Speech police? Supreme Court asked to enter fray on confronting bias on campus.
USA TodayNov 29, 2023
The Facts
University of Pennsylvania (Penn) Pres. Liz Magill and its chair of the board of trustees, Scott Bok, resigned Saturday just days after Magill’s testimony to Congress about how her school was handling antisemitism on campus. Bok shared a statement in which Magill said it was a "privilege" to work at Penn and it was an "honor" to "advance Penn’s vital missions."
Bok also said Magill, who only held the position for a year and a half, will remain president until a replacement is appointed, adding that she will also remain as a tenured faculty member at the Penn Carey Law School.
The Spin
Conservative narrative
Magill should be the first of the three presidents who testified before Congress to resign. Professors have been fired and students have had their enrollments rejected for lesser offenses in the face of the free-speech double-standard that’s been enforced by these schools. Unfortunately, even a change in leadership might not be able to free these colleges from the hold of wokeness.
Progressive narrative
In drawing the line between hateful speech and violent action, Magill was emphasizing the essence of the First Amendment. Freedom of speech is under attack, as Magill’s inquisitors and other politicians and members of the donor class are using the unfortunate rise in antisemitism to wrangle campus decision-making processes from administrators so they can attack a vast array of diversity initiatives.
