Emergency Meeting Called by University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees Following President Liz Magill's Controversial Testimony
The University of Pennsylvania board of trustees convenes an urgent meeting following President Liz Magill's highly criticized testimony at a recent House hearing
The board of trustees at the University of Pennsylvania convened for an emergency meeting on Thursday to address the backlash against school president Liz Magill following her recent performance at a House hearing. According to a university spokesperson who spoke with CNN, the meeting was held virtually around 2 pm ET on Wednesday, although it was not a formal board meeting. The decision to convene came shortly after Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro criticized Magill's testimony as "shameful" and called on the board of trustees to assess whether her actions align with the school's values, despite the university being a private institution not governed by the state.
The hastily arranged meeting on Thursday, following intense pressure on Magill after Tuesday's hearing in the House, concluded by midday. During the hearing, Magill and the presidents of Harvard and MIT struggled to answer questions about whether advocating for the genocide of Jews violates their schools' code of conduct on bullying or harassment.
It is uncertain if the board gathering on Thursday is related to Magill's future at the school, but it is likely to be a topic on the minds of board members.
A disastrous hearing
During the hearing on Tuesday, not one of the school administrators explicitly stated that advocating for the genocide of Jews would automatically breach their code of conduct. Instead, they clarified that it would hinge on the specific circumstances and behavior.
On Wednesday, Magill made an attempt to clarify her message by posting a video on X. In the video, the Penn leader expressed her regret for not focusing on the "irrefutable fact that a call for genocide of Jewish people is a call for some of the most terrible violence human beings can perpetrate." Additionally, Magill emphasized the need for Penn's policies to be clarified and evaluated, stating that, in her view, it would be considered harassment or intimidation.
The hearing on Tuesday received harsh criticism from business leaders, donors, politicians, and even the White House. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, described the testimony as "catastrophic and clarifying" and suggested that Magill's attempt to revise her testimony appeared forced, resembling a hostage video.
"I can see why the governor of Pennsylvania and many of the trustees lack confidence in her. I no longer have confidence that Penn can get it right under this leadership," Greenblatt told CNN's Kate Bolduan. He also mentioned speaking with Magill.
The ADL CEO stated that his organization did not have a stance on whether the university presidents should step down until the hearing on Tuesday.
"He said that after watching these presidents struggle and give vague legalistic responses to simple questions, we have lost confidence in them. Sen. Elizabeth Warren stated that advocating for genocide is fundamentally wrong, and we cannot allow it."
Concerned about the inability for Americans to engage in healthy disagreement, the Massachusetts Democrat expressed her worry about the prevalence of hate in the country. Warren emphasized the need for leaders, such as college presidents, to stand up for what is right and wrong. She suggested that if they are unable to do so, particularly in extreme cases, then it may be time for them to step down.
Billionaire Elon Musk, who graduated from Penn, added to the criticism.
"I am a Penn alum and this is indeed shameful," Musk said on X on Wednesday.
Last month, Musk received criticism for endorsing an antisemitic post, which he later apologized for and admitted was his "dumbest" social media post ever. In similar vein, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand supported calls for the resignation of the presidents of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, stating that they are failing in the worst way.
Gillibrand condemned their remarks as abhorrent during an interview with Fox News, specifically mentioning the hearing in the House that took place on Tuesday. She expressed outrage at the attempt to justify what qualifies as harassment and emphasized that Jewish students are living in fear on college campuses. According to the New York Democrat, some students have even been advised to stay in their dorms due to concerns about their safety.
"We cannot allow a climate where children feel fearful and cannot thrive at school and feel safe. College presidents are failing in the worst way. It is unacceptable to call for the genocide of any group of people without acknowledging that it is harassment," said Gillibrand. This story is still developing and updates will be provided.
