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UPenn Jewish Students Say Magill’s Resignation Not Enough; More Changes Needed in Anti-Semitism Battle
Edited by: Fern Sidman
The University of Pennsylvania is grappling with a wave of discontent and concern among its Jewish student community following the resignation of President Liz Magill and Chairman Scott Bok. As was reported by the New York Post, Jewish students have argued that the recent resignations are just a first step and that significant changes are needed to address the ongoing anti-Semitic incidents on campus.
The resignations of Magill and Bok, announced on Saturday, were met with a mixed response from Jewish students at the Ivy League institution. The Post report noted that while acknowledging this initial move, students such as junior Akiva Berkowitz and sophomore Jack Cohen emphasized that more substantial changes are required to ensure the safety and well-being of Jewish students on campus.
Berkowitz stated, “There’s a realization that one step is over, but the process is not, and I don’t want people to think this is the end.” He emphasized that despite the resignations, many things still need to happen, and a lot still needs to change. According to the Post report, Cohen echoed these sentiments, expressing discomfort on campus and demanding further actions to create a more supportive environment. “Change is the key word — change for the better,” Cohen asserted.
Thus far, Jewish students at the University of Pennsylvania have been vocal about their experiences with anti-Semitism on campus. In September, pro-Palestinian student groups hosted a literature festival featuring over 100 speakers. However, some speakers clearly promoted anti-Semitic agendas, including calls for “death to Israel, “ the Post report said. This event occurred just a month before the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas.
Following the October 7th attack, pro-Hamas demonstrations with chants for “intifada” and graffiti featuring “Avenge Gaza” appeared on campus. The Post report also indicated that in October, a property near a Jewish fraternity house was vandalized with the words “Jews R Nazis.” The rising tension has left Jewish students feeling uneasy and has sparked criticism regarding the university’s lackluster response to these egregious incidents.
Jewish students, such as Megan Singleton, a graduate student at the school, have expressed dissatisfaction with the university’s handling of anti-Semitic incidents. The report in the Post said that Singleton highlighted a case where a swastika was found at the Hillel, stating that “nothing was really done.” According to her, students felt that their concerns and suggestions were being ignored, and the responses from administrators were deemed “weak.”
Shortly after Magill’s appearance before Congress, undergraduates Eyal Yakoby and Jordan Davis filed a federal lawsuit against the university, alleging that it violated federal civil rights law by selectively enforcing rules to “avoid protecting Jewish students from hatred and harassment, “ as was indicated in the Post report. The complaint, reported by Bloomberg Law, accuses the university of tolerating anti-Semitism and ignoring students’ pleas for protection, further claiming that it hired “rabidly anti-Semitic professors.”
The lawsuit contends that years of the university’s tolerance and enabling of anti-Semitism have emboldened students and faculty to openly support and extol Hamas’s atrocities, according to the Post report. The complaint accuses the university of deliberate indifference to Jewish students’ complaints.
“Emboldened by years of Penn’s tolerance and enabling of antisemitism, and deliberate indifference to Jewish students’ complaints, Penn students and faculty openly support and extol Hamas’s atrocities,” the complaint read, as was indicated in the Post report.
Magill’s resignation is seen by some as a response to the growing discontent and allegations of anti-Semitism on campus. Students, such as those represented in the lawsuit, view this step as a positive development. However, many stress that more actions are needed to create a safer environment for students practicing their beliefs on campus, as was reported by the Post.
Attorney Marc Kasowitz, representing the students in the lawsuit, emphasized that Magill’s resignation is just the first step toward rebuilding a campus free of anti-Semitic abuse and harassment the Post reported. He expressed confidence that the legal action would play a crucial role in achieving this goal.
“This resignation is the first of many necessary steps toward rebuilding a Penn free of antisemitic abuse and harassment,” Marc Kasowitz told USA Today.
“The lawsuit we have brought on behalf of courageous Penn students will ensure that that goal is achieved,” he added, according to the Post.
Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, speaking at a rally in support of Israel and the Jewish people at the Rodeph Shalom synagogue, acknowledged the actions taken by Pennsylvanians in support of Israel, as was noted in the Post report. He specifically mentioned the students at the University of Pennsylvania who raised their voices and held their leadership accountable.
While Magill has resigned as president, she will continue as interim president and remain on the law school faculty, according to university officials. The Post report said that Julie Platt, a Jewish leader, is taking over as the chairman of the board of trustees until a permanent replacement for Bok can be found.
The call for “change for the better” reverberates among the Jewish student community, urging the university to take decisive action to address the deeply concerning issues that have surfaced in recent months.