Pennsylvania Congressman Dan Meuser has formally requested the University of Pennsylvania to terminate Assistant Professor Julia Alekseyeva due to her social media activity concerning the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Alekseyeva's posts, which have since been made private, seemingly praised the accused killer, Luigi Mangione, even referring to him as an "icon." This has drawn strong criticism, particularly from Rep. Meuser, who highlighted the university's recent struggles with controversies surrounding responses to antisemitic and pro-Hamas demonstrations.
In his letter to UPenn's interim President, Meuser expressed deep concern over Alekseyeva's actions, which he believes contradict the principles of a civilized society. He underscored the negative impact such behavior has on higher education and the erosion of public trust in academic institutions. The congressman also emphasized Alekseyeva's association of Mangione with the university, further fueling his outrage. Alekseyeva, who identifies as a socialist and anti-fascist, posted a video of herself smiling with music from "Les Miserables" playing in the background, a story about a peasant imprisoned for stealing food.
Rep. Meuser, a potential gubernatorial candidate, stated to Fox News Digital that glorifying violence is unacceptable for any educator, especially at a prestigious institution like UPenn. He has demanded answers from the university's president and linked future federal funding for UPenn's research to their response. Meuser pointed out the substantial amount of federal grants the university received in 2023, questioning the oversight of faculty conduct. He also inquired about the potential use of university resources in Alekseyeva's posts, whether other faculty members expressed similar sentiments, and what measures will be implemented to prevent future incidents. The university has until the end of the year to respond.
UPenn's deputy dean of Arts & Sciences acknowledged the concerns surrounding Alekseyeva's posts, labeling them as contrary to the university's values. The dean stated that Alekseyeva has recognized her comments as insensitive and inappropriate and has retracted them. The university expressed regret for any distress caused. Mangione, the suspect in the murder, was apprehended following a tip in Blair County, Pennsylvania.
