Jon Huntsman, Wharton board want Penn head Magill gone

The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School board and longtime donor Jon Huntsman have both said Penn President Liz Magill should be fired after her testimony during a House hearing on antisemitism.

Magill is in hot water after congressional testimony Tuesday in which she was asked if a call for genocide against Jewish people would be considered harassment at her school. She responded that the words would have to turn into conduct. 

“Let’s make this great institution shine once again,” Huntsman, a former U.S. ambassador, said in a statement to CNN. “We are anchored to the past until the trustees step up and completely cut ties with current leadership. Full stop.” 

Huntsman previously said his family would no longer donate to Penn due to antisemitism on campus and the school’s response to it, but he is now going further by advocating for Magill to be removed from her position.

“At this point it’s not even debatable,” Huntsman told the outlet. “Just a simple IQ test.” 

And he isn’t the only one.

The Wharton advisory board sent a letter to Magill, saying it is “deeply concerned about the dangerous and toxic culture on our campus that has been led by a select group of students and faculty and has been permitted by University leadership.” 

The testimony Magill gave was further proof to the board that its members and university leadership did not share the same values, according to the letter.  

There were an “unprecedented” eight meetings held by the board in the past month to discuss the climate on campus and rising antisemitism.

“In light of your testimony yesterday before Congress, we demand the University clarify its position regarding any call for harm to any group of people immediately, change any policies that allow such conduct with immediate effect, and discipline all offenders expeditiously,” the board wrote in the letter. 

“Further, as a result of the University leadership’s stated beliefs and collective failure to act, our Board respectfully suggests to you and the Board of Trustees that the University requires new l leadership with immediate effect,” it said.  

The calls from Huntsman and the board add to other influential voices in Pennsylvania that have already said Magill should be removed from her position.  

Six Pennsylvania Republican lawmakers said Magill should be removed. Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) said the Board of Trustees should meet “soon” to discuss if Magill’s comments represented the university, while the two Democratic Senators of the state condemned her remarks.