December 9, 2023 — New York, NY
American Jewish Committee (AJC) released the following statement after University of Pennsylvania (Penn) President Liz Magill stepped down from her post.
“As Tuesday’s congressional hearing made clear, far too many university administrators have failed their Jewish communities, as antisemitism has surged not just on college campuses but across the country and around the world.
“AJC respects President Magill’s decision to step down from her role. The road ahead for Penn will require a clear moral vision and plan of action for combating campus antisemitism that begins with saying no to calls for normalizing violence and genocide against Jews.
“We stand ready to work with university leaders who are committed to fostering a fact-based and open exchange of ideas about Israel, and who stand committed to addressing the real and pressing challenges of toxic antisemitic climates. Universities are spaces that require free speech, and in order to maintain their commitment to the pursuit of truth, university leaders must do more to cultivate real conversations and disrupt anti-Zionist echo chambers.”
Last month, AJC released an Action Plan for University Administrators, which can be found here: Confronting Campus Antisemitism: An Action Plan for University Administrators | AJC
AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across the United States, 14 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org.
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