Round-up: College Presidents Testify on Antisemitism on Campus - Dec. 5

The presidents of Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology defended their responses to antisemitism on their campuses in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war Tuesday during a sometimes-testy hearing of the House Committee on Education and Workforce.  All three university leaders attempted to detail the efforts their administrations have taken to protect the physical safety of Jewish students on their campuses while attempting to permit healthy debate and learning about the conflict.
 
Committee Chair Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) told the presidents that “institutional antisemitism and hate are among the poisoned fruits of your institutions’ cultures.” Foxx and other Republicans sought to tie rising campus antisemitism to their longstanding complaints that higher education is too progressive and intolerant to conservative views. Both Republican and Democratic members expressed concern about the rise of antisemitism on campus since Oct. 7.
 
Harvard President Claudine Gay acknowledged an “alarming” rise in antisemitism at the university amid the tensions that have roiled many campuses across the country since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and Israel’s military response.
 
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y), a Harvard alum who has called for Gay’s resignation, pushed the Harvard president over whether Harvard would punish students or applicants who advocate for the murder of Jews.
 
“That type of hateful, reckless, offensive speech is personally abhorrent to me,” Gay responded. She said the university had “robust policies” that hold individuals accountable when speech crosses into conduct, such as bullying, harassment or intimidation.
 
Below is a sampling of media coverage before and after the hearing:
 
 
Republican Lawmakers Spar With University Presidents at Campus Antisemitism Hearing
The Wall Street Journal (December 5, 2023)
 
Harvard, M.I.T. and Penn Say They Are Acting Against Antisemitism, in Congressional Testimony
The New York Times (December 5, 2023)
 
Lawmakers Question Harvard, Penn and MIT Presidents on Antisemitism
The Washington Post (December 5, 2023)
 
University Presidents Defend Efforts to Combat Antisemitism Before House Panel
Politico.com (December 5, 2023)
 
Presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT Face Grilling on Capitol Hill
Inside Higher Ed (December 5, 2023)
 
College Presidents Face Down House Republicans Over Antisemitism Response
Politico.com (December 5, 2023)
 
Lawmakers Confront University Leaders on Rising Antisemitism
The Hill.com (December 5, 2023)
 
Can Free Speech on Campus Survive the Israel-Hamas War?
Politico.com (December 5, 2023)
 
Jewish Students at Harvard, MIT, NYU and Penn Recount Campus Antisemitism: ‘Back to 1939’
New York Post (December 5, 2023)
 
 
The Backlash to Anti-Israel Protests Threatens Free Speech - Commentary
The New York Times (December 5, 2023)
 
Do Nothing Until You Hear from Me - Commentary
The Chronicle of Higher Education (December 5, 2023)