University Presidents Face Backlash for Failure to Condemn Campus Antisemitism

In a shocking turn of events, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill and Harvard University President Pauline Gay are facing intense criticism for their response to Congress regarding the growing issue of campus antisemitism. Both presidents have been accused of downplaying the severity of calls for genocide against the Jewish people on their respective campuses.

Magill, in a video posted on the Ivy League's website, attempted to apologize for her initial refusal to condemn the calls for genocide.

She claimed that she was not "focused" on the issue during her testimony and blamed university policies and even the US Constitution for allowing such calls to be made on campus. While she acknowledged that calls for genocide were "evil, plain and simple," she failed to take immediate responsibility for her inadequate response.

University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik wasted no time in denouncing Magill's apology video as a "pathetic cleanup attempt."

She criticized the delayed response and the absence of a genuine apology. Stefanik emphasized that the repeated questioning during the hearing revealed the evasive nature of Magill's initial answers, and no amount of subsequent statements could undo the damage caused.

Meanwhile, Harvard President Pauline Gay also faced backlash for her testimony to Congress. In a statement on Harvard's official account, Gay backtracked on her previous remarks and declared that the university would now take action to punish calls for genocide.

However, critics argue that her sudden change in position is merely an attempt to save face and does not excuse the university's failure to condemn antisemitism from the start.

During the House Education Committee hearing Tuesday on how three university presidents have handled antisemitism on their campuses, Magill had a tense exchange with New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik.

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Both the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard have been under scrutiny for their reluctance to address the rise of antisemitism on their campuses following Hamas' attack on Israel. Major donors have divested from these institutions, and their testimonies before Congress have drawn criticism even from the White House.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill’s congressional testimony about campus antisemitism a “failure of leadership.”