University Leaders Face Backlash Over Responses to Antisemitism Questions in Congressional Hearing

Following criticism, presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Penn clarify their positions, affirming that calls for genocide are 'evil, plain and simple'.

University leaders from Harvard, MIT, and Penn faced backlash after their responses to questions about antisemitism and calls for genocide against Jews during a Congressional hearing were seen as evasive and insufficiently condemnatory.
Under questioning, the university presidents indicated that whether such calls would violate their respective school's code of conduct or rules on bullying and harassment would depend on the context and whether the speech turned into conduct.
Following the hearing, the presidents issued clarifications and apologies, with UPenn President Elizabeth Magill releasing a video statement saying that a call for genocide of Jewish people is a call for some of the most terrible violence human beings can perpetrate and is 'evil, plain and simple'.
Two UPenn students are suing the school, claiming it has become an 'incubation lab' for antisemitic bigotry and harassment.
Both Harvard and UPenn are facing separate investigations from the FBI and Department of Education, respectively, over their handling of on-campus incidents.