In the United States, three presidents of prestigious universities in the crosshairs of Congress following anti-Semitic excesses on campuses

2023-12-07 00:50:28
The presidents of the universities of Harvard, Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, during their hearing before the US Congress, in Washington, December 5, 2023. KEVIN DIETSCH / AFP

“It doesn’t depend on the context. The answer is yes, and that is why you should resign. These are unacceptable responses”, decided, during a congressional hearing, Elise Stefanik, Republican representative of the State of New York, Tuesday, December 5. The remark was aimed at Harvard University President Claudine Gay, but it was also addressed to Sally Kornbluth of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Elizabeth Magill, president of the University of Pennsylvania. Three women, in office for less than eighteen months, invited to explain the events that occurred on their campuses in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attack against Israeli civilians on October 7.

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The question, asked several times, was simple: “Does the call for the genocide of the Jews violate the code of conduct” of the universities concerned, in terms of harassment and intimidation? “This may be the case, depending on the context, such as targeting an individual”replied Claudine Gay. “If speech turns into conduct, it may be harassment”declared Elizabeth Magill, also explaining that the qualification decision “depended on the context”.

Sally Kornbluth began by explaining: “I have not heard of calls for the genocide of Jews on our campus. » “But you heard “chants for the intifada” [soulèvement] », replied Elise Stefanik. The latter began the hearing by giving her personal definition of the intifada – “You understand that this call for intifada is to commit genocide against Jews in Israel and globally,” shifting the debate from support for the intifada of certain demonstrators to the question of genocide.

“I heard “singing” [pour l’intifada] which can be considered anti-Semitic in the context of a call for the elimination of Jews”, continued Ms. Kornbluth. Pushed on whether calling for genocide of Jews violated Penn’s code of conduct, she said: “It would be investigated for harassment if it was pervasive and severe. »

“They must all resign for dishonor”

The three women’s responses sparked an outcry. First, from billionaire Bill Ackman, of Jewish faith and founder of the speculative investment fund Pershing, who is not angry with his former university: “They must all resign for dishonor. If the CEO of one of our companies gave a similar answer, he would be fired within the hour. Why has anti-Semitism exploded on campus and around the world? Because of leaders like Presidents Gay, Magill and Kornbluth, who believe that genocide is context dependent.he wrote on X on Tuesday.

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