Penn President Liz Magill testified in front of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Dec. 5. Alongside other university leaders, she fielded questions from members across both sides of the aisle about Jewish student safety, the role of donors in higher education, and the boundaries of free speech on campus. 

See how The Daily Pennsylvanian photographers captured the over five-hour-long hearing titled "Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism."

Harvard University President Claudine Gay joined Magill on Dec. 5, along with Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth and American University History and Jewish studies professor Pamela Nadell. The hearing follows weeks of public officials condemning how Magill and other university presidents are addressing antisemitism on their campuses.

---

---

Before the hearing began, a large crowd formed in the hallway outside the hearing room in the Rayburn House Office Building. Among them was activist Medea Benjamin, who was “very concerned that the focus of the hearing is just on protecting students who are victims of anti-semitism, but not students who are pro-Palestine.”

Several individuals also attended the hearing to “stand with Israel.”

---

---

Magill and the other witnesses entered the hearing room at 10:48 a.m.

Two Penn students who have felt “threatened and assaulted” by the current campus environment were also present, according to prepared remarks by Chairwoman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.).

During her opening statement, Foxx said the hearing was intended to hold university leaders accountable for the existing antisemitic environments on their campuses. 

---

---

“As you confront our questions in this hearing, remember that you are not speaking to us, but to students on your campus,” Foxx told the hearing room.”

During her opening statement, Magill focused on “essential” immediate actions that Penn is undertaking, including increased security and the formation of an antisemitism task force. She also emphasized the University’s increased vigilance to acts of hate and its strategy for “long-term change” that will allow Penn to become a higher education leader on combating antisemitism. 

Magill was questioned on what action has been taken against professors participating in pro-Palestinian rallies, on any plans to educate students about antisemitism and its history, and on the University’s stance on open expression .

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) repeatedly asked Magill if calling for genocide of Jews violates Penn’s policies or code of conduct.

“If the speech turns into conduct, it can be harassment,” Magill said and repeated. “It is a context-dependent decision."

“Presidents Gay, Magill, and Kornbluth, you have real and important practical challenges. These are real students sitting here, and they need to be protected,” Foxx concluded. “But you also have a moral challenge. It is fashionable among too many members of your campus communities to hate Jews.”

The hearing was adjourned around 3:30 p.m. and Magill and the other majority witnesses left the room.