Thread by @MiriamElman

Finally, with mounting criticism from faculty, students, alums, & #Jewish orgs, @Penn speaks out ⬇️ about next week’s literary festival, which will feature Roger Waters & a host of other merchants of hatred 😩😩.
.@TheAENetwork finds this statement disappointing 😔😔
A thread🧵

At issue is the fact that multiple @Penn departments, centers are co-sponsoring #antisemitic speakers & those who denigrate #Jewish identity & glorify terror violence against Jewish civilians. How can Jewish students @ UPenn ever feel respected in these academic spaces again? 😢

@Penn University officials chose not to express any disappointment in their faculty (who are the festival co-organizers) or in those who have shown markedly poor judgement in remaining associated w/this event, despite being FULLY AWARE of its line-up of heinous speakers. #shameful

@Penn There is also no acknowledgment of the insensitive, callous timing during the Days of Awe, w/antisemites scheduled to speak on the campus just a day before Yom Kippur. 😩 This was a key concern of @TheAENetwork faculty @Penn ⬇️⬇️ (but apparently not the administration). Sad. 😢😢

@Penn @TheAENetwork To be clear, the festival shouldn’t be cancelled. But the sponsoring departments have agency & have decided to remain affiliated. The university could have expressed profound disappointment in that choice & should’ve noted next steps: will better vetting occur in the future?

@Penn @TheAENetwork The statement also doesn’t include any action plan to address campus #antisemitism and educate about it, or state how administrators will work to improve the campus climate for #Jewish, #Zionist, & all students. So much more could’ve/should’ve been said! #LeadershipMatters /end.