House holds hearing on college campus antisemitism

WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — The presidents of some of the most prestigious universities in the country addressed concerns about antisemitism on campus at a House Education Committee hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

Harvard President Dr. Claudine Gay, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Dr. Sally Kornbluth are among those testifying as their schools have experienced a rise in antisemitism on campus.

Lawmakers said the schools must protect students and hope more action can come as a result of the hearing. 

There was a heated exchange between the president of Harvard and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who accused Harvard of not doing enough to combat antisemitism. Stefanik even called for the school’s president to resign.

“Will admissions offers be rescinded or any disciplinary actions be taken against students or applicants who say ‘from the river to the sea’ or ‘intifada,’ advocating for the murder of Jews?” Stefanik asked Gay.

Gay responded, “As I have said, that type of hateful, reckless, offensive speech is personally abhorrent to me.”

Gay did not give Stefanik a detailed answer as to what action would be taken in response to hateful speech on campus.

During this hearing, House Education Committee Chair Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., played videos of anti-Israel protests on college campuses. The school presidents noted they “truly” hear the concerns coming from Jewish and Israeli students.

Harvard remains under investigation by the Department of Education over its response to complaints of harassment against Jewish and Israeli students.

Rallies and protests continue on some campuses, calling for a cease-fire and for hostages to be released from Hamas captivity. But other anti-Israel protests and hate incidents have led to concerns, including vandalism and controversial or threatening messages heard and seen on some campuses.

At Harvard, 30 student-led groups posted a letter blaming the Hamas invasion on Israel. The school’s president faced much pushback for not condemning the letter sooner. 

At MIT, a Jewish student group described allegedly being physically prevented from going to class by a pro-Hamas group.

During a hearing last month on Capitol Hill, a Jewish student at Yale described some of her own experiences as well.

“On campus, I sit in a crowded dining hall and I ask myself how many people in this room want me dead?” Yale student Sahar Tartak said. “Others told me they’re uncomfortable approaching their professors about coursework because they’re openly pro-Hamas. Another slept on a friend’s couch because her roommate supports Hamas.”

Foxx released a statement ahead of Tuesday’s hearing:

“Over the past several weeks, we’ve seen countless examples of antisemitic demonstrations on college campuses. Meanwhile, college administrators have largely stood by, allowing horrific rhetoric to fester and grow. By holding this hearing, we are shining the spotlight on these campus leaders and demanding they take the appropriate action to stand strong against antisemitism.”

In the two weeks after the Hamas invasion, the Anti-Defamation League reported over 300 antisemitic incidents across the county — almost five times the amount from the same period last year.

Former Chancellor of the State University of New York system Dr. Jim Malatras told NewsNation colleges need to be doing more to combat antisemitism if students are feeling unsafe. Colleges have to offer a space for free speech and ideas while rejecting aggression and violence.

“It’s okay to admit we haven’t always gotten it right,” he said. “But where do we go from here?”

At Harvard, the president has formed a group of advisors to combat antisemitism while the president at MIT made a similar move and stepped up security on campus as well.