University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned amid criticism for her testimony at a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism. During the hearing, Magill struggled to provide a clear answer when asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews violated the college’s rules. Over 70 lawmakers signed a bipartisan letter calling for Magill’s resignation, along with Harvard University President Claudine Gay and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth, who also faced challenges in responding to the same question. House Rep. Elise Stefanik, who posed the question at the hearing, stated, “This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most ‘prestigious’ higher education institutions in America.”
Magill’s resignation follows mounting pressure and a House Committee on Education and the Workforce investigation into the responses of leaders from UPenn, Harvard, and MIT. The presidents’ testimonies drew criticism from major donors, alumni, and the White House. Hedge fund executive and Harvard alumnus Bill Ackman called for their resignations, stating that their testimonies reflect “moral and ethical failures” of elite institutions. The White House condemned the university leaders, although Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre did not explicitly call for their resignation, citing the private nature of the institutions.
Magill’s resignation is voluntary, and she will retain a tenured faculty position at UPenn’s law school. UPenn Board of Trustees Chairman Scott Bok also announced his resignation. The incident highlights the challenges universities face in addressing antisemitism and the broader debate around free speech and institutional responses to hate speech on campuses.
