Holding Universities Accountable for Antisemitic Chaos

A congressional hearing will grill presidents of Northwestern, UCLA, and Rutgers on their handling of campus antisemitism amid nationwide protests and encampments targeting Jewish students and faculty.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., has launched a scathing attack on Harvard President Claudine Gay, calling for her resignation following revelations of her support for a faculty member who minimized the severity of antisemitic calls for the genocide of Jews.

The condemnation comes amid a surge in anti-Israel protests and encampments on college campuses nationwide, including at prestigious institutions such as Harvard, Penn, Yale, USC, and others. Stefanik, a prominent Republican congresswoman, has emerged as a leading critic of universities that have failed to adequately address campus antisemitism.

"The moral failure of Harvard's leadership is a disgrace," Stefanik declared. "President Gay's testimony before Congress, where she attempted to justify the plagiarist's antisemitic views, shows a complete lack of accountability and commitment to the safety of Jewish students on campus."

Stefanik has also spearheaded a congressional hearing titled "Calling for Accountability: Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos," where presidents of Northwestern, UCLA, and Rutgers will be grilled on their handling of the protests and encampments. The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, will delve into allegations that these universities have capitulated to pro-Hamas terrorist organizations and surrendered their campuses to illegal encampments.

"Northwestern, Rutgers, and UCLA have bent the knee to the radical antisemitic mob, turning their campuses into breeding grounds for hate," Stefanik asserted. "House Republicans will hold campus leadership responsible for allowing self-proclaimed terrorists to destroy the once-acclaimed legacy of these institutions."

The hearing is the third in a series of congressional inquiries focused on campus antisemitism. In previous hearings, Stefanik fiercely questioned presidents of Penn, Harvard, and MIT about their policies on calls for the genocide of Jews. The presidents of Harvard and Penn, Claudine Gay and Liz Magill, respectively, drew criticism for arguing that such comments could be acceptable depending on the "context."

Stefanik has also criticized Harvard for its association with Steven Thrasher, an associate journalism professor who has repeatedly justified Hamas's attacks on Israel and compared Gaza to a Nazi concentration camp. Thrasher's writings, Stefanik argues, create a hostile environment for Jewish students and undermine the university's commitment to academic freedom.

The hearing will examine the impact of the encampments on Jewish students, who have reported feeling harassed and intimidated. Critics have accused Northwestern President Michael Schill of rewarding protesters by negotiating with them and granting some of their demands. Rutgers and Northwestern both faced backlash for their handling of the protests, with Jewish leaders and students calling for the resignation of their presidents.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block is also facing calls to resign over his handling of the encampment on his campus, where students and agitators pledged support for Palestinians and demanded that the school cut ties with Israel.

"The American people demand answers," Stefanik said. "Why are our prestigious universities backing down when moral clarity is needed?"