For months, donors waged a campaign against the president and the chairman of the board. After the hearings on antisemitism, a dissident group of trustees had seen enough.
The leaders of Harvard, M.I.T. and Penn appeared to evade questions about whether students should be disciplined if they call for the genocide of Jews.
At a congressional hearing about antisemitism on campuses, Elizabeth Magill, head of the University of Pennsylvania, appeared to evade questions about whether calling for the genocide of Jews violated Penn’s code of conduct.
The universities are trying to address criticism by banning pro-Palestinian student groups, condemning slogans and starting task forces to address antisemitism.
Some alumni want the president to resign. They are angry about a Palestinian conference and Penn’s response to the Hamas attacks — as well as D.E.I. and transgender rights.