Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) has openly criticized University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill for her recent congressional testimony, labeling her comments regarding antisemitism on campus as “absolutely shameful.” Shapiro’s remarks come after Magill’s appearance before the House of Representatives, where she hesitated to confirm whether advocating for Jewish genocide breached the university’s harassment policies.
Magill, who testified alongside leaders from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, hesitated to provide a definitive answer when questioned by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) about the university’s stance on such extreme statements. Her response, which she described as “context-dependent,” sparked controversy, mirroring the reluctance of other Ivy League presidents to explicitly address the issue.
Governor Shapiro, in a statement to Jewish Insider, emphasized the responsibility of academic leaders to demonstrate moral clarity. “The straightforward answer is that such statements violate our policies,” Shapiro said. “Magill’s failure to state this unequivocally was unacceptable and, frankly, absolutely shameful. Condemning genocide should be straightforward.”
Magill later attempted to clarify her position, stating that calls for genocide against Jewish people would indeed be considered as bullying or harassment under university policies.
Governor Shapiro has urged the UPenn board to review whether Magill’s testimony aligns with the university’s values before making any further decisions. He also mentioned his ongoing communications with Magill and the board since the Israel-Hamas conflict, expressing dissatisfaction with the university’s actions to ensure campus safety.
Following these testimonies, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, led by Republicans and chaired by Virginia Foxx (R-NC), has initiated an investigation into the three universities. Chairwoman Foxx expressed serious concerns regarding the institutions’ leadership and their alleged inadequacy in providing Jewish students with a safe learning environment as required by law.