Update
Calls for genocide tolerated?
University president resigns after anti-Semitism survey
December 10, 2023, 1:38 a.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
In a survey before the US Congress, three presidents of renowned universities in the USA did not position themselves clearly regarding the classification of anti-Semitic agitation during demonstrations. Liz Magill, head of the University of Pennsylvania, is resigning voluntarily.
In the USA, the President of the University of Pennsylvania, Liz Magill, voluntarily resigned following allegations of anti-Semitism. This was announced by Scott Bok, Chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees. The university president will continue to work as a permanent faculty member at the university’s law faculty, said Bok. Magill, along with two other presidents of top US universities, had previously been accused of anti-Semitic attitudes by Jewish students, their families and former Jewish students because she was said to have tolerated anti-Semitic statements from pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus.
Magill was summoned to a hearing in the US Congress on Tuesday along with the presidents of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The background is anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents at the facilities since the Islamist Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th – which all three presidents also acknowledged. But they defended themselves against accusations of not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism on campus. One scene in particular in the Republican-led Education Committee caused great outrage. Representative Elise Stefanik asked the presidents whether the “call for genocide against Jews” at their universities violated policies on bullying and harassment. “That may be the case, depending on the context,” replied Harvard President Claudine Gay. Asked to answer “yes” or “no,” Gay again said it depends on the context.
The other presidents made similar statements. “If speech turns into behavior, it can be harassment,” said Magill – also adding: “It’s a context-dependent decision.” The lawyer later tried to explain herself: She said that in her answer at the hearing she had focused on her university’s long-standing policy, which states that speech alone is not a punishable offense – as it is stated in the constitution.
In the days following this statement, calls for the resignation of Magill and Claudine Gay, who is president of Harvard University, increased. Magill released a video on Wednesday expressing her regret, and Gay apologized on Friday. According to US media, Board of Trustees Chairman Bok said Magill was “not the least bit anti-Semitic.” However, he regretted their questioning tactics and described them as misprepared and too legalistic on a question that would have required a moral answer.