In a stunning turn of events, Liz McGill, the President of the University of Pennsylvania, has resigned, following her controversial testimony before Congress earlier this week. Scott Bok, the Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, has also resigned, effective immediately. The developments come amidst a growing controversy surrounding McGill’s handling of anti-Semitism on campus and her testimony, which included a discussion on the genocide of Jews.
The controversy escalated when McGill, during Tuesday’s congressional hearing, struggled to unequivocally condemn calls for the genocide of Jews on campus. In response to questioning about whether such statements constituted bullying or harassment, McGill stated that it was a “context-dependent decision.” This response sparked outrage, with critics arguing that clarity was needed in condemning hate speech without ambiguity.
The aftermath of McGill’s testimony saw a swift backlash from various quarters. More than 70 members of Congress, representing a bipartisan group, called for McGill’s resignation. The Walton Board of Advisors, a prestigious group of business leaders, also joined the chorus, demanding an immediate leadership change at the university. One mega-donor even threatened to cancel a $100 million gift if decisive action was not taken.
Scott Bok, in a letter to the university community, acknowledged McGill’s resignation and announced his own departure. He described McGill as a “very good person” and emphasized that her legalistic response to a moral question during the hearing had led to a disastrous outcome. Bok suggested that McGill was “overprepared and overlawyered” and had provided a legal answer to what should have been a moral stance.
The fallout has raised questions about McGill’s leadership and the handling of anti-Semitism on campus. The testimony, which lasted for hours, focused on the leaders of Penn, Harvard, and MIT struggling to address a fundamental question about whether statements calling for genocide of Jews violated the school’s rules. The inability to provide a clear and unequivocal response became a focal point of criticism.
The resignations of both McGill and Bok indicate the gravity of the situation and the pressure faced by university leaders. McGill is expected to remain tenured as faculty at Penn Carey Law and will stay on until an interim president is appointed. The university faces challenges in rebuilding trust with the community, donors, and students, with many expressing concerns about the handling of free speech, hate speech, and the broader climate on campus.
As the University of Pennsylvania navigates this tumultuous period, the focus will likely shift to the selection of new leadership and the implementation of policies that address anti-Semitism while upholding principles of free speech. The developments serve as a reminder of the delicate balance universities must strike in fostering open dialogue while confronting hate speech in an increasingly polarized environment.