemitism on campus. Rep. Virginia Foxx, the Republican chairwoman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, is requesting that UPenn respond to the document request by no later than February 7. Lawmakers launched a formal investigation into UPenn, Harvard University and MIT last month following disastrous testimony about antisemitism from the leaders of the three schools. Liz Magill stepped down last month as UPenn’s president in the wake of her testimony on Capitol Hill. UPenn did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Virginia Foxx, UPenn, “, ” Foxx, Larry Jameson, Ramanan Raghavendran, Liz Magill, Scott Bok, Foxx Organizations: New, New York CNN, University of Pennsylvania, Rep, Education, Lawmakers, Harvard University, MIT, Capitol, Harvard Locations: New York, Qatar, UPenn

☆ House takes aim at Harvard, MIT and UPenn’s tax-exempt status over antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The powerful House Ways and Means Committee is threatening to reconsider the tax-exempt status of Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University amid allegations the elite schools have failed to fight antisemitism on campus. Rep. Jason Smith, the Republican chair of the committee, sent a letter on Wednesday to the four schools expressing alarm at their responses to antisemitism. The controversy has fueled a backlash from donors and politicians and helped contribute to the ousters of former Harvard President Claudine Gay and former UPenn President Liz Magill. The Ways and Means chairman noted that the universities’ tax-exempt status provides “lucrative financial benefits” and “advantageous tax treatment” of their endowments. Harvard is also under pressure to respond to wide-ranging document requests from another House panel, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, on both antisemitism and plagiarism.

Persons: Jason Smith, ” Smith, Claudine Gay, Liz Magill, Smith, ” Cornell, Rebecca Valli, ”, UPenn, “ Penn, ” UPenn, Sally Kornbluth, Martha Pollack Organizations: CNN, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, US, Harvard, UPenn, MIT, Cornell, Education, ” Locations: Israel

☆ Harvard, Penn and MIT presidents to testify before Congress on antisemitism
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —The presidents of Harvard University, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania are scheduled to testify before Congress next week at a hearing on antisemitism on campus, lawmakers announced Tuesday. “College and university presidents have a responsibility to foster and uphold a safe learning environment for their students and staff. Now is not a time for indecision or milquetoast statements.”According to the House committee, the hearing will include testimony from Harvard President Claudine Gay, MIT President Sally Kornbluth and Penn President Liz Magill. “President Gay looks forward to sharing updates and information on the university’s work to support the Harvard community and combat antisemitism,” Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said in a statement to CNN. Last weekend three Palestinian college students were shot in Burlington, Vermont.

Persons: Virginia Foxx, ” Foxx, Claudine Gay, Sally Kornbluth, Liz Magill, Gay, ”, Jason Newton, “, Magill, Penn, ” Penn, Steve Silverman, Marc Rowan, Dick Wolf, Jon Huntsman, Leon Cooperman, Israel, Nir Barkat Organizations: New, New York CNN, Harvard University, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, Education, Israel, Republican Rep, “, “ College, Penn, Harvard, CNN, Columbia, Ivy League, of Education, Cornell University , Columbia Locations: New York, Israel, Burlington , Vermont

NEW YORK (AP) — ESPN Bet, a rebranded sports-gambling app owned by Penn Entertainment, is set to launch Tuesday. Under the agreement, Penn will operate ESPN Bet while ESPN promotes the app across its online and broadcast platforms. It's unclear when ESPN Bet will officially be available to download. In addition to the $1.5 billion licensing deal, Penn also said it would grant ESPN rights worth about $500 million to purchase shares in Penn. The upcoming launch of ESPN Bet could take Walt Disney Co.-owned ESPN into uncharted waters.

Persons: Penn, Dave Portnoy Organizations: ESPN Bet, Penn Entertainment, ESPN, Penn, Sports, Walt Disney Co Locations: — Arizona, Colorado , Illinois , Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Kentucky, Louisiana , Maryland , Massachusetts, Michigan , New Jersey , Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Penn

☆ Civil rights complaints allege UPenn and Wellesley allowed antisemitism to ‘run rampant’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —A Jewish legal rights advocacy group has alleged that the University of Pennsylvania and Wellesley College have violated federal civil rights law by allowing for discrimination against Jews. The Brandeis Center, a Jewish civil rights legal organization, filed civil rights complaints with the US Department of Education on Thursday, alleging both schools failed to adequately respond to harassment of Jews. “These colleges and universities have failed to keep Jewish students safe and are in clear violation of well-established federal civil rights law,” Kenneth Marcus, founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center, said in a statement. The complaints argue both schools have violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects people from discrimination in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. The 27-page complaint alleges “Penn’s nurturing of a hostile environment toward Jewish students is a patent violation of” Title VI.

Persons: ” Kenneth Marcus, “ There’s, ” Marcus, ”, UPenn, Wellesley, “ Penn, Brandeis, Liz Magill, Magill, ” Magill, Paula Johnson, ” Johnson, “, RAs, Wellesley’s, CNN’s Rene Marsh, Miguel Cardona, wouldn’t, Cardona, ” Cardona, Henry Swieca, Swieca Organizations: New, New York CNN, University of Pennsylvania, Wellesley, Brandeis Center, US Department of Education, Civil, College, FBI, Ivy League school’s, of Pennsylvania, Penn, CNN, of Education, Ivy League, Columbia Business School, Wall Street, Board, School, ” Locations: New York, Israel, UPenn, Palestine, Wellesley, Gaza, Columbia

☆ More than 20 members of Congress send letter to UPenn over alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The letter, dated November 1, comes after the college was accused by wealthy donors and alumni of alleged failure to condemn antisemitism and hate following the attack. A similar letter from Norman was sent the same day to other universities such as Yale, Columbia and Harvard. Controversy began when a multiday event took place in September on campus at UPenn called the Palestine Writes Literature Festival. “This is an incredibly challenging moment in the world, and we are feeling its reverberations on our campus,” Magill wrote. “We can and will do better to combat antisemitism and to reject hate in all its forms.”UPenn didn’t immediately respond for comment about the letter.

Persons: Liz Magill, –, Ralph Norman of, Nancy Mace, Nicole Malliotakis, Michael McCaul, Norman, “, ” Norman, UPenn, Marc Rowan, ” Rowan, Magill’s, ” Magill, UPenn didn’t, – CNN’s Matt Egan Organizations: New, New York CNN, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Apollo Global Management Locations: New York, Israel, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, South Carolina, Michael McCaul of Texas, Yale, Columbia, UPenn, ”

☆ Who Decides Penn’s Future: Donors or the University?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Stephanie Saul | More About Stephanie Saul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

“The conference became a vehicle.”It is not unusual for donors, unhappy with student activism, to pull back giving. “It’s essential that the university remains independent from donor pressure or influence on the content of work that’s done in the university,” said Ms. Lieberwitz, who is also general counsel for the American Association of University Professors. “Very broadly, I am deeply committed to academic freedom,” Ms. Magill had told The Daily Pennsylvanian, the campus newspaper. Alumni Donors Push BackOne day after the Indigenous Peoples’ Day post, Ms. Magill issued her first statement condemning the Hamas assault. Some Wharton alumni had been unhappy with the university’s direction for a long time.

Persons: —, Lauder, Jon Huntsman, Dick Wolf —, Rowan, ”, Robert Vitalis, “, George W, Bush, Penn, Risa L, Lieberwitz, Magill, Ms, Amy Wax, Penn Hillel, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Israel, Roger Waters, Susan Albuhawa, Critics, ” Mr, Wharton, Jonathan S, Jacobson, Lia Thomas, Erika James, Ross Stevens, University of Chicago’s Booth, Stevens, Booth Organizations: “, East Center, University of Texas, Austin, University of Denver, Palestinian, U.N, Cornell, American Association of University, Edge, University of Virginia, Daily, university’s College of Arts and Sciences, Penn, Pink Floyd, Indigenous Peoples, Wharton, HighSage Ventures, Management, University of Chicago’s Locations: Utah, Penn, Israel, Yom Kippur, Nazi, Berlin

☆ UPenn donors were furious about the Palestine Writes Literature Festival. What about it made them pull their funds?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

Gottheimer criticized UPenn for including Waters and Hill as festival speakers in a letter posted the day after the University released its statement. “Situating those individual Palestinians and our allies in league with actual antisemites is wholly irresponsible and dangerous.”At the festival, speakers acknowledged the allegations of antisemitism and denied them. It said they were notified 48 hours before the event Waters wished to show up in person, but that would have required additional security unavailable at short notice. ‘Felt like home’Planning the Palestine Writes Literature Festival took endless hours, according to Abulhawa. Susan Abulhawa, a Palestinian-American writer and human rights activist, speaks at a 2014 Palestine Festival of Literature event at Qasr al Qassem on June 4, 2014 in Beit Wazan, near Nablus, West Bank.

Persons: Liz Magill, Magill, Penn, Roger Waters, Pink Floyd, Rogers, “, Anne Frank, ”, Waters, Andreas Arnold, demagogue, ” Waters, Tala, Fahmawi, Josh Gottheimer, Marc Lamont Hill, Gottheimer, UPenn, ” Hill, Hill, Susan Abulhawa, Amer Zahr, Abulhawa, Ronald Lauder, Marc Rowan, Rowan, Scott Bok, ” Abulhawa, Dalia Al, Ahmad, Palestine — Ibrahim Nasrallah, Elias Khoury, Mahmoud Shukair, Habayeb, Salman Abu Sitta, Mahmoud Darwish, it’s, ” Dalia Al, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Pulitzer, Gary Younge, Nguyen, Younge, Israel, Bernard Schwartz, 92NY, ” Nguyen, ‘, Rob Stothard, ” UPenn, David Magerman, Cliff Asness, Lauder, Dick Wolf, Jon Huntsman, Elizabeth Magill, John Jackson , Jr, ” Rowan, Ed Rendell Organizations: New, New York CNN, The University, Ivy League, CNN, Defamation League, ADL Philadelphia, Jewish Federation of Greater, Pink, US State Department, ADL, Democratic New Jersey Rep, University, Apollo Global Management, ” CNN, The Daily, UN, Assembly, Jewish Chronicle, New York, New York City Jewish, New York Times, Palestine, Palestinian, Facebook, West Bank, Student, Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn, Twitter, Venture, Law, Renaissance Technologies, University of Pennsylvania, CNBC Locations: New York, UPenn, Philadelphia, Israel, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Magill, Germany, Nazi, Frankfurt, “ Palestine, Palestine, The, Europe, Canada, British, New, New York City, Palestinian, American, Qasr, Qassem, Beit Wazan, Nablus, West

☆ Columbia University postpones major fundraiser amid tensions over Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Columbia University has postponed its massive Giving Day fundraising event scheduled for Wednesday amid simmering tensions on campus over the Israel-Hamas war. At Columbia, school officials took the rare step earlier this month of shutting the campus down to the public as two simultaneous rallies were held on school grounds. That decision came after the assault of a Columbia student who was hanging up posters on campus in support of Israel. In a statement on Tuesday, the alumni club of Israel said it is now “formally disengaged” from UPenn. We are reviewing this incident and will take any appropriate steps with respect to the individuals involved in accordance with university policies,” the university said.

Persons: “, Samantha Slater, ”, Minouche Shafik, Shai Davidai, Shafik, it’s, ” Davidai, “ Ben Franklin, Doc Hoch, Dalia Hope Levine, Liz Magill, Dick Wolf, Jon Huntsman, Cliff Asness, Marc Rowan, Rowan, Emil Woods, Magill, “ Penn, Penn, ” Woods, Rowan . Woods Organizations: New, New York CNN — Columbia University, Columbia, University, Columbia Business School, University of Pennsylvania, Penn Alumni Club of Israel, Ivy League, Palestine, CNN, “, George Washington University Locations: New York, Israel, Columbia, Gaza, America, UPenn, New Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Palestine, Washington , DC

☆ Donor revolt at Harvard and UPenn over Israel shows big checks often have strings attached
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Big money donations are booming at America’s colleges, helping fund higher education for millions of students. The biggest donors often sit on universities’ board of trustees, which governs the university and selects university leadership, priorities and direction. The donor backlash at the University of Pennsylvania and uproar at Harvard University over Israel and Palestine highlight how big donations often come with demands for changes to university policy and politics. The backlash has raised questions about the influence big donors wield and pressure donors may exert over leadership, hiring decisions and academic affairs. Restricted giftsMore donations are coming with strings attached, rather than letting schools spend their donations however they want.

Persons: ’, ”, Cliff Asness, James Finkelstein, David Callahan, George Mason, Nikole Hannah, Jones, Rob Reich, “, Ann Marcus Organizations: New, New York CNN, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Harvard, George Mason University, Faculty Senate Tri, Council, Advancement, “, ”, Aid, Education, Critics, Indiana University, George, Koch Foundation, Yale University, University of North, Chapel, Michigan State, Stanford University, Universities, New York University, NYU’s Steinhardt, of Higher Locations: New York, Israel, Palestine, University of North Carolina, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait

☆ Ed Rendell: UPenn president Liz Magill made a 'mistake' but shouldn't be forced out
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“I don’t think she is going to step down.”Magill did condemn antisemitism broadly before the Palestine Writes festival and noted that some speakers had a history of making antisemitic remarks. Indeed, some members of the UPenn faculty and even the UPenn Jewish community criticized Magill prior to the Sept. 22 Palestine Writes festival for being too critical of the event. Still, Magill’s handling of the Palestine Writes festival triggered a backlash from powerful donors in a campaign led by private-equity billionaire Marc Rowan. Organizers of the Palestine Writes festival denied that it embraced antisemitism, according to UPenn student newspaper The Daily Pennsylvanian. Given the controversy over the Palestine Writes festival, Rendell is calling for the creation of an independent commission that would approve whether outside groups can access the UPenn campus.

Persons: Ed Rendell doesn’t, Rendell, Liz Magill, ”, Magill, ” Rendell, “, ” Magill, Marc Rowan, Dick Wolf, Jon Huntsman, David Magerman, Cliff Asness, ” Wolf, Ronald Lauder, Lauder, UPenn, Huntsman Organizations: New York CNN Business — Former, University of Pennsylvania, Ivy League, UPenn, CNN, Israel, “, Wolf Humanities Center, Daily, University Locations: Palestine, UPenn, Israel, Utah, Pennsylvania

Big donors to universities have long expected special treatment, like preference for their children’s applications. Universities helped create the expectation that donations come with influence. Like most nonprofits, U.S. universities foster relationships with some donors by offering them seats on the board of the trustees. The job comes with real power: Trustees vote on decisions like tenure and the selection of the university president. The question is how far the influence of individual donors should extend.

Persons: don’t, ” Edward Rock, “, Yale, ” Organizations: Universities, New York University

☆ Wall Street cues a lesson in Ivory Tower finance
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lauren Silva Laughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

NEW YORK, Oct 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Wall Streeters are trying to teach universities a lesson, but may provide them with a broader understanding of economics instead. The median family income for Harvard students is nearly $169,000, or about 2.5 times the U.S. average. Stockpiles of cash donated by Rowan, Ackman and other alumni also should theoretically make such institutions more accessible, but haven’t. Elite universities funnel many graduates to lucrative careers in finance and consulting, and studies have shown that social class often predetermines success. Ideally, Ivory Towers would price education closer to its actual value rather than what people are willing to pay.

Persons: Marc Rowan, Bill Ackman, Ackman, Rowan, Israel, grads, Liz Magill, Scott Bok, David Magerman, Estee Lauder, Ronald Lauder, Jon Huntsman, Larry Summers, Jeffrey Goldfarb, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Reuters, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Rowan, Ivy League, Reuters Graphics Investment, Apollo Global Management, Ackman’s, Palestine, Literary, Renaissance Technologies, Pershing, Harvard University, Thomson Locations: Cambridge , Massachusetts, Wharton

☆ Law & Order creator Dick Wolf implores UPenn president to quit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN Business —Dick Wolf, the creator of “Law & Order,” wrote a letter to Liz Magill pleading with her to step down as president of the University of Pennsylvania. “President Magill, I implore you and [chair of the board of trustees] Scott Bok to step down from your UPenn positions before any more unnecessary damage to UPenn,” Wolf wrote in the letter, obtained by CNN on Friday. Organizers of the Palestine Writes festival denied that it embraced antisemitism, according to UPenn student newspaper The Daily Pennsylvanian. In the days before the Palestine Writes festival, Magill was not just facing pressure from Lauder, Wolf and others who wanted the event scrapped. Three dozen members of the UPenn faculty also wrote to The Daily Pennsylvanian in support of the Palestine Writes festival.

Persons: New York CNN Business — Dick Wolf, ”, Liz Magill, Wolf, UPenn’s, Magill, Scott Bok, ” Wolf, UPenn, Bok, Israel, Marc Rowan, Jon Huntsman, David Magerman, Cliff Asness, Ronald Lauder, Lauder, ” “, ” Magill, ” Bok Organizations: New York CNN Business, “, University of Pennsylvania, UPenn’s Wolf Humanities, Ivy League, CNN, Wolf Humanities Center, Daily, University, Penn, Greenhill & Co Locations: Palestine, UPenn, Israel, Irish

☆ Who is Liz Magill, the University of Pennsylvania’s embattled president?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —When University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill was tapped for the post just 18 months ago, she was heralded as the “clear consensus” to lead the Ivy League university. Magill did not respond to CNN’s request to the University for an interview. But on Wednesday Magill issued a statement saying, “Hateful speech has no place at Penn. I don’t think she’s antisemitic.”So far Magill has the support of the school’s board of trustees. “The unanimous sense of those gathered was that President Magill and her existing University leadership team are the right group to take the University forward,” said board Chairman Bok.

Persons: Liz Magill, Benjamin Franklin, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Dean, She’s, she’s, Magill, Ronald Reagan, Kent Conrad, Conrad, Vahan, Mark Rowan, Scott Bok, ”, “, ” Magill, Jon Gray, Blackstone, ” Gray, Bok, – CNN’s Matt Egan Organizations: New, New York CNN —, University of Pennsylvania, Ivy League, University of Virginia, Stanford Law, University, Penn, Federal, Daily, Yale University, Democratic, CNN, Apollo Global Management, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Television Locations: New York, UPenn, UVa, Palestine, Israel, Fargo , North Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Gaza, Penn

☆ Harvard and UPenn donors are furious. It may have a financial domino effect
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Donors often give for specific purposes — facilities, faculty research, technology on campus, athletics, scholarships and financial aid for low-income students. The Wexner Foundation said it’s breaking off ties with Harvard University, alleging the school has been “tiptoeing” over Hamas’ attacks. Lawrence Summers, the former president of Harvard and US Treasury Secretary, has criticized the “morally unconscionable” student statement and Harvard leaders’ response. But he said that financial threats from donors were not the right solution to influencing universities’ positions on these issues. Organizers of the Palestine Writes festival denied that it embraced antisemitism, according to UPenn student newspaper The Daily Pennsylvanian.

Persons: ”, Lee Gardner, Adam Glanzman, Sara Harberson, ” Gardner, “, Indiana University’s, ” Harvard, Harvard “, Leslie Wexner, Abigail, Charles Mostoller, Claudine Gay, Boycott, Lawrence Summers, ” Summers, Jon Huntsman, Marc Rowan, Billionare Ronald Lauder, Susan Abulhawa, ” UPenn, Liz Magill, ” Magill Organizations: New, New York CNN, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Ivy League, Harvard, Higher Education, Philanthropy, Bloomberg, Getty, “ Ivy League, Indiana, Indiana University’s Lilly Family School, “, ”, “ Revenue, Wexner Foundation, Palestinian, College Hall, Israel, Israel Fellows, Wexner, US, CNN, Wall, Daily, University Locations: New York, Israel, UPenn, United States, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, U.S, “, Palestine, Palestinian

☆ The Ivy League donor backlash is a PR nightmare, and that’s the point
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Donors understand as well as anyone that pulling their funds won’t inflict significant financial damage on Ivy League institutions, which boast huge endowments, my colleague Nathaniel Meyersohn reports. But he said that financial threats from donors were not the right solution to influencing universities’ positions on these issues. At 5 million subscribers paying $3.99 a month, Snapchat+ is set to earn around $239 million in annual revenue. Still, analysts are intrigued by Snap’s user growth, especially for a company that’s been around for over a decade. “In my view, there’s significant value for a company that’s growing its installed base at this level,” said Angelo Zino, senior equity analyst at CFRA Research.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Nathaniel Meyersohn, Lee Gardner, ” Gardner, “, Indiana University’s, Lawrence Summers, ” Summers, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, Clare Duffy, it’s, we’ve, Clare, that’s, ”, Angelo Zino, you’ll Organizations: CNN Business, CNN, Harvard, Ivy League, Higher Education, “ Ivy League, Indiana, Indiana University’s Lilly Family School, Philanthropy, “, US, Netflix, Twitter, Facebook, CFRA Research Locations: Israel, United States, China

☆ UPenn President called to resign following protest of the school's response to Palestinian festival
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Vahan Gureghian, former University of Pennsylvania trustee, is calling for Liz Magill, the Ivy League school's president, to step down amid deepening donor backlash. But apparently Liz is not ready for this job.”Debate over free speech, antisemitismMagill was not only facing pressure from Lauder and other opponents of the Palestine Writes festival. Three dozen members of the UPenn faculty also wrote a letter in student newspaper The Daily Pennsylvanian to support the Palestine Writes festival. Organizers of the Palestine Writes festival denied that it embraced antisemitism, according to The Daily Pennsylvanian. “The unanimous sense of those gathered was that President Magill and her existing University leadership team are the right group to take the University forward,” Bok said.

Persons: Vahan Gureghian, Liz Magill, Magill, Gureghian, “, ” Gureghian, Scott Bok, Marc Rowan, Jon Huntsman, David Magerman, Cliff Asness, “ You’re, Elizabeth Magill, Ronald Lauder’s, Lauder, ” Lauder, ”, “ Liz, Liz, UPenn, ” Magill, ” Bok Organizations: New York CNN Business — Former University of Pennsylvania, Ivy League school’s, CNN, Israel, University of Pennsylvania, Ivy League school's, CSMI Consulting, “, University, Pennsylvania, Penn, Daily, Greenhill & Co Locations: Penn, Palestine, Israel, Philadelphia, Lauder

☆ ‘Deeply ashamed.’ Another major UPenn backer halts donations and calls on other Jews to do the same
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The donor backlash has been driven by a Palestinian literary festival that was held on campus last month, before the Hamas terror attacks on Israel. UPenn leaders acknowledged well before the start of the Palestine Writes Literature Festival that the event would feature speakers with a history of making antisemitic remarks. “Jews have played an extraordinary role in the history and legacy of the University of Pennsylvania. Billionaire Ronald Lauder, another powerful financial backer of school, is threatening to do the same if more isn’t done to fight antisemitism. Organizers of the Palestine Writes festival denied that it embraced antisemitism, according to UPenn student newspaper The Daily Pennsylvanian.

Persons: David Magerman, UPenn, Magerman, Liz Magill’s, ” Magmeran, Magill, Scott Bok, ” Magerman, Penn, Wharton, Marc Rowan, Jon Huntsman, Ronald Lauder, Susan Abulhawa, ”, ” Magill, “, ” UPenn, Magill’s Organizations: CNN — Venture, University of Pennsylvania, Ivy League, Renaissance Technologies, Penn, Venture, Daily, CNN Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Palestine, Penn, UPenn

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