Ivy League university in crisis after top donor threatens to pull $100m

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Harvard President Claudine Gay said in a statement after mounting backlash that calls for genocide are “vile” “After this week’s pathetic and morally bankrupt testimony by university presidents when answering my questions, the Education and Workforce Committee is launching an official Congressional investigation.” The mounting tension has led many politicians to make statements on the recent controversial testimony, such as former US ambassador and former UPenn trustee Jon Huntsman, who told CNN that UPenn will be “anchored to the past until the trustees step up and completely cut ties with current leadership. Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman also chimed in on social media, calling out the UPenn, MIT and Harvard presidents, saying all three should “resign in disgrace” after their testimony. Ms Gay became the first-ever black president of Harvard in July this year, but Mr Ackman, who posted this tweet amid his commentary on the testimony, said DEI assessments are “not the right approach to identifying the best leaders for our most prestigious universities.” MIT president Sally Kornbluth is being backed by the university’s officials to stay as leader The three Ivy League presidents have since been attempting to clarify their testimonies after the onslaught of the backlash. Ms Magill backtracked on her comments in a video posted on X, saying she should have countered the “irrefutable fact that a call for genocide of Jewish people is a call for some of the most terrible violence human beings can perpetrate.” She added that this would be “harassment or intimidation.” A statement from Harvard President Claudine Gay was also posted to X.