In an unusual turn of events, Republicans in Pennsylvania's House are thwarting funding for the University of Pennsylvania's renowned Veterinary School due to anti-Semitism concerns on campus. The proposed legislation, which would have allocated more than $31 million to the school, was passed in the state Senate with bipartisan support. However, it fell short of the required two-thirds majority for approval in the House, with Democrats backing it and most, but not all, Republicans opposed.
Republican Minority Leader Bryan, speaking in the House, expressed his disapproval, stating, "I can't support this funding unless the school takes more significant steps to combat anti-Semitism, issues formal positions, and addresses the values it has violated." The University of Pennsylvania is a private institution, but its Veterinary School, known as Penn Vet, has been receiving state funding for over a century.
Initially, some Republicans had threatened to withdraw funding if former Penn President Liz Magill did not resign. However, after her resignation, Republicans in the House stated that this was not enough. Republican State Representative Cutler remarked, "I want her to resign. But the fact she's back on the job shows that it's a cultural problem, like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic."
Representatives from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and the University itself did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. Discussions are underway between various factions in the House and Senate to explore a potential compromise.
Early this week, several Republican House representatives tabled a legislative package aimed at combating anti-Semitism in Pennsylvania's educational institutions. Over the weekend, Penn President Scott Bock, under mounting pressure from politicians, donors, and business leaders, announced his resignation.
While the direct funding of the Veterinary School is not explicitly linked to anti-Semitism concerns, the broader political and social climate has created a chilling effect for related projects and initiatives. The Cohen Clinic, a veterinary facility at Penn, faced threats to its funding due to campus unrest and anti-Semitism allegations, although changing aspects of the clinic's model and financial concerns also played a role. However, State Rep. Joe Webster (D-Montgomery) attributed the denial of funding to the narrow time frame and size of the request, although he acknowledged that media attention surrounding campus events did not help the clinic's case.
In these uncertain times, the University of Pennsylvania's Veterinary School and other related institutions must navigate a complex landscape of political, social, and financial challenges to secure funding and support.
