Мы больше слышим про гарварды и прочие разные стэнфорды, но оказывается наиболее яркая драка происходит в UPenn, где с одной стороны выступают президент универа Elizabeth Magill и председатель совета попечителей Scott Bok, а с другой группа богатых доноров, в том числе и евреев, но не только. Блумберг довольно подробно распедалил, вот несколько цитат:
Bok and Magill had supported the decision to hold the three-day Palestine Writes Literature Festival at Penn’s Wolf Humanities Center in September, dismissing the concerns of alumni including Apollo’s Rowan about controversial speakers they said had a history of antisemitic rhetoric.
Although we haven’t met, you may know me by Silverman Hall, the Silverman scholars and the Silverman professor...
I respectfully request that you both do the right thing and resign from your positions...
“We’re not going to be held hostage by a minority of donors,” [a board member] Rachleff said. “If you want a premiere faculty, you have to support free speech.”
But some alumni disagree, including donors who’ve contributed to its $20.5 billion endowment, buildings and scholarships. Hedge fund manager Cliff Asness said he’s “100% for free speech but not asymmetrical free speech where some have it and some don’t.”
“Hiding behind ‘free speech’ when it is a right only embraced for antisemites and other fellow travelers is not ok.”
Apollo’s Rowan said Bok called him and suggested he step down from his post as chairman of Wharton’s Board of Advisors after he signed the open letter to the university expressing his concerns about the Palestine Writes festival.
At least two trustees, who are Jewish, have said Bok asked them to resign for signing the same letter, with one told not to come to the upcoming board meeting in November, according to people familiar with the discussions. In a text message to one of the trustees, Bok wrote: “Your role is untenable.”
Since neither Magill nor Bok have plans to step down, the trustees will ultimately decide what happens next. Rachleff said calls to replace Bok haven’t gained enough momentum and are unlikely to come up during Penn’s board meeting next week.
В общем, не супер-оптимистично но хоть кто-то сопротивляется.