The information contained in this article is attributed to journalist Jasmine Ni in an article written by her.
In an article written by Jasmine Ni, appearing in the November 7, 2024, issue of The Daily Pennsylvanian, journalist Ni examines the contents of a 325-page report released by the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce following a year-long investigation of antisemitism on college campuses.
The report, released on October 31, 2024, dedicates less than 30 pages to Penn’s campus “revealing details about how the University handled disciplinary proceedings, former Penn President Liz Magill’s resignation, and pro-Palestinian campus protests.”
According to Ni, “The report asserted that Penn administrators actively sought to manage positive press coverage while failing to adequately support Jewish students and called for an investigation into University compliance with federal funding laws.”
If there was ever a question why former University Board of Trustees President felt compelled to resign, even though it was only Magill that appeared before the Congressional committee investigating antisemitism on college campuses, an email conversation between Bok and Magill was revealing. Bok described an unidentified group as “so easily purchased.” Apparently, he was repeating “longstanding antisemitic tropes about Jewish money and influence.” Bok, in a statement sent to The Daily Pennsylvanian, stated that he was “puzzled why this one email exchange was singled out from the 400,000 pages of documents” reviewed by the committee.
In response to the surge of antisemitic incidents on campus after October 7, 2023, the Penn administration’s disciplinary measures included only mild sanctions. There was absolutely no disciplinary action taken against the student participants of the Palestine sit-in at Houston Hall. According to Ni, “The ‘meager’ sanctions, the report alleged, illustrated what the committee described as a failure by Penn administrators to adequately respond to antisemitic actions.”
Ni writes, “The document cited instances of harassment, intimidation, and property damage directed at Jewish students suggesting a potentially hostile campus environment in which the University ‘turned their backs’ and intentionally [withheld] support in a time of need.”
The reports questioned Penn’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in institutions receiving federal funding. Penn has faced significant scrutiny from Congress over the past year, including three federal investigations into Penn’s response to antisemitism on campus.
