College presidents row: what’s behind the controversy over their antisemitism testimony? | US universities
The presidents of three elite US universities are facing backlash due to their comments made at a congressional hearing on antisemitism, with implications for free speech rights on campus. The University of Pennsylvania’s president, Elizabeth Magill, has resigned, while Harvard University’s president, Claudine Gay, will remain in place despite calls for her removal. The controversy centers around how campuses are handling accusations of antisemitism following pro-Palestinian campus protests in response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Critics argue that the backlash against the university presidents, spearheaded by Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik, is an attempt to stifle criticism of Israel. Meanwhile, advocates for free speech argue that certain controversial phrases cited by Stefanik are protected by the first amendment of the US constitution.
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