Staff Reports
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik was left dumbfounded when she confronted a group of women about whether advocating for genocide and mass violence against Jews could be considered harassment and bullying. Can you believe their response? They had the audacity to say it “depends on the context” or “when speech crosses into conduct.” Talk about moral clarity! Or rather, the lack thereof.
Even the White House couldn’t believe it. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates expressed his disbelief at the women’s failure to denounce genocide, calling it “monstrous and antithetical to everything we represent as a country.” Finally, someone with some common sense. It’s about time we all stood firmly against such dangerous and revolting statements, don’t you think?
The best that could happen is that these college presidents are either forced out or fired.#NoExcuses
Harvard, Penn Presidents Do Damage Control After Disastrous Congressional Testimonies https://t.co/rgthXP6PqT
— .@SerendipityDizl (@SerendipityDizl) December 7, 2023
But let’s not forget about Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who didn’t hold back his fury. He rightly pointed out that condemning genocide should be a no-brainer. Leaders should have the responsibility to speak out against evil with moral clarity. Unfortunately, Liz Magill, one of the women in question, failed miserably in meeting that simple test. It’s disappointing when even the simplest tasks prove too difficult for our so-called leaders.
As expected, calls for Ms. Magill’s resignation quickly gained momentum. A petition demanding her removal reached over 3,000 signatures, and even the chief of Apollo Global Management and the board chair at the Wharton School of Business at Penn voiced their concerns. They asked the board of trustees to withdraw their support for Ms. Magill. It’s about reputation, folks. How much damage are we willing to tolerate?
Governor Shapiro, also a member of Penn’s board, urged the trustees to act swiftly. University sources revealed that efforts were underway to hold a board meeting by phone this week. Clearly, they understand the urgency of the situation. It’s time for the board to step up, make the right decision, and protect the university’s integrity. Or are they too afraid to do what’s right?
Not to be outdone, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman called for the resignation of all three presidents involved in these troubling discussions. And who could blame him? Their nonchalant attitudes towards genocide are absolutely shocking. It’s not every day you witness such extraordinary testimony in Congress. If a CEO had responded in the same way, they would have been toast within the hour. It’s high time these presidents face the consequences of their disgraceful actions.
Realizing the severity of the situation, Gay and Magill attempted some damage control. Magill appeared in a video statement, claiming that she was focused on university policies rather than the gravity of advocating for the genocide of Jewish people. Give us a break. Isn’t it plain and simple that calling for the murder of an entire group of people is nothing short of evil? It’s clear that their half-hearted apology was just an attempt to save face.
Unfortunately for them, their clean-up effort isn’t likely to sway angry donors and board members. Penn may have turned off the replies to the video message, but the negative engagement speaks for itself. It’s clear that their attempt to address the issue fell flat. Evidently, actions speak louder than words, and the donors and board members won’t be easily placated.
It’s a shame that in this day and age, we still have individuals in positions of power who struggle to denounce something as horrendous as genocide. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the lack of moral clarity in certain corners. Let’s hope that those responsible are held accountable, and that we as a society can come together to stand firmly against such abhorrent beliefs.
