University of Pennsylvania’s president, Liz Magill, has resigned amid pressure from donors and criticism over her testimony at a congressional hearing on antisemitism. The controversy arose when Magill was unable to unequivocally state, under repeated questioning, that calls for the genocide of Jews on campus would violate the school’s conduct policy. The departure was announced by the university, citing Magill’s agreement to remain a tenured faculty member at the Carey Law School until an interim president is named.

Calls for Magill’s resignation intensified after her testimony at a U.S. House committee on antisemitism, where she, alongside presidents from Harvard and MIT, faced accusations of universities failing to protect Jewish students. The questioning, particularly from Rep. Elise Stefanik, prompted criticism and backlash.

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Critics, including the White House, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, members of Congress, and donors, voiced concerns about Magill’s responses. A donor, Ross Stevens, threatened to withdraw a $100 million gift unless Magill was replaced due to the university’s “stance on antisemitism on campus.”

Magill, in a subsequent video, clarified her position, stating that a call for the genocide of Jewish people would be considered harassment or intimidation under Penn’s policies. However, the controversy followed a series of perceived acts of antisemitism on campus, contributing to tensions with donors and alumni.

Magill, a former U.S. Supreme Court law clerk, had been the dean of Stanford University’s law school before assuming the presidency at UPenn last year. The university’s handling of events perceived as antisemitic, including hosting a Palestinian literary arts festival, added to the criticism against her leadership.

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul, in response to rising concerns about antisemitism, called on the state’s colleges and universities to swiftly address such cases. In a letter to educational leaders, she emphasized the enforcement of violations of the state’s Human Rights Law and potential referral of federal civil rights law violations to U.S. officials.