Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik released the following statement on the Education and the Workforce Committee’s letter to Harvard Corporation Senior Fellow Penny Pritzker and Interim President Dr. Alan Garber requesting documents and information regarding Harvard University’s response to antisemitism on its campus and its failure to protect Jewish students, faculty, and staff.
“My colleagues and I on the House Education and the Workforce Committee under the leadership of Chairwoman Virginia Foxx are conducting an extensive oversight investigation into Harvard and its governance body, the Harvard Corporation, which backed the failed leadership of former President Gay and has done nothing to combat the dangerous antisemitism on campus,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “The Committee’s ongoing investigation will use every tool available to expose the root of antisemitism plaguing our nation’s colleges and universities.”
- 10/13/23 Stefanik led a letter from Harvard alumni demanding that President Claudine Gay condemn the over 30 student organizations that blamed Israel for Hamas's barbaric terrorist attack. That same day Gay doubled down, and Stefanik became the first elected official to call for her resignation.
- 11/2/23 The House passed with overwhelming bipartisan support Stefanik’s resolution condemning the glorification of violence and antisemitic rhetoric on America’s college campuses and called for college campus administrators to ensure the safety of Jewish faculty, students, and staff.
- 11/14/23 Stefanik highlighted the abhorrent rise in antisemitism at Harvard and other American colleges and universities during a committee hearing.
- 11/30/23 Stefanik co-led legislation to reauthorize the bipartisan Never Again Education Act which provides teachers across the country with resources and training needed to teach our children about the important lessons of the Holocaust.
- 12/5/23 Stefanik questioned the presidents of Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Pennsylvania regarding their failure to condemn antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric on campus, as well as their refusal to say whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” is bullying and harassment according to their codes of conduct. Following the university presidents’ testimonies, Stefanik demanded the immediate resignation of all three presidents.
- 12/7/23 The House announced an investigation into the University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University after their presidents were unable to condemn antisemitism on their campuses.
- 12/8/23 Stefanik led a bipartisan letter to the board members of Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Pennsylvania demanding the immediate dismissal of the three campus presidents and that they provide an action plan to ensure the protection of Jewish and Israeli students, faculty and community.
- 12/9/23 University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill resigned.
- 12/12/23 Stefanik introduced a resolution condemning the testimony of the three presidents as well as calling for the immediate resignation of the remaining presidents at Harvard and MIT.
- 12/13/23 The House overwhelmingly passed Stefanik’s resolution condemning the testimony of the three presidents as well as calling for the immediate resignation of the remaining presidents at Harvard and MIT.
- 1/2/24 Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned.
