Reaction of University of Pennsylvania students to leaders’ resignations

The resignations of University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill and chairman of Penn’s board of trustees, Scott Bok, have not stopped calls for further change at the school, according to students at the campus. Magill voluntarily stepped down after her congressional testimony about antisemitism at college campuses, which drew criticism for failing to denounce incidents of intimidation and hate speech. The school faced increased tensions after a swastika was spray-painted on a wall and the Palestine Writers’ Festival at the university included speakers accused of antisemitism. The rising tensions were further exacerbated by Israel’s attacks on Hamas and the ensuing violence at Gaza. The controversy at Penn illustrates the ongoing challenge of confronting bias and ensuring a safe and welcoming environment on college campuses. The resignations and the ongoing issues have sparked conversations about the need for change and sparked a lawsuit against Penn for anti-Jewish discrimination. The events have also caused alumni and other supporters of the institution to join the call for change. Overall, the turmoil at Penn demonstrates that more needs to be done to address antisemitism and ensure that all students feel supported and safe on campus.

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