University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees Chair Scott Bok has resigned, following the departure of President Liz Magill.
According to the Daily Pennsylvanian, Bok announced that he will step down from the board of trustees. The statement was made shortly after Magill resigned, the outlet reported.
“Today, following the resignation of the President of the University of Pennsylvania and related meetings of the Board of Trustees, I have submitted my resignation as Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees, effective immediately,” Bok said in a statement. “While I have been asked to remain in that role for the remainder of my term to assist in the presidential transition, I have decided that, for me, now is the right time to leave.”
Julie Platt, vice chair of the board of trustees, was named interim chair.
UPENN PRESIDENT LIZ MAGILL RESIGNS AFTER CONTROVERSIAL TESTIMONY ON ANTISEMITISM
The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images/File)
“Due to her current commitment as Board Chair of the Jewish Federations of North America, Julie will serve only until a successor is appointed,” the board of trustees wrote in a statement. “The Nominating Committee of the Board will immediately conduct an expedited process, including consultation with the entire Board of Trustees, and make a recommendation for the next Chair to the Executive Committee prior to the start of the spring term.”
In a statement shared by Bok on Saturday, 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 important mission. .”
Magill will stay on until an interim president is appointed.
STEFANIK, CONGRATULATES THE RESIGNATION OF UPENN PRESIDENT LIZ MAGILL: ‘ONE DOWN. THE TWO WILL GO’
Liz Magill, President of the University of Pennsylvania, testifies before the House Education and Workforce Committee at the Rayburn House Office Building, Tuesday, in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Magill’s resignation came following a congressional hearing on Tuesday, in which he gave a non-answer to a question by New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik who asks if “calling for the genocide of the Jews violates[s] Penn’s rules or code of conduct? Yes or no?”
“If speech becomes conduct, it can be harassment, yes,” Magill responded, later adding, “It’s a context-dependent decision.”
“This is unacceptable. Ms. Magill, I’ll give you one more chance for the world to see your answer. Does calling for the genocide of the Jews violate Penn’s code of conduct when it comes to bullying and harassment? Yes or not?” Stefanik asked.
Magill later return his comments in a video posted on X on Wednesday night.
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Liz Magill, president of the University of Pennsylvania, listens to a hearing of the House Education and the Workforce Committee on Tuesday in Washington, DC (Haiyun Jiang/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“There was a moment in yesterday’s congressional hearing on antisemitism when I was asked whether a call for the genocide of the Jewish people on our campus would violate our policies. At that moment, I focused on the long-standing policies of our university that aligns with the US Constitution, which says that speech alone is not punishable,” Magill said. “I am not committed to, but I should be, the indisputable fact that a call for the genocide of the Jews is a call for some of the most terrible violence that human beings can commit.”
Fox News’ CB Cotton contributed to this report.
