The House Committee on Education and the Workforce heard testimony on Tuesday from three college presidents regarding how they have handled antisemitic incidents on their campuses following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel. The hearings come amid increased tensions and protests related to the Israel-Hamas war on college campuses across the country.
Harvard University’s Claudine Gay, the University of Pennsylvania’s Liz Magill, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sally Kornbluth appeared before the committee to address the allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia on their campuses. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, among other schools, following complaints of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Republican members of the committee harshly criticized the administrations of the colleges, with Chairwoman Virginia Foxx accusing them of allowing “horrific rhetoric to fester and grow” on their campuses. Foxx also mentioned the increase in Islamophobic incidents across the country and condemned the rise of incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia on college campuses.
Following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, several student organizations at Harvard blamed Israel for the violence, drawing backlash from alumni and lawmakers. Harvard leaders were criticized for not condemning the student organizations more forcefully. During the hearing, Gay acknowledged the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia and expressed the difficulty of confronting hate while preserving free expression.
In a tense exchange with House GOP Conference Chair Whip Elise Stefanik, Gay addressed the issue of “intifada” calls by some Harvard students, stating that such hateful speech is “at odds with the values of Harvard.” However, Gay emphasized the university’s commitment to free expression, even of views that are objectionable, outrageous, and offensive.
The University of Pennsylvania also reported several antisemitic incidents, including threats of violence against the campus’ Jewish community. Additionally, MIT suspended students from nonacademic activities after protests on campus, during which Jewish students reported fearing for their safety.
During the hearing, all three college presidents agreed that Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish nation. Pamela Nadell, a professor of Jewish history at American University, testified that the antisemitism on campuses is part of a long history of American antisemitism.
The testimonies shed light on the challenges college administrations face in addressing incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia on their campuses, particularly in the context of ongoing conflicts overseas. The hearing underscored the importance of promoting safety and well-being while upholding free expression on college campuses.