Latest news with #UPenn
Axios
6 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
What former UPenn president Liz Magill said about her disastrous congressional testimony
In her first extensive interview since her widely criticized congressional testimony on antisemitism, former UPenn president Liz Magill said her testimony lacked "common sense and humanity." The big picture: Magill's appearance on Capitol Hill came as universities were grappling with how to respond to the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and student protests on college campuses. Magill ignited what she called a "maelstrom" of criticism by not explicitly stating that calling for the genocide of Jews would violate the university's conduct code, instead saying it was a "context-dependent decision." She and UPenn's former board chair, Scott Bok, resigned within days of the uproar. Zoom in: Magill told Politico she regretted that her response had harmed the university's reputation and made her seem insensitive following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Magill's answer sounded too "legalistic," Bok, who wrote a book detailing the fallout, told the outlet. What they're saying: Few people thought Magill's "context-dependent" soundbite would become the "defining moment" of her presidency. Magill said her apology did little to soothe the "utterly untenable" situation once her testimony exploded. "I couldn't keep being president with the wide variety of board views about what I should do going forward," she said. Yes, but:"One of the ironies about Liz Magill's testimony was that technically she was correct on the law," Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told the outlet. "It is a matter of context." Between the lines: Magill spent several days preparing to testify with high-powered Washington, D.C., law firm WilmerHale, per Politico. Topics ranged from Penn's DEI programs to transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. Bok lamented that Magill hadn't received guidance from political consultants about how to handle lawmakers' pointed questions. By the numbers: Magill, who left UPenn after less than two years at the helm, received $2.3 million in total compensation the year she resigned, per the Inquirer. What we're watching: Magill, a visiting law professor at the London School of Economics, held a fellowship last year at Harvard and has been giving lectures and writing essays about academic freedom and a current U.S. Supreme Court case.
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
Elizabeth Banks: 'always ask for what you want'
ABC News' Linsey Davis spoke with actress Elizabeth Banks about stepping into a more sinister role in her newest 'whodunnit' murder series 'The Better Sister,' and her honorary degree from UPenn. May 20, 2025
Epoch Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
University of Pennsylvania Under Investigation for ‘Inaccurate' Foreign Funding Disclosure: ED
The Department of Education's (ED) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is investigating the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) over the receipt of foreign funds and has sent a request for records to the institution, the ED said in a May 8 The 'records request' was sent after a review of reports submitted by the university allegedly showed that foreign funding disclosures were 'inaccurate and incomplete,' the department said. Under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, universities and colleges in the United States receiving financial aid from the federal government are obligated to disclose any gifts, contracts, or restricted agreements from foreign sources that are valued at $250,000 or more in a year. Colleges and universities should also report any foreign ownership or significant control in their institutions. These measures are in place to protect the country's higher education from foreign influence. Despite this obligation, 'UPenn has a troubling Section 117 compliance history, having failed to disclose any foreign funding until February of 2019 despite a decades-long statutory obligation to do so,' said Acting General Counsel Tom Wheeler. 'Although the previous Administration degraded the Department's enforcement of universities' legal obligations to disclose foreign gifts and contracts, the Trump Administration will vigorously uphold the law and ensure universities are transparent with their foreign gifts and investments.' Related Stories 5/6/2025 5/5/2025 The ED sent a letter to UPenn on May 8, informing the university about the investigation. The department asked the university to produce relevant records within 30 days, which include tax records from January 2017, copies of written agreements with foreign governments or entities detailing admission agreements for international students, and a full list of all foreign gifts, grants, and restricted contracts from January 2017. The institution must also submit a copy of its written procedures and administrative systems aimed at achieving compliance with the foreign funding disclosure requirements under Section 117. 'OGC will investigate this matter thoroughly, ensuring that universities cannot conceal the infiltration of our nation's campuses by foreign governments and other foreign interests,' Wheeler said. 'The American people and Congress have a right to know the impact of foreign funding on our universities, including some of our critically important research universities.' The Epoch Times reached out to the University of Pennsylvania for comment. This isn't the first time UPenn is facing scrutiny over foreign funding. A Investigating Universities The Education Department is investigating the foreign ties of multiple other universities. Previous to this announcement, multiple agencies had asked the university to adopt certain policies to continue receiving federal funding. This included eliminating DEI initiatives, prioritizing merit over race or gender in hiring and admission, and screening out applicants during the international admission process who are 'hostile to American values.' Harvard refused to conform to these requests. 'We are going to be taking away Harvard's Tax Exempt Status. It's what they deserve!' Trump said in a May 2 social media ED is also investigating the University of California–Berkeley, sending a records request for foreign funding disclosures, the department In a statement to The Epoch Times, the institution said that 'over the course of the last two years, UC Berkeley has been cooperating with federal inquiries regarding 117 reporting issues, and will continue to do so.' Aaron Gifford contributed to the report.
Globe and Mail
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
U.S. says it is probing foreign donations at University of Pennsylvania
The U.S. Department of Education said on Thursday it opened an investigation into foreign donations at the University of Pennsylvania, alleging the Ivy League school made inaccurate and untimely foreign financial disclosures in the past. The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment. U.S. law requires universities to report donations from foreign sources exceeding $250,000 in a year. Among information the Education Department is seeking within 30 days from the university were UPenn's tax records since 2017, details on any agreements with foreign governments and foreign entities, and information on university personnel affiliated with foreign governments. President Donald Trump's administration has launched a widely condemned crackdown against top U.S. universities over a range of issues like pro-Palestinian campus protests against Israel's war in Gaza, transgender rights, climate initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The government has made federal funding threats against top schools. In March, the Trump administration suspended $175 million in funding to the University of Pennsylvania over its transgender sports policies. The U.S. Education Department alleged late last month that the university's policy on transgender athletes violated federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in programs that receive federal funding. The university, which made national headlines in 2022 when a transgender swimmer competed on its women's team, has previously said it 'has always followed NCAA and Ivy League policies regarding student participation on athletic teams,' and has remained in full compliance with regulations. Following Trump's executive order to ban transgender athletes from participating in female-only school sports, the NCAA – the governing body for U.S. collegiate sports – updated its rules to limit competition in female-only competitions to athletes assigned female at birth. Last month, the Trump administration sought Harvard University's records on foreign funding going back a decade and on some foreign ties.
Reuters
08-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US says it opened foreign funding probe into University of Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Education said on Thursday it opened a foreign funding investigation into the University of Pennsylvania, alleging the school made inaccurate and untimely foreign financial disclosures in the past.
