On the heels of the controversial congressional hearings regarding alleged acts of antisemitism at Pennsylvania, Harvard, and MIT universities, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill has tendered her resignation alongside Penn's Board Chair, Scott Bok.

Magill faced scrutiny for her handling of perceived antisemitism on Penn's campus, particularly during the congressional hearing where she, along with other university presidents, refrained from stating whether calls for the genocide of Jews would violate the university's conduct policy.

Following Magill's resignation, attention has shifted to Harvard President Claudine Gay, who is under pressure for similarly failing to condemn antisemitism clearly and is also facing allegations of plagiarism in her 1997 Ph.D. dissertation.

Despite calls for her removal, Harvard University's board unanimously supports President Claudine Gay, expressing confidence in her leadership to address societal issues. This backing comes amid ongoing criticism, with over 700 faculty members, the Alumni Association, and 800 Black alumni supporting President Gay. The board acknowledges the need for a more robust response during the hearing, as calls for her resignation persist from lawmakers and a conservative group planning mobile billboards. Billionaire Bill Ackman accuses President Gay of damaging Harvard's reputation and questions her academic integrity, prompting an independent review that found no violation of research misconduct standards.

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The Remnant's Response

"It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure and right" (Proverbs 20:11)… and as Presidents Magill, Gay, and Kornbluth (MIT's president) showed, you can also distinguish yourself with conduct that is foolish and not so bright. Lacking the courage and/or conviction to condemn an obvious evil has brought appropriate criticism and loss of support for them and the institutions they represent. When leaders fail to do what is right, it is not only costly, it often appropriately costs them the privilege of leadership (1 Samuel 15:26). While we may not be surprised that weak and "woke" university presidents fail to speak with clarity on obvious moral issues, it should horrify us when pastors and others who should know better do the same (Jeremiah 2:8-9). When those who claim to know the Lord fail to speak with clarity and lead with conviction, when they "forsake the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13) the right response is to "be appalled, O heavens, at this, And shudder, be very desolate" (Jeremiah 2:12). And the wiser, even more righteous response is to repent (Jeremiah 3:12-14).

The decline in Americans' trust in higher education and other similar institutions is a logical outflow of the decline in America's trust in the "One Whose name we should lift on High" (Psalm 145:1). When "one generation" fails to "commend the Lord's works to another," and then abandons the "splendor of His majesty" (Psalm 145:4-5) for the foolishness of the wisdom of men, it is unsurprising that the next generation will speak foolishly and arrogantly (Jeremiah 4:22). We can thank God that there is still enough clarity in our country that some level of outrage has been shown, when those entrusted to lead some of the biggest names in higher education, have proven themselves so incapable of responding to even the simplest of questions.  

The fool eagerly sips from a cup of folly, unaware of its bitter blend (Proverbs 13:15), while the wise, with discerning hearts, choose the fountain of knowledge (Proverbs 13:14), finding refreshment (Proverbs 3:8) in the sweetness of its taste (Proverbs 24:13-14). "The backslider in heart will have his fill of his ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his" (Proverbs 14:16). Let us be mindful of the cup we raise, for in its contents, we taste the consequences of our choices.

As the presidents witness a range of varying outcomes resulting from veering away from fidelity to God's truth and failing to lead with courage, the remnant should be reminded that "every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).