On Sept. 25, the Brandeis community was shocked as a new email entered their inbox. The email, written by Chair of the Board of Trustees Lisa R. Kranc ’75, was sent out at 9:42 a.m. and announced the resignation of University President Ronald Liebowitz. This email came just two days after the announcement of the faculty vote of no confidence and one day after the conclusion of the Board of Trustees fall meetings.

Liebowitz will be stepping down from his position on Nov. 1, a surprise to many as this date falls prior to the conclusion of the fall 2024 semester. In the email, Kranc shared that “the Brandeis Board of Trustees appointed [Liebowitz] president emeritus,” and explained that the implementation of this title will allow him to “continue to advocate for Brandeis and its values.” 

The email went on to acknowledge Liebowitz for his contributions to the Brandeis community, emphasizing his work “speaking out against antisemitism in our world and on college campuses.” Kranc also emphasized his work reconnecting with alumni globally through the celebrations of Brandeis’ 75th anniversary. 

Following the acknowledgement of Liebowitz’s departure, the board informed the community about the appointment of a new University interim president, Brandeis alumnus Dr. Arthur E. Levine ’70, who will be stepping into the role on Nov. 1. The email stated that “[Levine] looks forward to meeting members of the Brandeis community in the coming weeks” and highlighted some of his past experiences, such as holding the position of president of Teachers College at Columbia University. 

16 minutes after Kranc’s email, the Brandeis community received one from Liebowitz. In his email, Liebowitz explained that the decision to resign was not an easy choice to make, as he did so with “mixed emotions” due to the “great meaning” the University holds, “especially at this time.” However, Liebowitz stated that “this is a valuable moment for me and for Jessica [Liebowitz] to build on our experiences to create new pathways for innovation and reform in higher education, and I resign knowing that the university will be in good hands.”

Liebowitz continued on, reminiscing about his time at the University and his years of leadership, specifically small group lunches that he hosted with his wife Jessica. Closing his email, Liebowitz stated, “The university’s accomplishments are numerous and remarkable for such a relatively young university, and there is no reason to believe it will not find the right path in the coming years.” He wished the community success moving forward.

The press release sent by Julie Jette, assistant vice president of communications, further highlighted some of the accomplishments of Liebowitz, stating that “Liebowitz led Brandeis admirably through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also led a campus-wide planning effort that yielded ‘The Framework for the Future,’ a comprehensive set of recommendations rooted in Brandeis’ historical strengths, its unique place in higher education, and aspirations for the future.” Jette has informed The Justice that no interviews with Liebowitz can be conducted at this time.

As displayed by the 149 to 159 vote of no confidence in President Liebowitz, faculty members have mixed opinions on Liebowitz’s resignation. One of the most outspoken supporters of the vote of no confidence, Prof. John Plotz (ENG), spoke with The Justice in an email exchange on Sept. 28. Plotz stated, “In cracking down on the November 10th protests, President Liebowitz’s administration mistreated students and violated his own Free Speech and Free Expression policies.” Plotz then continued to speak about the events of November 2023, saying that “[a]lthough many other factors contributed to his fall, this year’s student distress and widely expressed faculty outrage owed its force and persistence to the palpable injustice of meeting speech with force, and his unwillingness to acknowledge the errors and the hubris of that day.”

In elaboration regarding his personal beliefs of how this situation should have been handled, Plotz stated, “The philosopher Hannah Arendt says the truth of an event can be buried temporarily - but we should never despair because things do come back to light and to life someday. Liebowitz mistakenly believed that his stonewalling and gaslighting of the faculty meant that November 10’s real meaning could stay hidden.” He followed up this statement by saying, “I think we should take some comfort from the fact that a President who responds to peaceful protest with violence may pay the price eventually. Ten months is a long time - but not too long to wait for that lesson.”

While differing opinions are present regarding the handling of the student protest on Nov. 10, many agree that it, as well as the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, has played a part in the resignation of the president. When contacted by The Justice on Sept. 27, Prof. Jonathan Sarna (NEJS) shared a statement that he had written for the Jewish Telegraphic Insider. Sarna wrote, “When the history of how American universities respond to Oct. 7 is written, I think presidents who spoke up courageously on Israel’s behalf and they acted upon his conviction … And really as a result of that, Brandeis today is known as a safe haven for Jews, Israelis and for their advocates.”

Sarna went on to discuss this resignation as a part of a bigger picture, stating “Ron, along with his wife, Jessica, gave their all to Brandeis during an extremely tumultuous era. His resignation, like so many presidential resignations this year, tells us more about higher education and the challenges it faces than about the presidents who resigned.” 

Prof. Avital Rodal (BIOL) explained her hopes for the future of Brandeis in an email exchange with The Justice on Sept. 27, as she has previously expressed concerns about the potential fallout of the vote. In her statement, Rodal expressed, “I hope the new leadership can continue to tackle our structural issues and work closely with faculty as we evolve to meet the challenges and opportunities of the coming decades while staying true to our strengths and values. I don't think this recent leadership transition speaks to any change in those strengths or values. I also hope our alumni can see this, and continue to actively engage with all the amazing research and learning we’re doing, and help to support our shared mission.”

In the University’s press release, it was detailed that “The Board, Interim President Levine, and academic and administrative leaders will collaborate closely to ensure that students, faculty, and staff continue to be supported in their important work.” This sentiment of continuing initiatives was echoed in the email from Kranc, as it stated, “I assure you that the Board will collaborate with [Liebowitz], with Provost Fierke, and with the Faculty and administration to ensure that this transition is a smooth one for our community. We will continue to move forward with key initiatives, including planning for Brandeis’ newest residence hall, enhancing student life, and convening the Presidential Task Force on Free Expression.” 

The Justice spoke with Student Union President Rani Balakrishna ’25 on Sept. 26 to gain her perspective regarding how this change could disrupt student life. When asked about the upcoming transition period, Balakrishna stated, “We will continue to work closely with Student Affairs, Dean Shoulson, and the President’s office during this time, and to the best of my knowledge we will still be able to present to the President’s cabinet.” This statement was followed up with a question regarding the potential challenges as a result of this transition taking place mid-semester. In response, she explained, “I am not too concerned about the transition taking place in the middle of the semester as the rest of the administration are dedicated and truly care about the wellbeing of the student body. They continue to work hard every day, and a lot of their work is behind the scenes support.” 

When asked about the role Student Union will play in this transition, Balakrishna stated, “We will continue to represent the student voice to administrators and provide input when the search for a new president commences. I will be meeting with the interim President, Arthur Levine ’70 as soon as possible, and I aim to be on the search committee as well.” She elaborated by saying, “I know that finances have stressed out many members of the Brandeis community, I hope that President Liebowitz’s successor is able to increase the entire campus’ budget to bring back programs that were cut.” Balakrishna expressed hope for the future of Brandeis, concluding with the statement, “I have always taken great pride in this position and I think that during this transition I hope to really lean into being a leader across all of campus so that students can still find the resources and support that they need.”

The Justice also connected with former Student Union President Peyton Gillespie ’25 on Sept. 27 regarding his experience working with Liebowitz throughout his term. He began his statement by acknowledging that the two reasons he believes resulted in this departure are “disputes regarding his handling of the anti-Israel protests on campus last year, and … the current financial state of the University.” 

Gillespie explained that himself, as well as “many of [his] fellow Jewish students deeply appreciate President Liebowitz’s firm defense of the Jewish community since October 7th.” He told The Justice that he chose to attend Brandeis to get away from antisemitism that he has previously faced and to find a Jewish community. Gillespie shared data from Hillel International, showing rising rates of antisemitism on college campuses over the past year. Gillespie stated, “Protesting the Israeli government is one thing, but calling for violence against Jews or for the elimination of the State of Israel is hate speech, full stop, and I am proud that the administration took quick, decisive action to ensure the safety of Jewish students at Brandeis and send a clear message that hate has no place on our campus.”

He went on to praise Liebowitz for his actions, as well as delve into the concept of financial responsibilities. Gillespie acknowledged that the community is all aware of Brandeis’ financial challenges to some extent, and stated, “In my mind, whether or not President Liebowitz’s responsibilities include the financial management of the University, I have a hard time believing that others aren’t also responsible for the issues — such as the Board of Trustees, or the University’s financial management office, whom I think could be more open about their own responsibility in the issue.” He called for all players involved to be held accountable, not just Liebowitz. 

Gillespie concluded his statement to The Justice with a message of support for the soon to be former president. “I deeply appreciate President Liebowitz’s service to the Brandeis community and am thankful to have had the opportunity to work alongside him while I was Student Body President,” Gillespie said. “I hope that our next president has the same strong commitment to protecting and standing up for Jewish students and continuing to develop Brandeis as a leader in undergraduate education in the US rooted in Jewish values."

The departure of Liebowitz has been met with a mix of emotions from the Brandeis community, some being sad to see him go while others expressing excitement for a new beginning. Administration and Student Union seem hopeful for a smooth transition as the campus gets ready to welcome interim President Levine.