In a recent hearing, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill was criticized for her handling of campus anti-Semitism. Magill and the presidents of Harvard and MIT declined to directly state that advocating for genocide against Jews would undoubtedly breach their conduct codes, instead stating that such actions depend on the circumstances and behavior. This lack of clear condemnation had led to criticism of Magill's response to these incidents.
Prior to the hearing, Magill had already faced critique due to several antisemitic incidents on campus. Following the hearing, Magill attempted to clarify her stance by emphasizing the horrific nature of the worst human actions, stating that such events constituted harassment or intimidation.
However, several key stakeholders of the university were not satisfied with Magill's response. Among them was former US Ambassador and Penn alum Jon Huntsman, who urged the Board of Regents to remove Magill. Huntsman, known for his criticism of the university's response to campus antisemitism in October, accused Magill of catastrophic missteps and threatened to withhold his family's donations to the university.
Ross Stevens, CEO of Stone Ridge Holdings, a significant Penn donor, echoed this sentiment, threatening to sell their $100 million worth of Penn shares if Magill remained in her position. The Ivy League, seeing a loss of around $100 million, was placed at risk due to this situation.
Jeopardizing the university's reputation was not the only concern. The Wharton Advisory Board, consisting of influential business leaders, demanded Magill's prompt dismissal, citing the university's leadership's failings. This consensus served as a stark reminder of the need for a change in direction, especially considering Magill's controversial statements before the Congress.
Criticism escalated with the Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who described Magill's statement as "devastating but revealing," suggesting that it seemed as if she was under duress, forced to speak against her will.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand endorsed the calls for these university presidents' resignations, arguing that they had failed "in the most disgraceful way" and jeopardized the safety of Jewish students.
(Enrichment Data: A Change.org petition has requested Magill's resignation due to her handling of antisemitic incidents and her alleged failure to unequivocally condemn such actions)
