UPenn President Magill Resigns Amidst Public Pressure
After facing significant public criticism for her appearance at a US Congressional hearing on antisemitism, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill has announced her resignation. Her behavior during the hearing sparked outrage.
Following intense backlash over her participation in a US Congressional hearing on antisemitism at elite universities, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill is taking personal responsibility. The university announced that the 57-year-old lawyer is resigning from her position as president. Magill is voluntarily stepping down but will remain a permanent member of the law faculty. No specific reasons were provided for her resignation.
On Tuesday, Magill along with the presidents of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) were summoned to testify in a hearing before the US Congress. The hearing focused on antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents at universities since the Islamist Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. All three presidents acknowledged these incidents, but defended themselves against the accusation of not doing enough to combat antisemitism on campus.
Outrage over Response to Genocide Question
One particular scene in the congressional education committee, led by Republicans, caused significant outrage. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik asked the presidents if the “call for genocide against Jews” on their campuses violated bullying and harassment policies. “It could be, depending on the context,” responded Harvard President Claudine Gay. When asked to answer with a simple “yes” or “no,” Gay reiterated that it depended on the context.
The other presidents expressed similar sentiments. Magill stated, “When speech crosses over into conduct, it can be harassment,” and added, “It’s a context-dependent decision.” Later, the lawyer tried to explain her response, stating that she had focused on her university’s long-standing guideline, which states that speech alone is not punishable, just as it is stated in the constitution.
Major Donor Withdraws Funding
The pressure on Magill escalated dramatically in recent days. In addition to demands for her resignation on campus, there were also strong reactions from political figures. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro called her comments unacceptable and shameful. A major donor to the University of Pennsylvania withdrew a donation of around $100 million and also called for Magill’s resignation.
The conflict over the Middle East war has spilled over into universities and schools in the US in recent weeks. US media reported incidents of physical violence or the threat thereof. Antisemitic and racist graffiti appeared on school grounds. Videos on the internet showed young people tearing down posters with photos of Hamas hostages.
The US Department of Education launched investigations into antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents at US educational institutions, including Harvard, Columbia, and Cornell Universities.