Understanding UPenn President Liz Magill's Unique Challenges in Addressing Antisemitism
University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill faces intensified pressure amid a growing crisis of addressing antisemitism on campus, surpassing scrutiny faced by other college leaders
College presidents are under fire for their handling of antisemitism on their campuses, particularly University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill. Following their testimony before a House committee, Harvard University President Claudine Gay and MIT President Sally Kornbluth are also facing calls for resignation after failing to explicitly state that calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their code of conduct on bullying or harassment. Instead, they explained that it would depend on the circumstances and conduct.
Magill is currently the university president most in danger of losing her job at Penn due to ongoing controversies over the Middle East conflicts. Her attempts to address the situation have led to uproar from donors and unrest on the board. The Board of Trustees met to discuss her status, but a university spokesperson stated that there are no immediate plans for a leadership change.
Testifying before the House Education Committee hearing to investigate antisemitism on college campuses are Harvard University President Claudine Gay, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, American University professor of history and Jewish Studies Pamela Nadell, and MIT President Sally Kornbluth.
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An ongoing crisis at Penn
Prior to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the University of Pennsylvania permitted speakers known for making antisemitic remarks to take part in the "Palestine Writes Literature Festival" on campus. The decision received criticism, leading to a statement from top university administrators attempting to appease both sides but ultimately upsetting supporters of Israel and Palestinians alike.
The statement strongly condemned antisemitism as being against the institution's values, but also emphasized the support for the free exchange of ideas. Prior to the festival, 36 faculty members signed a letter criticizing the statement and Magill.
The letter emphasized the importance of educators showing support for Palestinian artists and writers, condemning antisemitism, Islamophobia, and the oppression of Palestinians. It called for an immediate amendment to the statement to reflect support for diversity in views, as well as religious, racial, and cultural communities on campus.
Additionally, several donors expressed their discontent to Magill and the school regarding the festival and Penn's lukewarm response. Following Hamas' attack on Israel and the death of at least 1,200 people, this resentment turned into a boiling anger.
After influential and wealthy donors threatened to withdraw their support for the school if she stayed, Magill released a second statement in an attempt to reconcile the opposing viewpoints, but it did little to quell the backlash.
"I strongly condemn derogatory speech that goes against our principles," said Magill. "During this difficult time, we must acknowledge the pain experienced by our peers and colleagues and acknowledge that our words and behavior can either harm or heal our community. We must opt for healing, rejecting efforts to divide us and instead show respect and compassion towards one another."
Unable to satisfy critics
However, her efforts to please both factions of the debate resulted in significant difficulties. This was particularly evident during her recent testimony before a House committee addressing the issue of antisemitism on college campuses.
When asked by Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik if calling for the genocide of Jews would violate Penn's code of conduct, Magill responded, "It is a context-dependent decision." This response led to renewed demands for her resignation, with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro also calling for her to step down. Despite its name, the University of Pennsylvania is a private school and not state-funded.
In a brief video released on Wednesday evening, Magill announced that the university will promptly assess and make clear its policies regarding hate speech.
"I overlooked it, but I should have recognized, that advocating for the genocide of Jewish people is a call for some of the most horrific violence that humans can commit. It's wicked. Plain and simple," Magill stated in a video uploaded to X. "I want to emphasize: Advocating for the genocide of Jewish people... constitutes harassment or intimidation."
Magill observed that antisemitic rhetoric is intended to intimidate and frighten Jewish people, and to bring to mind the atrocities of the Holocaust, pogroms, and other recent acts of violence against them.
"As president, I am dedicated to creating a safe, secure, and encouraging environment where all members of our community can flourish," Magill stated. "We have the ability and the determination to make this a reality."
But so far, few of her critics believe she has gotten it right, and calls for her ouster have only gotten louder.
