UPenn President Liz Magill, board of trustees chair Scott Bok resign after donor revolt over disastrous antisemitism testimony
University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill – under increasing pressure from both donors and the White House after her disastrous testimony before Congress this week on the school’s failure to protect Jewish students – and Scott L. Bok, chairman of its board of trustees, “voluntarily” resigned their posts Saturday in a massive Ivy League shakeup, the school announced.
“I write to share that President Liz Magill has voluntarily tendered her resignation as President of the University of Pennsylvania,” Bok wrote in a surprise “University Notification” sent to staffers Saturday.
“She will remain a tenured faculty member at Penn Carey Law,” Bok continued.
“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.
“We will be in touch in the coming days to share plans for interim leadership of Penn. President Magill has agreed to stay on until an interim president is appointed.
“President Magill shared the following statement, which I include here: ‘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.’”
Bok’s separate resignation statement was obtained by the Daily Pennsylvanian, the school’s student newspaper.
“Working with [Magill] was one of the great pleasures of my life,” he wrote. “Worn down by months of relentless external attacks, she was not herself last Tuesday.”
Magill’s sudden departure came four days after her Tuesday appearance before the House Education Committee, when she and the presidents of Harvard and MIT were grilled by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) – who asked each of them whether calling for the genocide of Jews is considered to be “bullying and harassment” under their colleges’ codes of conduct.
“It is a context-dependent decision, Congresswoman,” Magill responded – sparking outrage among donors and others.A source close to situation told The Post that the mood was sad Saturday as 27 Penn trustees met for two hours without Magill’s or Bok’s knowledge and decided to recommend that she consider resignation.
Bok announced his resignation on the spot during a call with trustees, the source said – without giving any warning to vice chairman Julie Platt before hanging up.
Platt will serve as acting chair, and the executive committee will present a “plan forward” on Sunday.
Larry Jameson, dean of Penn’s medical school, was mentioned by some trustees as a possible interim president.
Stefanik issued a blistering response as news of Magill’s resignation broke.“One down. Two to go,” the congresswoman posted on X.
“This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most ‘prestigious’ higher education institutions in America,” Stefanik – a Harvard graduate – wrote.
“These universities can anticipate a robust and comprehensive Congressional investigation of all facets of their institutions negligent perpetration of antisemitism including administrative, faculty, funding, and overall leadership and governance,” she promised.
