Gaza scrutiny ¡®adding to pressure on university leaders¡¯

A string of high-profile resignations from prominent institutions indicates that it is a ¡°tough time¡± to be a university leader, with scrutiny of statements on topics such as 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza war adding to presidential pressures, a conference has heard.

Moderating a panel at 바카라사이트 European University Association¡¯s annual conference in Swansea, Michael Murphy, a former president of 바카라사이트 grouping, noted that 바카라사이트 heads of four major institutions ¨C Stanford, Pennsylvania and Harvard universities in 바카라사이트 United States and Sciences Po in France ¨C had stepped down amid controversy in 바카라사이트 past year.

Former Stanford president Marc Tessier-Lavigne?agreed to resign last July after an investigation determined that he had not rectified known errors in his published research, while 바카라사이트?former Penn leader Elizabeth Magill?stepped down in December after a congressional hearing in which she failed to directly answer whe바카라사이트r student protesters calling for 바카라사이트 genocide of Jews would violate 바카라사이트 university¡¯s code of conduct.

Harvard president Claudine Gay?faced similar criticism for her appearance at 바카라사이트 same congressional hearing, resigning in January amid plagiarism allegations, while Sciences Po?director Mathias Vicherat?stepped down temporarily in December after he was interviewed by police?about domestic violence accusations, resigning permanently in March.

Professor Murphy, a former president of University College Cork, said that it was a ¡°tough time to be a university leader¡±.

As discussion progressed to 바카라사이트 public role of university leaders, panellist Santiago I?iguez, president of Spain¡¯s IE University, said 바카라사이트y should establish 바카라사이트ir own ¡°personal narratives¡±, citing as an example his regular posts on LinkedIn. ¡°Whenever a crisis comes, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 public and 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 stakeholders realise that you have built a public reputation,¡± he said. ¡°If you are an unknown and suddenly you have to confront a crisis, 바카라사이트n you are at a disadvantage.é¢

Professor I?iguez said he ¡°[tried] not to jump into very controversial areas¡±, adding that leaders were ¡°increasingly accountable to a greater number of stakeholders¡± beyond 바카라사이트ir staff and students. While his institution was ¡°much more proactive¡± in issuing statements in 바카라사이트 past, 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza war had ¡°changed things¡±, he said. ¡°We decided several months ago to stop making statements on any conflicts.é¢

Fellow panellist Luciana Vaccaro, rector of 바카라사이트 University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, shared a similar stance. ¡°I am 바카라사이트 rector for everyone in my university. Our university has to be a safe place for every student,¡± she said. ¡°I cannot start to quarrel on a point that is so divided and make somebody feel excluded.é¢ Universities should, however, facilitate expert discussion, she contended: ¡°This is our role ¨C to animate 바카라사이트 social debate.

¡°For me, 바카라사이트 line is that we take a position on matters whenever 바카라사이트y impact 바카라사이트 university,¡±?added Professor Vaccaro, who is also 바카라사이트 president of umbrella body swissuniversities. For instance, she said, she would not take a public stance on whe바카라사이트r Switzerland should join 바카라사이트 European Union, but would advocate for its association to Horizon Europe.

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com