ONE DOWN

UPenn prez first to fall as pressure builds on antisemitic ‘rot’

University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill — under increasing pressure after her disastrous testimony before Congress last week on the school’s failure to protect Jewish students — and Scott L. Bok, chairman of its board of trustees, resigned their posts Saturday. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who had grilled Magill and the presidents of Harvard and MIT on unchecked antisemitism on their elite campuses, reacted to the news of Magill’s ouster on X: “One down. Two to go.”

University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill, under increasing pressure from both donors and the White House after her disastrous testimony before Congress this week on the school’s failure to protect Jewish students, and Scott L. Bok, chairman of its board of trustees, “voluntarily” resigned their posts Saturday in a massive Ivy League shake-up, the school announced.

“I write to share that President Liz Magill has voluntarily tendered her resignation as President of the University of Pennsylvania,” Bok wrote in a surprise “University Notification” sent to staffers Saturday.

“She will remain a tenured faculty member at Penn Carey Law,” Bok continued. “President Magill has agreed to stay on until an interim president is appointed.”

Magill’s statement was included in the letter: “It has been my privilege to serve as President of this remarkable institution. It has been an honor to work with our faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community members to advance Penn’s vital missions.”

Bok’s separate resignation statement was obtained by the Daily Pennsylvanian, the school’s student newspaper.

“Working with [Magill] was one of the great pleasures of my life,” he wrote. “Worn down by months of relentless external attacks, she was not herself last Tuesday.”

Magill’s sudden departure came four days after her Tuesday appearance before the House Education Committee, when she and the presidents of Harvard and MIT were grilled by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) — who asked each of them if calling for the genocide of Jews is considered to be “bullying and harassment” under their colleges’ respective codes of conduct.

“It is a context-dependent decision, congresswoman,” Magill (pictured) responded, sparking outrage among donors and others.

A source close to the situation told The Post that the mood was sad Saturday as 27 UPenn trustees met for two hours without Magill or Bok’s knowledge and decided to recommend that she consider resignation.

Out without warning

Bok announced his resignation on the spot during a call with trustees, the source said, without giving any warning to Vice Chairman Julie Platt before hanging up. Platt will serve as acting chair, and the executive committee will present a “plan forward” Sunday.

Stefanik issued a blistering response on X as news of Magill’s resignation broke: “One down. Two to go. “This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most ‘prestigious’ higher education institutions in America,” the Harvard graduate wrote.

“These universities can anticipate a robust and comprehensive Congressional investigation of all facets of their institutions negligent perpetration of antisemitism including administrative, faculty, funding, and overall leadership and governance,” she promised.

The UPenn campus in Philadelphia has become a hotbed of antisemitism, with students openly chanting “We are Hamas” and others accused of hate-motivated crimes still allowed in class.

Students Eyal Yakoby and Jordan Davis this week filed a lawsuit claiming Penn broke federal civil-rights law and selectively enforces its rules to “avoid protecting Jewish students from hatred and harassment.”

‘It’s madness’

Yakoby, 21, claimed to The Post there are still “professors and students” at the university who he says are “openly antisemitic.”

“It’s madness; they’re still coming to class and employed by Penn,” he said. “We had one student who was back in class last Monday while facing [criminal] charges.”

Tara Tarawneh, 20, a college junior, was still attending class last week, according to sources, despite praising Hamas for its “glorious Oct. 7” terrorist attack on Israel. She was also arrested for allegedly stealing an Israeli flag from the front of a campus apartment.

Tarawneh has since been charged with theft and receiving stolen property, according to court documents. She did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Post.

Magill recently acknowledged a rise in antisemitic acts on campus, but many students said her response was too little, too late.

In recent days, UPenn had faced increasing pressure to change its leadership, from major donors to those on its own staff, and even from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. The governor, who is Jewish, called Magill’s testimony “shameful.”