Staff Reports
In a fiery exchange at a congressional hearing, Harvard University President Claudine Gay drew criticism for dodging questions about whether advocating for the genocide of Jewish people violated the school’s code of conduct. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), a proud Harvard alum, hammered Gay on the university’s stance during a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on the surge of antisemitism on college campuses.
Harvard president won't say whether calling for 'genocide of Jews' violates school rules https://t.co/Tyc72Id6E9 https://t.co/Tyc72Id6E9
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 5, 2023
Amidst a surge in antisemitic incidents, including backing for Hamas attacks on Israel, student groups like Students for Justice in Palestine have gained infamy for voicing support for terrorism and spewing hatred against Israel. The grilling by Stefanik, who has called for Gay’s resignation, exposed Harvard’s failure to address the alarming rise in antisemitic activity on its campus.
Stefanik’s pointed questions about the term “intifada” and its association with annihilating Israel and Jews put Gay in the hot seat. Gay’s unwillingness to firmly declare advocating for an “intifada” as a violation of Harvard’s code of conduct ruffled feathers, as she instead emphasized the institution’s commitment to freedom of expression, perpetuating the notion that hateful rhetoric targeting Jews is somehow protected speech.
The tension between Stefanik and Gay set the stage for a charged hearing that delved into the fear and intimidation experienced by Jewish students on college campuses. Lawmakers from both parties expressed grave concerns about the spike in antisemitism, with GOP members highlighting the environments at Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as breeding grounds for hate and intolerance toward Jewish students.
Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) didn’t hold back, attributing the prevalence of antisemitism and hate to the culture fostered by the university presidents. Foxx emphasized that the responsibility for combatting the rise in antisemitism falls squarely on their shoulders and zeroed in on the prevalence of ideological bias, noting that just a tiny fraction of Harvard’s faculty supported former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.
On the other side, Democratic lawmakers pointed fingers at House Republicans for proposing cuts to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, further stoking the fiery debate. While Democrats touted the Biden administration’s efforts to tackle antisemitism, they decried what they perceived as Republican efforts to fuel divisive culture wars that could breed discrimination on campus.
The showdown at the hearing laid bare the fraught battle against antisemitism on college campuses, with Harvard finding itself at the center of heated discussions about free speech, institutional culture, and responsibility in combating hate. As the dust settles, the question remains: Will Harvard and its president step up and take concrete action to protect their Jewish students?
