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The president of the University of Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Magill, resigned on Saturday, four days after he came under fire for his responses to a congressional hearing on Tuesday where he, along with the presidents of Harvard and MIT, were forced to question whether students should be disciplined for killing Jews.
Ms. Magill appeared to dodge the question and drew criticism from donors, students and others, some of whom were angry that a Palestinian press conference was allowed to take place on campus in September. .
Ms. Magill is the first president of a major university to resign in the fallout from protests that have engulfed the camps since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Here are some of the backgrounds of his choice.
What happened in court on December 5?
At the hearing of the House Committee on Education and Personnel on Tuesday, Ms. Magill along with Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard, and Sally Kornbluth, the president of MIT They said they were shocked by the protest and that they have taken action against it. on the campus. When asked if they support Israel’s right to exist, they answered yes without explanation.
The university’s three presidents testified that recent protests on their campuses have turned ugly, with conflicts between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian students.
But on the question of punishing students for information about the murder, they gave legal answers that include free speech.
Liberal groups say it’s legal. But for many students, adults and donors, the statements of the leaders of the university were not clear and strongly condemned the protest.
Representative Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York, said the students shouted for intifada, an Arabic word that means rebellion and which many Jews hear as a call for violence against them.
He asked, “Calling for the murder of the Jews, is that something of slander or harassment?”
Ms. answered. Magill, “If orderly and serious, public, it’s trouble.”
Ms. answered. Stefanik, “So the answer is yes.”
Said Ms. Magill, “A decision that depends on history, the congress.”
Ms. answered. Stefanik: “Is that your testimony today? Does the call for the genocide of Jews depend on context?
Made by Ms. Gay and Ms. Kornbluth comments similar to the comments made by Ms. Magill.
Ms. Magill’s speech caused many critics, including the governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, and his two senators, John Fetterman and Bob Casey, both of whom are Democrats.
Ms. apologized. Magill on Wednesday evening according to his testimony.
“At that time, I focused on the policies of our university that are in line with the US Constitution, which says that speech is not punishable,” he said. a video. “I didn’t focus on it, but I should have. The undeniable fact is that the call for the genocide of the Jews is a call for some of the most horrific acts of violence that human beings can commit. done. It’s bad—plain and simple.”
He added, “In my opinion, it would be a distraction or a distraction.”
On Friday, more than 70 members of Congress signed a letter Ordering the Harvard, MIT and Penn committees to “immediately remove” the three university presidents, who participated in the lawsuit, and “deliver an action plan to ensure the safety of Jewish students.” and Israel, teach and teach in your camps.”
One Penn aide criticized the school’s response to anti-Semitism on campus and the testimony of Ms. Magill, the manager of the hedge fund Ross L. Stevens, also said that he will withdraw a donation to the school of about $100 million.
As of Saturday, more than 26,000 people have signed a petition against his leadership.
After stepping down as president, Scott L. Bok, Chairman of Penn’s Board of Trustees, said in a information will be Ms. Magill and Penn’s leadership until the university settles on an interim president and he will remain a faculty member at the law school.
Was there another error?
Mr. Bok also announced his resignation on Saturday, after Ms. Magill.
Critics tried to Ms. Magill uses his resignation to force Harvard and MIT to work, after Dr. Gay and Dr. Kornbluth a similar testimony.
Dr. did not reveal. Gay is considering resigning, and the MIT board of trustees has expressed its support for Dr. Kornbluth.
Who is Elizabeth Magill?
Mrs. Magill, a lawyer and champion of free speech, became the university’s president in July 2022.
Prior to accepting the position, he served as executive vice president and provost at the University of Virginia, and previously as a professor and dean at Stanford Law School.
Before attending Stanford, Ms. Magill, who grew up in Fargo, ND, was a professor and vice president. at the University of Virginia School of Lawwhere he also received his law degree.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in history at Yale University, Ms. Magill, a scholar of governance and constitutional law, served as a senior energy and natural resources law aide for Senator Kent Conrad. After graduating from law school, Ms. Magill and clerked for several judges, including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court.
What complaints did Ms. Magill before the trial?
In the summer, donors asked Ms. Magill cancels a Palestinian literary conference on campus, citing several speakers they consider unpopular. Said Ms. Magill, the free speech, will be held in September as planned.
In response to the protest, Ms. Magill and students, teachers and campus organizations, and promised to increase education in antisemitic awareness and strengthen security during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
On October 7, Hamas attacked Israel, and some of the university’s top supporters were outraged by what they said was Ms. Magill in issuing a statement condemning the attacks.
On October 10, Ms. Magill his first information condemned the attack by Hamas, which some critics said was not strong enough. Weeks later, the university issued a series of informationsincluding a strong condemn Hamas.
These statements also faced criticism, including some seniors who support Palestine wrote in a letter on October 18 that Ms. Magill “fails to recognize the severity of the suffering and loss of Palestinian life.”
Stephanie Saul and Anemone Hartocollis correct report.