After the controversial appearance at Congress, Liz Magill has now resigned from her position following the backlash that erupted at her statement. Even after Magill issued a public apology, calls for her termination were rampant.
X, formerly Twitter, experienced a total flare out with users calling for the dismissal of the three university presidents – UPenn, Harvard and MIT.
The controversy transpired when Magill responded to questions pertaining to antisemitism and calls for genocide on campus as amounting to bullying or harassment dependent upon the ‘context’. There was huge backlash and furor generated towards her comments for which she later apologized and soon resigned voluntarily, according to reports.
Magill’s remarks at the House of Representatives have led to largescale uproar against her evasion of questions and refusing to condemn antisemitism on campus. According to reports, University of Pennsylvania has lost 100M$ donations after Magill’s testimony.
The same question that was posed to Magill was also directed towards Harvard’s and MIT’s Presidents as well who initially responded similarly as Magill that antisemitism amounted to harassment and was actionable depending on context.
Harvard President Claudine Gay issued an apology, acknowledging the significance of words, stating, “I am sorry. Words matter,” in an interview with the Harvard Crimson, the university’s student newspaper.
In contrast, MIT has come to the defense of its president, Sally Kornbluth, asserting that she has excelled in leading the community. MIT emphasized Kornbluth’s efforts in addressing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate, rejecting them outright. The university expressed full and unreserved support for her leadership.
American college campuses have seen a rise of antisemitism and islamophobia as a result of the present conflict in the middle east.
Reports from the United States indicate that the advisory board at Wharton, the university’s business school, had penned a letter urging Magill to step down immediately. UPenn alum and billionaire Ross Stevens threatened to withhold a 100M$ grant from the University.
Elon Musk retweeted Seth Dillon’s tweet where Andrew Sullivan questioned Harvard’s Standards of freedom of expression. The tweet has obtained a surge of likes and retweets in short time.
On Wednesday, she issued a video apology on the university’s website, expressing regret for her response during the hearing. In the video, she explained that her focus was on the “university’s long-standing policies, in alignment with the US Constitution, which assert that speech alone is not subject to punishment.”
Watch the video of Magill reacting to her statement at the congressional hearing making rounds here.
In a statement issued through the university following the confirmation of her resignation, Ms. Magill expressed, “Serving as President of this exceptional institution has been a privilege. Working alongside our faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community members to advance Penn’s essential missions has been an honor.”
The University of Pennsylvania, commonly referred to as UPenn, stands as one of the oldest and most esteemed universities in the United States. It holds a place in the elite Ivy League, alongside institutions such as Harvard and Yale.
Governor’s response post Magill’s statement
