Harvard Anti-Semitism Task Force Head Withdraws from Panel Amid Controversy

Derek Penslar's decision to skip the panel comes amidst criticism of his appointment and ongoing scandals at Harvard University.

Derek Penslar, co-chair of Harvard’s Presidential Task Force on Combating Anti-Semitism, dropped out of a New York City panel on antisemitism, citing the university's ongoing scandals as the reason.
Penslar's appointment to the task force has been criticized due to his outspoken criticism of Israel, which he has referred to as an 'apartheid state'.
Former Harvard President Larry Summers and billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman have both expressed concern over Penslar's appointment.
Penslar was expected to discuss challenges such as identifying the line between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, determining the differences between free speech and hate speech, and deciding the proper role universities should play in navigating these issues.
Harvard has been a focal point of attention after dozens of student groups circulated a letter blaming Israel for an assault by Hamas, and the university's president, Claudine Gay, resigned earlier this month after it was learned she plagiarized several academic papers.