Elizabeth Magill, president of University of Pennsylvania, has resigned her position as leader of the beleaguered college in the wake of a fierce debate over free speech and antisemitism.
Magill and other leaders of top American universities were accused by Republicans and Democrats of being “evasive” in answers to Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik about whether calls by students for the genocide of Jews would be termed harassment under the schools’ various codes of conduct.
The testimony last week in Congress has caused huge ructions across the United States’ academic sector, but especially at UPenn, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, whose presidents gave broadly similar answers to Stefanik on the issue of free speech and antisemitism during a congressional hearing.
“Liz Magill has voluntarily tendered her resignation as President of the University of Pennsylvania,” said Scott L Bok, the chair of the Penn board of trustees in a statement posted to the university website.
Bok added: “She will remain a tenured faculty member at Penn Carey Law. On behalf of the entire Penn community, I want to thank President Magill for her service to the University as President and wish her well.”
Magill said in the statement: “It has been my privilege to serve as President of this remarkable institution. It has been an honor to work with our faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community members to advance Penn’s vital missions.”
More details to come
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