GOP House lawmakers announced Thursday that they are opening formal investigations into several universities over their handling of antisemitism on campus.
On Tuesday, members of the House Education and Workforce Committee blasted the presidents of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania for their lack of action in response to the wave of violent anti-Jewish demonstrations that have hit their institutions following the Oct. 7 Hamas. terrorist attack on Israel.
“After the deplorable and morally bankrupt testimony this week by university presidents in response to my questions, the Education and Workforce Committee launched a formal Congressional investigation with full subpoena powers to Penn, MIT, & Harvard and others,” House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said in a statement.
“We will use the full power of our Congress to hold these schools accountable for their failure on a global level.”
The investigation will look at the “learning environment” and “disciplinary procedures” at the institution, according to Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Virginia Foxx (R-NC).
“Committee members have deep concerns with their leadership and their failure to take steps to provide Jewish students with the safe learning environment they deserve under the law,” Foxx said.
The universities on the committee indicated their willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
“Penn is aware of the investigation and will cooperate fully,” a University of Pennsylvania spokeswoman told The Post.
Elise Stefanik expressed disgust at her alma mater for not cracking down on antisemitism on campus. Reuters
The schools could be stripped of federal funding if they are found to be in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in programs or activities that receive government money.
Stefanik took center stage during Tuesday’s hearing because of her exchange with Harvard University president Dr. Claudine Gay, who avoided calling for an ‘intifada’ broke the Ivy League school’s code of conduct.
The top lawmaker explained that “‘intifada’ in the context of the Israeli-Arab conflict is indeed a call for violent armed resistance against the state of Israel, including violence against civilians and the genocide of Jews.”
President of Harvard University Dr. Claudine Gay was in the hot seat Tuesday before the committee. Getty Images
“That kind of hate speech personally disgusts me,” Gay responded, repeatedly brushing aside questions of the code of conduct. “It goes against Harvard’s values.”
University of Pennsylvania President Liz McGill also drew flak following her exchange with Stefanik, who asked her if she was “calling for the genocide of the Jews.” [constitutes] bullying or harassment?”
“If it’s directed and severe, pervasive, it’s a disorder,” McGill countered. “It’s a context-dependent decision.”
McGill later issued an apology on Wednesday evening, and explained that “the call for the genocide of the Jews was very threatening.”
Virginia Foxx chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee. AP
Stefanik has demanded that the presidents of all three schools be fired following their appearance.
On Wednesday, the White House was packed.
“It’s unbelievable that this has to be said: calls for genocide are terrible and against everything we stand for as a country,” Andrew Bates, senior White House communications adviser and deputy press secretary, said. said in a statement.
The congressional inquiry aims to examine the extent to which “this enablement of antisemitism goes,” according to House Republicans.
“The despicable targeting and harassment of Jewish students is not limited to this institution,” Foxx said, “and other universities should expect investigations as well, as their litany of similar failures go unnoticed.”
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