University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill has stepped down from her position in the wake of criticism surrounding her handling of antisemitism on campus.

This decision follows her testimony before a congressional hearing on the rise of antisemitism in universities after the Israel-Hamas conflict in October, reported Reuters.

Magill, along with Harvard University President Claudine Gay and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth, faced backlash for their responses during the congressional hearing.

They were criticised for not providing a clear answer regarding whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools' codes of conduct.

Subsequent to the testimony, calls for Magill's resignation, along with Gay's, intensified. Magill expressed regret in a video statement, while Gay issued an apology on Friday (Dec 8).

The controversy revolves around allegations that the universities tolerated antisemitism, especially in statements made by pro-Palestinian demonstrators following the Israel-Hamas conflict.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-islamophobia-antisemitism-xenophobia-the-many-faces-of-hate-in-the-us-656914">Also read |&nbsp;Explained | Islamophobia, antisemitism, Xenophobia: The many faces of hate in the US</a>

<h2>Impact on Jewish community</h2>

Jewish students, families, and alumni accused the universities of tolerating antisemitism, pointing to incidents since the outbreak of the conflict.

The attack by Hamas on Israel triggered a significant increase in antisemitic incidents in the United States, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League.

Magill's resignation is effective immediately, and she has agreed to stay on until an interim president is appointed. Scott Bok, chair of the university's board of trustees, also stepped down.&nbsp;

"I write to share that President Liz Magill has voluntarily tendered her resignation as President of the University of Pennsylvania," Bok said in the announcement released by the university.&nbsp;

Magill will retain her position as a tenured faculty member at the university's law school.

Commenting on the resignation, Representative Elise Stefanik called it the "bare minimum" and urged Harvard and MIT to take similar actions.

Also watch |&nbsp;Harvard, Penn, MIT heads face Congress over campus Antisemitism

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/harvard-penn-mit-heads-face-congress-over-campus-antisemitism-666910/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

University of Pennsylvania student Eyal Yakoby, who has filed a lawsuit against the school for an insufficient response to antisemitism, sees Magill's resignation as a step toward a broader cultural change at the university.&nbsp;

"This has been something that myself and many alumni and fellow students, parents been working on for a while ... (but) this is just the first domino in a culture for many leaders including Chairman Bok who have allowed this to happen," Yakoby told Reuters.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/american-billionaire-bill-ackman-urges-suspensions-at-harvard-to-tackle-antisemitism-on-campus-655894">Also read |&nbsp;Bill Ackman writes to Harvard president, calls out antisemitism on campus</a>

(With inputs from agencies)

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University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill has stepped down from her position in the wake of criticism surrounding her handling of antisemitism on campus. This decision follows her testimony before a congressional hearing on the rise of antisemitism in universities after the Israel-Hamas conflict in October, reported Reuters.

University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill has stepped down from her position in the wake of criticism surrounding her handling of antisemitism on campus. This decision follows her testimony before a congressional hearing on the rise of antisemitism in universities after the Israel-Hamas conflict in October, reported Reuters. Magill, along with Harvard University President Claudine Gay and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth, faced backlash for their responses during the congressional hearing. They were criticised for not providing a clear answer regarding whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools' codes of conduct. Subsequent to the testimony, calls for Magill's resignation, along with Gay's, intensified. Magill expressed regret in a video statement, while Gay issued an apology on Friday (Dec 8). The controversy revolves around allegations that the universities tolerated antisemitism, especially in statements made by pro-Palestinian demonstrators following the Israel-Hamas conflict. Also read | Explained | Islamophobia, antisemitism, Xenophobia: The many faces of hate in the US Impact on Jewish community Jewish students, families, and alumni accused the universities of tolerating antisemitism, pointing to incidents since the outbreak of the conflict. The attack by Hamas on Israel triggered a significant increase in antisemitic incidents in the United States, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League. Magill's resignation is effective immediately, and she has agreed to stay on until an interim president is appointed. Scott Bok, chair of the university's board of trustees, also stepped down. "I write to share that President Liz Magill has voluntarily tendered her resignation as President of the University of Pennsylvania," Bok said in the announcement released by the university. Magill will retain her position as a tenured faculty member at the university's law school. Commenting on the resignation, Representative Elise Stefanik called it the "bare minimum" and urged Harvard and MIT to take similar actions. Also watch | Harvard, Penn, MIT heads face Congress over campus Antisemitism University of Pennsylvania student Eyal Yakoby, who has filed a lawsuit against the school for an insufficient response to antisemitism, sees Magill's resignation as a step toward a broader cultural change at the university. "This has been something that myself and many alumni and fellow students, parents been working on for a while ... (but) this is just the first domino in a culture for many leaders including Chairman Bok who have allowed this to happen," Yakoby told Reuters. Also read | Bill Ackman writes to Harvard president, calls out antisemitism on campus (With inputs from agencies)

US: University of Pennsylvania president steps down amid antisemitism backlash on campus

The US lawmakers have launched an investigation into antisemitism at the Ivy League colleges after their leaders received backlash for shaky testimonies during a congressional hearing on antisemitism, concerning the Israel-Hamas war.

The US lawmakers have launched an investigation into antisemitism at the Ivy League colleges after their leaders received backlash for shaky testimonies during a congressional hearing on antisemitism, concerning the Israel-Hamas war. The three Ivy League university leaders arrived at Capitol Hill, earlier this week, to answer questions about rising antisemitism on their campuses before the House Education and Workforce Committee. However, surprising many, all three refrained from outrightly condemning the antisemitic calls on the campuses, saying the speeches needed 'context'. Elise Stefanik, the fourth-ranking House Republican informed about the opening of the congressional inquiry. “After this week’s pathetic and morally bankrupt testimony by university presidents when answering my questions, the Education and Workforce Committee is launching an official congressional investigation with the full force of subpoena power into Penn, MIT, Harvard and others,” said Stefanik. “We will use our full congressional authority to hold these schools accountable for their failure on the global stage,” she added. Watch | US: Cornell University students charged with anti-Semitic threats to students × What happened during the hearing? Repeatedly asked if she would say calling for the genocide of Jews constituted harassment, Harvard University President Claudine Gay said it could depend on the "context" and if it targets specific individuals. Penn President Elizabeth Magill said if speech turned into conduct, then it would be considered harassment. Meanwhile, MIT President Sally Kornbluth said: "We have heard chants which can be antisemitic depending on the context when calling for the elimination of the Jewish people." Also read | 'Calling for genocide...': Elon Musk slams heads of Harvard, MIT, Penn universities for antisemitism on campus After the video clip of the testimony went viral, severe backlash followed with the likes of Elon Musk, Bill Ackman and Albert Bourla among others calling out the colleges for allowing such representation of their institutions. According to a New York Post report, the Penn University is expected to ask Magill to resign on Friday (Dec 8) for her failure to condemn calls for genocide. The Ivy League school’s Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting on Thursday to deal with the fallout of the issue. State Governor Josh Shapiro, a Jew himself, has called Magill’s testimony “shameful”. “Leaders have a responsibility to speak and act with moral clarity, and Liz Magill failed to meet that simple test,” he said. Ever since the events of October 7 and the subsequent retaliation by the Israeli forces, the American campuses have been inundated with incidents of antisemitism and intifada chants with Jews being the main target. (With inputs from agencies)

US Congress launches antisemitism probe against elite universities as three varsity chiefs face backlash

Eight Labrador retrievers are being trained at the University of Pennsylvania in the US to ''sniff out'' COVID-19&nbsp;cases.

According to experts, if this initiative succeeds, then it will ''revolutionize''&nbsp;screening for the deadly illness and the response towards it.

The reason behind particularly choosing this breed was&nbsp;their ''powerful noses'' as per the university.

The dogs are the first trainees in a research project of the University of Pennsylvania to determine whether canines can detect an odour associated with the coronavirus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/are-dogs-going-to-help-prevent-a-global-second-wave-of-covid-19-288792">Are dogs going to help prevent a global second wave of COVID-19?</a>

In a statement issued by the University, the dogs&nbsp;will be used as ''canine surveillance''&nbsp;at airports, businesses and hospitals to prevent the pathogen from spreading.

A similar effort is underway in United Kingdom at the&nbsp;London School of Hygiene and&nbsp;Tropical Medicine, where researchers previously demonstrated that dogs could identify malaria infections in humans.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-dogs-detect-covid-19-canines-in-training-to-sniff-out-virus-294360">Can dogs detect COVID-19? Canines in training to sniff out virus</a>

James Logan, head of the school’s disease control department, called canines a ''new diagnostic tool''&nbsp;that ''could revolutionize our response to coronavirus.''

Research has proved that viruses have specific odours, said Cynthia M. Otto, director of the Working Dog Center at Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dogs are already used to&nbsp;sniff out&nbsp;malaria, cancers and even a&nbsp;bacterium ravaging Florida’s citrus groves.

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Eight Labrador retrievers are being trained at the University of Pennsylvania in the US to ''sniff out'' COVID-19 cases. According to experts, if this initiative succeeds, then it will ''revolutionize'' screening for the deadly illness and the response towards it.

Eight Labrador retrievers are being trained at the University of Pennsylvania in the US to ''sniff out'' COVID-19 cases. According to experts, if this initiative succeeds, then it will ''revolutionize'' screening for the deadly illness and the response towards it. The reason behind particularly choosing this breed was their ''powerful noses'' as per the university. The dogs are the first trainees in a research project of the University of Pennsylvania to determine whether canines can detect an odour associated with the coronavirus. Also read: Are dogs going to help prevent a global second wave of COVID-19? In a statement issued by the University, the dogs will be used as ''canine surveillance'' at airports, businesses and hospitals to prevent the pathogen from spreading. A similar effort is underway in United Kingdom at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where researchers previously demonstrated that dogs could identify malaria infections in humans. Also read: Can dogs detect COVID-19? Canines in training to sniff out virus James Logan, head of the school’s disease control department, called canines a ''new diagnostic tool'' that ''could revolutionize our response to coronavirus.'' Research has proved that viruses have specific odours, said Cynthia M. Otto, director of the Working Dog Center at Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Dogs are already used to sniff out malaria, cancers and even a bacterium ravaging Florida’s citrus groves.

US: Dogs are being trained to 'sniff out' COVID-19 cases