"Being prepared to weather a Republican-led culture war inquisition wasn't always a requirement to lead a world-class academic institution, but times have changed. Over the last few years, between the Trump administration's assault on higher education funding and congressional hearings designed to harass institutions over "wokeness," anyone hoping to lead America's best schools learned that dealing with a meddlesome clicktatorship is now part of the job."
"Magill wound up on the academic waiver wire following a 2023 House hearing alongside the presidents of MIT and Harvard. Representative Elise Stefanik asked whether "calling for the genocide of Jews" would violate Penn's code of conduct - a curious question from a legislator who had her own cozy history with replacement theory. Magill gave the legally accurate answer that it would depend upon context, igniting a class of lemming donors to push her out."
Being prepared to weather a Republican-led culture war inquisition is now a requirement to lead a world-class academic institution. Recent actions, including the Trump administration's assault on higher education funding and congressional hearings targeting "wokeness," have made dealing with political interference part of senior campus leadership responsibilities. Georgetown University Law Center appointed Liz Magill, former University of Pennsylvania president and Stanford Law dean, as its 17th dean effective August 1. Magill was removed from the Penn presidency after legislators attacked her for accurately explaining how university speech codes operate following a 2023 House hearing. Donor pressure contrasted with Penn's continued employment of Amy Wax, who has made overtly racist claims and hosted white nationalists. Magill later reflected that she wished she had better phrased her congressional testimony.
Read at Above the Law
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