Former Tinder CEO Elie Seidman recently canceled his speech at the University of Pennsylvania scheduled for next month. The ex-CEO of the popular dating app labeled the Ivy League School an “antisemitic cesspool,” stating that a “change in leadership” is necessary at the college.
Seidman unapologetically slammed the university on X (formerly Twitter). “I was supposed to speak at Penn in late November. I’m cancelling. Penn needs to insure that it is a safe and hospitable place for Jewish students – not an anti-semitic cesspool. A change in leadership is necessary at this point,” he stated in his post.
I was supposed to speak at Penn in late November. I'm cancelling. Penn needs to insure that it is a safe and hospitable place for Jewish students – not an anti-semitic cesspool. A change in leadership is necessary at this point.
— Elie Seidman (@elieseid) October 18, 2023
Seidman’s condemnation of UPenn refers to public displays of anti-Israel sentiment with students openly supporting Palestine. The college has reportedly lost a board member and a significant donor over its allegations of refusing to combat anti-semitism.
Universities nationwide have experienced pro-Palestine, anti-Israel protests drawing rampant criticism. A group of pro-Palestinian students at Harvard published an open letter following Hamas’ deadly attack, entirely blaming Israel for the violent slaughter that claimed well over 1,000 lives. The letter was picked up by various other colleges who issued similar statements, calling on students and campus organizations to sign it in agreement.
These statements have sparked national outrage, with many headlines showing prominent companies and philanthropic organizations taking recourse against the woke anti-Israel sentiments of the college students. Some firms have rescinded job offers to students who signed such statements, and philanthropic organizations have begun limiting their relationship with universities for refusing to take action against the antisemitism.
For example, the top law firm Davis Polk in New York City recently indicated that it would be revoking the job offers it had extended to students who signed onto anti-Israel statements. “These statements are simply contrary to our firm’s values and we thus concluded that rescinding these offers was appropriate in upholding our responsibility to provide a safe and inclusive work environment for all Davis Polk employees,” said managing partner Neil Barr.
A representative for Davis Polk reaffirmed the internal email sent by Barr, stating, “The views expressed in certain of the statements signed by law school student organizations in recent days are in direct contravention of our firm’s value system. For this reason and to ensure we continue to maintain a supportive and inclusive work environment, the student leaders responsible for signing on to these statements are no longer welcome in our firm; and their offers of employment have thus been rescinded.”
Furthermore, the Jewish philanthropic foundation the Wexner Foundation recently announced it would be ending its relationship with Harvard after the school’s response to anti-Israel sentiments. “Since the early 1980’s, The Wexner Foundation has been a pioneer in the field of Jewish private philanthropy. For 35 years, The Wexner Foundation has never wavered from its focus upon Jewish leadership in the Jewish world and Israel. The Foundation’s professionalism, standards of excellence, and strong relationships with Jewish communities and organizations have created a model of practice for Jewish private philanthropy that has stood the test of time,” the foundation stated.
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