Amid uproar regarding testimonies over antisemitism on campuses, Elizabeth Magill, president of the University of Pennsylvania resigned. Magill faced huge backlash over her comments while appearing in front of a House of Representatives committee that focused on hearing antisemitism issues on campus.
Magill refused to say whether students who called for genocide of Jews would be punished when the committee had questioned.
Magill had given her testimony along with Harvard and MIT presidents, Claudine Gay and Sally Kornbluth.
"Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate [your university's] code of conduct or rules regarding bullying and harassment? Yes or no?," was the question asked by the committee.
Magill had said repeatedly that it would depend on the "context" and since then she was facing backlash. She was criticised for not condemning any calls for the genocide of Jews.
Magill had apologised before tendering her resignation.
Over perceived inaction against rising antisemitism on their campuses, universities including Harvard, UPenn and MIT have come under fire in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.
Magill was heavily criticised by donors, politicians, alumini and business leaders. 70 US lawmakers sent a letter to board members of all three univeristies, demanding the dismissal of Gay and presidents of UPenn and MIT.
“Given this moment of crisis, we demand that your boards immediately remove each of these presidents from their positions and that you provide an actionable plan to ensure that Jewish and Israeli students, teachers, and faculty are safe on your campuses,” the lawmakers wrote.
Ms Magill's resignation was confirmed by Scott L. Bok, chair of the Penn board of trustees. He said Ms Magill would step down as president but "will remain a tenured faculty member at Penn Carey Law".
In a statement released via the university after her resignation was confirmed, Ms Magill said: "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."
Harvard president Claudine Gay apologised for her response on antisemitism as well. Gay had failed to give a direct answer when asked about whether calls for "genocide" against Jews would violate Harvard's code of conduct.
"I am sorry...When words amplify distress and pain, I don’t know how you could feel anything but regret," said Gay in an interview published in the Harvard Crimson.
