Congress Grills Harvard, UPenn, MIT Presidents Over Antisemitism on Campuses

Tulane, Montana State Added to Growing List of Colleges Under Federal Investigation

Five additional colleges and another K-12 school district have been added to a growing list of institutions under federal investigation for possible civil rights violations.

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights said the list includes institutions under investigation for possible discrimination involving "shared ancestry." In mid-November, the U.S. Department of Education announced it was investigating a handful of reported incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia and would update its list weekly.

These institutions are now under investigation, as of Dec. 5, though the alleged incidents have not been specified:

• Cobb County School District– Marietta, GA
• Montana State University
• Tulane University
• Union College– Schenectady, NY
• University of Cincinnati
• Santa Monica College– California

The institutions already under investigation include: Harvard University, University of Tampa, Las Vegas' Clark County School District, Tampa's Hillsborough County Schools, New York City Department of Education, Cornell University, Columbia University, Lafayette College, University of Pennsylvania, Wellesley College, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, and Kansas' Maize Unified School District.

Harvard President Claudine Gay and UPenn President Liz Magill testified before Congress for hours on Tuesday over the recent rise in antisemitism on their campuses.

Foxx: College Presidents Must 'Speak Truth'

The House Education & the Workforce Committee's hearing, "Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism" has adjourned.

Commitee chair Rep. Virginia Foxx called on the three university presidents to rise and meet the challenge of fighting antisemitism on campuses.

"You have real and important practical challenges," Foxx said in her closing statement.

"As you do the practical work of protecting your campus, you must also do the rhetorical work of changing hearts and minds– that's your job as a campus president. That means being willing to risk your job to speak truth clearly, consistently, and unapologetically, even when the Jew-haters turn their hate to you. We will now be watching and I genuinely hope for the sake of our nation, you will rise to meet the challenge."

College Presidents: Antisemitism is Not the 'Only Problem'

The presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT say antisemitism is not the "only problem" on their campuses.

Harvard President Claudine Gay called antisemitism "particularly acute" at the moment, but also described issues surrounding Islamophobia, and hostility towards students who are visibly Muslim, Arab or Palestinian.

UPenn President Liz Magill followed Gay, describing the "same" issues at her campus.

MIT President Sally Kornbluth added that there is racism, Islamophobia and anti-LGBTQ at her campus, adding that the best way to combat negative speech is more speech.

1 of 3

Hearing Resumes

The committee has returned from recess.

Rep. Bowman: Hearing Was 'Republican Political Pandering'

Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman told Newsweek that Tuesday's hearing missed the mark of discussing solutions to "defeat" antisemitism.

"Today felt a lot more like Republican political pandering, as opposed to it really being about doing the work of defeating antisemitism," Bowman, a committee member who attended the hearing, told Newsweek's Alex Rouhandeh.

The New York congressman, and former middle school principal, said antisemitism must be condemned– but the real work happens at the community level.

"Becoming way more educated and connecting and getting an understanding of antisemitism, Jewishness, other races, creeds, and cultures, and how it impacts our development as a human race," Bowman said.

Committee Democrats emphasize that antisemitism and Islamophobia have been on the rise for years, and especially after the 2016 election, a House Democratic aide told Newsweek.

MIT Fails to Address 'Rampant' Antisemitism on Campus

Talia Khan, a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), slammed school administrators over their handling of rising antisemitism on campus.

"The MIT administration, namely, President Sally Kornbluth, has failed to address the crisis of rampant antisemitism on campus," Khan said during a press conference hosted by House Republicans.

Khan said that 70 percent of MIT Jewish students polled believe they have to hide their identities due to a rise in antisemitism, amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

"Day after day, the MIT administration has failed to enforce its own rules on anti-Semitic actors," Khan said. "This is the same climate of antisemitism that has led to the massacre of Jews throughout the centuries. This is not just harassment. This is our lives on the line."

Khan went on to call on Kornbluth to take further action against antisemitism saying, "if you can't, I'm asking Congress to do it for you."

Break

The committee is in recess.

Protesters Gather Outside of Hearing

A group of protesters were banging on the door outside of the House Education & the Workforce Committee's hearing, "Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism" Tuesday.

"Anti-Zionism is not antisemitism and that students that are anti-Zionist should be allowed to speak on campus and should not be banned," Medea Benjamin, a protester with CODEPINK told Newsweek's Alex Rouhandeh. "And that this hearing is just to talk about protecting pro-Israel students... what about pro-Palestine students?" Benjamin questioned.

"I'm Jewish. I don't want antisemitism, but I don't want anti-Zionism equated with antisemitism," Benjamin continued. "There's two different things. I don't like the policies of the State of Israel. I don't like the slaughter that's going on in Gaza. I think it's horrific. And I want students including my own daughters to be able to speak out on campus and to organize."

A pro-Palestinian protester outside of the hearing yelled "we'll primary you" to Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida.

The protesters have now dispersed as the panel continues to grill university presidents over rising antisemitism on campuses for a third hour.

Student Calls UPenn 'Chilling' Landscape of 'Hatred'

Eyal Yakoby, a UPenn student, slammed the college on Tuesday over issues relating to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and protests on campus.

"I should not be here today," Yakoby said during a press conference hosted by House Republicans. "I should be studying for my upcoming finals... I am because 36 hours ago, I, along with most of campus, sought refuge in our rooms as classmates and professors chanted proudly for the genocide of Jews."

On Monday, anti-Israel protests broke out on the UPenn campus and the Daily Pennsylvanian reported that graffiti saying "Intifada" and "Free Palestine" was seen on parts of the campus. The student newspaper also reported that protesters were heard chanting "From West Philly to Palestine, occupation is a crime," and "Free Palestine."

During his speech, Yakoby went on to criticize UPenn officials saying the college "is now a chilling landscape for hatred and hostility."

"Our university revered for its pursuit of knowledge has devolved into an arena where Jewish students tiptoe through their days, uncertain and unsafe," Yakoby said.

"It's time for the sole of our university to reclaim its integrity and it's time for me and my fellow classmates to stop worrying for our lives," he added.

Panel: Universities Fail to Condemn 'Despicable' Incidents

The House Education and the Workforce Committee's hearing has been ongoing for more than two hours.

Committee Republicans are continuing to question the presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT over what is being done to address the rise in antisemitic and hateful incidents on campus amid the Israel-Hamas war.

"Universities' failure to condemn these despicable incidents on campus only further legitimizes this behavior targeting Jewish students," the committee wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Rep. Burgess Owens slammed the three universities for failing to fulfill their "core responsibility" of keeping students and staff safe by "allowing antisemitic attacks to continue unabated."

Stefanik Blasts Harvard's President in Heated Questioning

The hearing began to heat up when Committee Member Elise Stefanik asked Harvard President Gay about what type of speech is protected at her college, mentioning a student who called for the "mass murder of African Americans."

As Gay began to respond to the question, Stefanik immediately interrupted saying "it's a yes or no question... is that ok for students to call for the mass murder of African Americans? Is that protected free speech?"

Stefanik then brought up several protests at Harvard where students are heard chanting "there is only one solution, intifada revolution."

Gay confirmed that she had heard these chants on campus, calling them "reckless" and "hateful."

As Stefanik continued, she asked Gay if this type of speech was allowed under Harvard's Code of Conduct, to which Gay answered, "it is at odds with the values at Harvard."

Stefanik also asked what actions would be taken by Gay and Harvard against anti-Jewish hate crimes.

"Harvard ranks the lowest when it comes to protecting Jewish students," Stefanik said. "This is why I've called for your resignation and your testimony today, not being able to answer with more clarity speaks volumes."

Stefanik previously called for Gay's resignation in October, following the statement issued by the student groups at Harvard.

Poll: Over Half of Jewish College Students Don't Feel Safe on Campus

More than half of Jewish college students in the U.S. do not feel safe on campus following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a recent survey released by Jewish advocacy groups shows.

The poll, conducted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Hillel International, found only 46% of Jewish students feel physically safe on campus since Oct. 7, compared to nearly 70% prior to the attacks.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of those polled have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. The survey was conducted among approximately 1,600 Jewish college students between Nov. 6-10.

Last week, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said university administrators need to "wake up" and protect Jewish students amid the surge in antisemitism on campuses.

Rep. Glenn Grothman also raised the question of diversity of professors on college campuses during Tuesday's hearing.

Harvard President Claudine Gay said her university's focus is to hire the "most academically talented" faculty who are effective in the classroom.

Wilson: Lack of Ideological Diversity is Antisemitism

During Tuesday's hearing, Rep. Joe Wilson asked each of the three college leaders if they were able to provide a percentage or number of conservative professors on their campuses.

Harvard President Claudine Gay, UPenn President Liz Magill, and MIT President Sally Kornbluth said they were unable to provide a specific number, but noted that they allow for a diverse array of viewpoints across their campuses.

Wilson said a lack of ideological diversity among professors results in antisemitism. The South Carolina Representative went on to state that Hamas' October 7 on Israel has shown that "many college campuses are sickeningly antisemitic."

Earlier, all three campus leaders were asked by Committee chair Rep. Virginia Foxx if they believe that Israel has a right to exist– to which all three agreed.

UPenn Determined to Balance Safety, Free Expression

UPenn President Liz Magill is determined to balance "safety and free expression" on her campus amid the recent rise in antisemitic and hateful incidents.

"We must get this right," Magill said before the committee. "The stakes are too high."

Magill condemned antisemitism in the "strongest possible" terms, saying recent world events have "dramatically accelerated" its presence in our society.

UPenn launched efforts in the beginning of November to bolster security and offer resources to students. Magill said hateful acts on campus are being investigated "immediately."

Harvard President: 'I Have Not Always Gotten It Right'

During a hearing before the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, Harvard President Claudine Gay explained how the ongoing war in Israel has impacted community members on her campus.

"This is difficult work and I know that I have not always gotten it right," Gay said.

During her testimony, Gay explained that over the past two months, there has been a "deeply and concerning rise in antisemitism, around the world, in the United States and on our campuses, including my own."

Gay added that members of Harvard's Muslim and Islamic community have also faced criticism in the weeks following the Hamas-Israel war.

In response, the school has increased security measures and reporting channels, as well as offering additional mental health services.

Shortly after the October 7 attack on Israel led by Hamas militants, the Harvard College Palestine Solidarity Committee released a letter which was signed by dozens of other student-run organizations, condemning Israel.

"We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible or all unfolding violence," the statement said.

A few days later, Gay issued her own statement responding to the letter where she said, "Let me also state, on this matter as on others, that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group — not even 30 student groups — speaks for Harvard University or its leadership."

"As the events of recent days continue to reverberate, let there be no doubt that I condemn the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas. Such inhumanity is abhorrent, whatever one's individual views of the origins of longstanding conflicts in the region," Gay said.

Foxx Calls Harvard 'Ground Zero' for Antisemitism

The House Committee on Education's hearing, "Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism" is now underway.

Committee chair Rep. Virginia Foxx began the hearing with a moment of silence for those taken hostage by Hamas. Foxx blasted Harvard– calling the university "ground zero" for antisemitism following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Foxx has condemned the recent antisemitic demonstrations on college campuses, saying college administrators have largely stood by and allowed "horrific rhetoric to fester and grow." She plans to ask the three college presidents appearing before the panel "when they're going to get a spine."

"I want to ask them when they're going to get a spine and do what it is they should be doing– which is condemning terrorism and doing what they can to protect their students," Foxx said in a Newsmax interview.

Students from Harvard, UPenn, MIT and NYU are among those in the audience.

Harvard, UPenn Under Federal Investigation

Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) are among several colleges under federal investigation for possible civil rights violations.

The U.S. Department of Education opened a probe into UPenn on Nov. 16 over alleged incidents of antisemitism or Islamophobia, according to the List of Open Title VI Shared Ancestry Investigations. An investigation was opened into possible discrimination at Harvard on Nov. 28.

Harvard University President Dr. Claudine Gay and UPenn President Liz Magill are both scheduled to testify before the committee today. Schools in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 can lose federal funding.

Other colleges, K-12 school districts, and institutions under federal investigation for possible discrimination involving shared ancestry include:

• University of Tampa
• Clark County School District– Las Vegas, NV
• Hillsborough County Schools– Tampa, FL
• New York City Department of Education
• Cornell University
• Columbia University
• Lafayette College
• Wellesley College
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
• Maize Unified School District– Maize, KS

College Presidents Appearing on the Witness Panel

There are four witnesses scheduled to appear at today's hearing; three lead U.S. universities that have come under fire for their handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations since the October 7 attack on Israel.

Claudine Gay, an American political scientist and Harvard University's first Black president, who became head of the Massachusetts institution in July this year, will be among those to appear.

As well as personally facing criticism from billionaire alumni Bill Ackman over the protests, some Harvard students have been the subject of backlash over claims Israel was "entirely responsible" for the attack by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, something that has lost some job offers.

"Antisemitism has no place at Harvard," Gay said in a November 9 statement. "While confronting any form of hatred is daunting, the challenges we face tackling antisemitism are made all the more so by its pernicious nature and deep historical roots. But we are committed to doing the hard work to address this scourge."

Liz Magill, a legal scholar and president of the University of Pennsylvania, who used to be the dean of Stanford Law School, is also set to be appearing.

Prior to the October 7 attack, the University of Pennsylvania was criticized for hosting a Palestinian literature festival including figures accused of antisemitism, while a major donor, Jon Huntsman, said following the attack that he was pulling his funding over its purported lack of condemnation of Hamas.

At the time, Magill said: "I stand, and Penn stands, emphatically against antisemitism. We have a moral responsibility—as an academic institution and a campus community—to combat antisemitism and to educate our community to recognize and reject hate."

The third witness is Dally Kornbluth, the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who assumed the role in January this year after a career as a cell biologist.

According to CBS News, MIT has suspended a number of students from extracurricular activities after protesters took over a building and refused to leave. Kornbluth has also launched the Standing Together Against Hate initiative to "use our problem-solving skills to address antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate."

Dr. Pamela Nadell, a professor of History and Jewish Studies at American University, is also scheduled to appear as a witness.

How to Watch Today's Hearing on Antisemitism on Campus

The House Education and Workforce Committee will livestream today's hearing, which begins at 10:15 a.m. ET. Watch live here or below:

Colleges Accused of Letting 'Horrific Rhetoric Fester and Grow'

Today's hearing, titled 'Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism' will be chaired by Republican Congresswoman Virginia Foxx. In a statement, she said:

"Over the past several weeks, we've seen countless examples of antisemitic demonstrations on college campuses. Meanwhile, college administrators have largely stood by, allowing horrific rhetoric to fester and grow. College and university presidents have a responsibility to foster and uphold a safe learning environment for their students and staff.

"Now is not a time for indecision or milquetoast statements. By holding this hearing, we are shining the spotlight on these campus leaders and demanding they take the appropriate action to stand strong against antisemitism."