Staff Reports
Liz Magill, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, came under heavy fire from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (R-PA) this week for her contentious appearance before Congress. Magill sparked controversy in the political community when she gave an evasive statement about the penalties for antisemitism on campuses.
Magill claimed it was a "context-dependent decision" when asked if "calling for the genocide of Jews" violated the university's anti-bullying and harassment policy during her hearing before the House of Representatives. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) prodded her for a straight response, but she sidestepped the subject, infuriating Republicans and the conservative base.
Pennsylvania governor slams University of Pennsylvania president's 'absolutely shameful' House testimony https://t.co/k20JknlOPR
— Fearless45 (@Fearless45Trump) December 8, 2023
Magill's refusal to denounce the act of genocide shocked Shapiro, who called her remarks "absolutely shameful." He emphasized the need for moral clarity in leaders, something he thought Magill lacked. The governor chastised her for not speaking out more strongly against such heinous conduct and pushed the school board at the university to respond.
Despite Magill's best efforts to retract and explain her statement, the escalating resentment persisted. During her testimony, she claimed that she was concentrating on speech policies and that statements advocating for the extermination of the Jewish people "would" be viewed as bullying or harassment. However, her attempts to retract her statements only served to heighten criticism and cast doubt on her leadership.
Without delay, Shapiro demanded that the UPenn school board consider whether Magill's remarks were consistent with the school's "views and values" before taking any further action. He stated unequivocally that he had given the board recommendations to guarantee the safety of every student on campus, especially in light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. His criticism of Magill's testimony highlighted the university's inaction in responding to the issues brought up.
Following the contentious testimonies, the Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce immediately began an investigation into UPenn and two other universities. Raising the stakes for the participating universities, Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) expressed grave worries about the purported inability of leadership to offer a secure academic environment for Jewish students.
