FILE - Pennsylvania House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, speaks with members of the media at the state Capitol, Feb. 21, 2023, in Harrisburg, Pa. Late Wednesday night, Dec. 13, Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania defeated legislation to send more than $35 million to the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary school over criticism that the Ivy League school has tolerated antisemitism, as statehouses around the U.S. eye how higher ed is handling tensions around the Israel-Hamas war. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Pa. House Republicans say Penn Vet must do more to confront antisemitism; vet school funding at stake
By Jaxon White/LNP | LancasterOnline
FILE - Pennsylvania House Minority Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, speaks with members of the media at the state Capitol, Feb. 21, 2023, in Harrisburg, Pa. Late Wednesday night, Dec. 13, Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania defeated legislation to send more than $35 million to the University of Pennsylvania's veterinary school over criticism that the Ivy League school has tolerated antisemitism, as statehouses around the U.S. eye how higher ed is handling tensions around the Israel-Hamas war. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
University of Pennsylvania administrators must take additional steps to address concerns about antisemitism at the school before Republicans in the Legislature will agree to release funds designated for its veterinary school, House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler wrote in a letter to UPenn officials on Wednesday.
“Though we believe the resignation of former President Liz Magill and the creation of a university-led task force to address antisemitism at Penn are good first steps towards change, these actions have yet to help students and visitors feel safe and welcomed,” Cutler wrote.
In the letter, addressed to UPenn Interim President J. Larry Jameson and Dean of Penn Vet Andrew Hoffman, Cutler said he formed a task force of Republican House members to work with the school on “rooting out and protecting against antisemitism.”
Goals for the task force listed in the letter are:
A statement from UPenn administrators confirming any call on campus for the genocide of Jews is classified as bullying, harassment and intimidation, and therefore violates the student code of conduct.
Support from UPenn on upcoming legislation to address antisemitism in the state’s education systems.
“A discussion of other pending free speech legislation in the General Assembly.”
An evaluation of the school’s student organizations and UPenn’s spending to confirm whether there is any promotion and/or funding of antisemitism on campus.
Cutler’s spokesman, Jason Gottesman, declined to make Cutler available for an interview. Cutler, of Drumore Township, represents a district that covers much of the southern half of Lancaster County.
UPenn spokesman Ron Ozio confirmed that school administrators received the letter and plan to respond to Cutler, but he did not specify when.
“Interim President J. Larry Jameson and Dean Andy Hoffman appreciate that members of the legislature want to find a path forward on funding the School of Veterinary Medicine,” Ozio wrote in a statement. “As part of Penn’s Action Plan to Combat Antisemitism, we pledged to engage broadly and deeply and welcome input from all who share our commitment to combating hate in all its forms.”
Ozio did not confirm whether or not UPenn would cooperate with the Republicans’ task force.
Members of the task force include state Rep. Tom Jones of East Donegal Township, as well as Reps. Jesse Topper of Bedford County, Aaron Kaufer of Luzerne County, Rob Mercuri of Allegheny County and Kristin Marcell of Bucks County. All are Republicans.
“I believe the letter speaks for itself,” said Jones. “As we move forward over the coming weeks and months, it’s my hope that we see true substantive change, transparency and cooperation from the University of Pennsylvania.”
Former UPenn president Liz Magill faced pressure from donors and alumni to step down from her role after delivering testimony during a congressional hearing where she did not say that calls for the genocide of Jews in Israel violated the school’s code of conduct.
The Pennsylvania House last week failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass the $33 million earmarked for Penn Vet in the 2023-24 annual state budget. Most Republicans voted against the funding, while every Democrat voted for it.
East Earl Republican state Rep. Dave Zimmerman was the only Lancaster County lawmaker to break party rank. The day after the vote, Zimmerman told a reporter with LNP it is “extremely important” to fund Penn Vet soon because winter is often when outbreaks of agriculture animal diseases occur.
The University of Pennsylvania is a private institution, unlike Penn State and other public universities that receive money from the state. Penn Vet’s status as the state’s only school of veterinary medicine has earned it financial support from the Legislature since the 19th century. A 2017 report by a legislative researcher noted Penn Vet “plays a central role in promoting agricultural production and community health.” Last year, it received a special $6 million payment to help with the school’s response to the avian influenza epidemic that affected poultry farmers across the state.
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