Jewish students at the University of Pennsylvania have said the resignation of President Liz Magill and Chairman Scott Bok is not enough to make them feel safe, arguing that further “change” at the school is necessary.
Jewish students at the University of Pennsylvania said the resignation of President Liz Magill and Chairman Scott Bok was not enough to make them feel safe following a series of antisemitic incidents, arguing that further “change” at the school was necessary.
“There’s a realization that one step is over,” junior Akiva Berkowitz told USA Today outside of Steinhardt Hall, home to the school’s Hillel club. “But the process is not and I don’t want people to think this is the end.”
The student was reacting to Magill and Bok’s resignation on Saturday, adding: “Many things still need to happen. A lot still needs to change.”
Sophomore Jack Cohen said despite Magill and Bok’s resignation, “It’s not comfortable here” and demanded that more be done.
“At the end of the day, we want to see more change,” he said. “We want to feel more supported.
“‘Change’ is the key word — change for the better.”
Jewish students at the Ivy League institution have previously called out school officials for doing nothing while they experienced several antisemitic incidents.
In September, one month before Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel, pro-Palestinian student groups hosted a weekend literature festival on the campus billed as an event to “explore the richness and diversity of Palestinian culture.”
But the event — which featured more than 100 speakers — also hosted some who have been accused of pushing antisemitic agendas, including one person who called for “death to Israel.
