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Biden Stays Clear of Calling for Ivy League Presidents’ Resignations
As the political landscape in the United States continues to evolve, President Joe Biden has been cautious in his approach to addressing the issue of Ivy League presidents’ resignations. While some have called for these leaders to step down due to their alleged involvement in controversial policies and decisions, Biden has refrained from directly calling for their resignations.
One of the reasons for Biden’s cautious stance may be his belief in the importance of academic freedom and the autonomy of educational institutions. The Ivy League universities are renowned for their academic excellence and have a long-standing tradition of independence. While the president may have concerns about certain actions taken by these institutions, he recognizes the need to respect their internal processes and decision-making.
Another factor that may have influenced Biden’s approach is his focus on unity and collaboration. Since taking office, he has emphasized the need for Americans to come together and find common ground. Calling for the resignation of Ivy League presidents could be seen as a divisive move that could further polarize the nation. Instead, Biden has chosen to engage in dialogue and encourage open conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing higher education.
It is important to note that Biden has not remained completely silent on the issue. In a recent press conference, he acknowledged the concerns raised by some regarding the actions of Ivy League presidents. He stated that he understands the frustration and anger felt by those who believe these leaders have not acted in the best interest of their institutions or the wider public.
However, rather than demanding immediate resignations, Biden has called for transparency and accountability. He has urged the Ivy League universities to conduct thorough reviews of their policies and decision-making processes, ensuring that they align with the values of inclusivity, diversity, and fairness. By doing so, he hopes that any shortcomings can be identified and addressed constructively.
Biden’s approach reflects his belief in the power of education to shape society. He understands that Ivy League universities play a crucial role in shaping the minds of future leaders and influencers. Instead of seeking to remove the current presidents, he aims to facilitate a process of reflection and improvement that can lead to positive change within these institutions.
Furthermore, Biden recognizes that the issues facing higher education are not limited to the Ivy League alone. He has called for a broader conversation about the affordability of education, student loan debt, and access to quality education for all Americans. By addressing these systemic challenges, he hopes to create an environment where all educational institutions, including the Ivy League, can thrive and fulfill their mission of providing a world-class education.
While some may criticize Biden for not taking a stronger stance on the issue of Ivy League presidents’ resignations, his approach is rooted in a commitment to unity, collaboration, and respect for academic freedom. By encouraging dialogue and accountability, he aims to foster a culture of continuous improvement within the higher education sector. As the political landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these conversations unfold and what steps will be taken to ensure the future success of the Ivy League and other esteemed institutions of higher learning.
Harvard president apologizes for remarks on antisemitism as pressure mounts on Penn’s president
WASHINGTON — Harvard University’s president apologized as pressure mounted for the University of Pennsylvania’s president to resign over their testimony at a congressional hearing on antisemitism that critics from the White House on down say failed to demonstrate they would stand up to antisemitism on campus.
In an interview Thursday with The Crimson student newspaper, Harvard President Claudine Gay said she got caught up in a heated exchange at the House committee hearing and failed to properly denounce threats of violence against Jewish students.
Meanwhile, lawyers for a major donor to Penn, Ross Stevens, wrote to Penn’s general counsel Thursday to threaten to withdraw a gift valued at $100 million because of the university’s “stance on antisemitism on campus” unless Penn President Liz Magill is replaced.
Gay’s and Magill’s testimony drew intense national backlash, as have similar responses from the president of MIT who also testified before the Republican-led House Education and Workforce Committee on Tuesday. Donors, alumni, and members of Congress in both parties called for their resignations.
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Harvard President Claudine Gay, left, speaks Tuesday as the University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill listens during a hearing of the House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein, Associated Press
At issue was a line of questioning that asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews would violate the universities’ code of conduct. At the Tuesday hearing, Gay said it depended on the context, adding that when “speech crosses into conduct, that violates our policies.”
Gay told The Crimson she was sorry, saying she “got caught up in what had become at that point, an extended, combative exchange about policies and procedures.”
“What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community — threats to our Jewish students — have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged,” Gay said.
Magill walked back some of her comments Wednesday, saying she would consider a call for the genocide of Jewish people as harassment or intimidation. She also said she would launch a review of Penn’s policies, saying they have long been guided by the U.S. Constitution but need to be “clarified and evaluated.”
Universities across the U.S. have been accused of failing to protect Jewish students amid reports of growing antisemitism following the militant group Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The three presidents were called before the committee to answer those accusations, but their lawyerly answers drew renewed blowback from opponents.
Harvard President Claudine Gay, left, speaks as University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill listens Tuesday during the hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein, Associated Press
The White House joined the criticism of Gay, Magill, and MIT President Sally Kornbluth, with a spokesperson saying calls for genocide are “monstrous and antithetical to everything we represent as a country.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, also called Magill’s testimony “unacceptable” and urged trustees there to consider Magill’s job. On Thursday night, he joined Jewish students at Penn to mark the start of Hanukkah with a menorah lighting on campus.
Penn’s trustees remained quiet about Magill’s future, though they were scheduled to meet this weekend, Shapiro said Friday.
The episode marred Gay’s early tenure at Harvard — she became president in July — and sowed discord at the Ivy League campus.
On Thursday, Rabbi David Wolpe resigned from a new committee on antisemitism created by Gay.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Wolpe said, “Events on campus and the painfully inadequate testimony reinforced the idea that I cannot make the sort of difference I had hoped.”
A statement from Gay thanked Wolpe for his work, saying he helped deepen her understanding “of the unacceptable presence of antisemitism here at Harvard.”
The House Education Committee launched an investigation into Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania following an antisemitism hearing.
Straight Arrow News
The Republican-led House committee announced Thursday it will investigate the policies and disciplinary procedures at Harvard, MIT, and Penn. Separate federal civil rights investigations were previously opened at Harvard, Penn, and several other universities in response to complaints submitted to the U.S. Education Department.
At Penn, some donors and alumni were critical of the university’s response to antisemitic acts on campus — including a swastika drawn inside the design school building and vandalism at the Hillel chapter there — that happened before Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
The gift from Stevens — shares of his Stone Ridge Holdings Group — was given in 2017 to underwrite the Stevens Center for Innovation in Finance. However, in the letter, his lawyers said Penn’s “permissive approach to hate speech calling for violence against Jews and laissez-faire attitude toward harassment and discrimination” likely violated the donor agreement.
The letter said Stevens and Stone Ridge are open to giving Penn a chance to fix the violations “if, and when, there is a new university president in place.”
Online college enrollment is on the rise: What brings students to virtual campuses? Remote learning was already on the rise before COVID-19
Before the pandemic, education technology, or “ed-tech,” was already on the rise as companies made it easier to deliver online programs. Between 2017 and 2021, investment in the tech sector grew from $1 billion to $8 billion, according to McKinsey. During the early days of the pandemic, lockdowns caused schools to shift to online learning, but even in the fall of 2020, many private and public schools still opted to offer remote options for public health reasons.
In 2021, online learning enrollment dropped as more schools brought back in-person classes, although many still had hybrid or remote programs. Because 2022 data is not yet available, it’s too soon to tell whether most students continued taking some classes online or if the numbers of online learners fell back to pre-pandemic levels.
EDsmart New career opportunities are on most online students’ minds
Many students opt for online learning to earn a degree while managing a busy life, and they’re used to the demands of higher education. According to EducationDynamics, most online students have previous college experience, with 3 in 5 returning to school within two years. Career changes are a big reason to return to school—4 in 5 online students already have part- or full-time jobs and typically opt for programs in business, healthcare, and information technology to help them find better career opportunities.
Flexibility is also a key factor for students who choose online programs. It may be no surprise then that 3 in 5 undergraduates and nearly just as many graduate students (57%) also prefer asynchronous online learning programs.
Story editing by Jeff Inglis. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller.
This story originally appeared on EDsmart and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
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