Saratoga, N.Y. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik released the following statement on the Education and the Workforce Committee’s historic report regarding antisemitism on college campuses.
"After the historic Congressional hearing with failed university presidents last December heard and viewed around the world, I have led the fight to combat and condemn antisemitism on college campuses. I am grateful for Chairwoman Foxx's leadership in the sweeping investigation that has revealed details of the absolute failures of universities to hold antisemitic students and faculty accountable.
This report clearly shows the moral bankruptcy of university leaders to take decisive action and even confirms personal attacks against me for pursuing their accountability. Our once "elite" higher education institutions conceded to hostile, antisemitic agitators and failed to condemn and properly discipline students and faculty that were guilty of antisemitic conduct violations. These universities are in for a reckoning for decades to come that will shatter their ivory towers," said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
“For over a year, Republican Committee members have been united behind one goal: ensure Jewish students have the same safe and uninterrupted learning environment of any other student, and I am grateful to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for the role she has played in our investigation. The explosion of antisemitism on college campuses has exposed the moral rot at many of our so-called elite institutions, and the Committee has rightly demanded accountability from those who allowed it to grow. Now, it is time for the executive branch to step up, enforce the laws, and protect Jewish students from the abhorrent harassment and discrimination they’ve experienced for simply trying to receive an education,” said Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC).
The Committee’s investigation included: Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, Columbia University, Barnard College, Rutgers University, Northwestern University, George Washington University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of California, Los Angeles.
Key Findings of the Report:
- Universities showed negligence in responding to student encampments
- University leaders chose not to support Jewish students in the face of antisemitic hate
- Universities failed to impose discipline for antisemitic conduct
- University leaders expressed hostility to Congressional oversight
Stefanik has repeatedly advocated for the protection of Jewish students on campus and the need to hold higher education accountable for enabling antisemitism.
- In October 2023, 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 you became the first elected official to call for her resignation.
- In November 2023, The House passed with overwhelming bipartisan support a 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.
- In November 2023, Stefanik highlighted the abhorrent rise in antisemitism at Harvard and other American colleges and universities during a committee hearing.
- In December 2023, Stefanik hosted a press conference with Jewish students ahead of the Education and the Workforce hearing on antisemitism with University presidents.
- In December 2023, 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. This was the most watched congressional hearing in history with over 1 billion views.
- In December 2023, 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.
- In December 2023, 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.
- In December 2023, University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill resigned.
- In December 2023, Stefanik introduced and the House passed 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.
- In January 2024, Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned.
- In January 2024, the Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans requested documents and information regarding Harvard University’s response to antisemitism on its campus and its failure to protect Jewish students, faculty, and staff.
- In January 2024, Stefanik condemned Harvard’s appointment of Derek Penslar as co-chair of Harvard’s Antisemitism Task Force.
- In February 2024, Stefanik participated in a roundtable with students from Harvard University, UPenn, MIT, Columbia, UCLA Berkeley, Rutgers, Stanford, Tulane, and Cooper Union.
- In May 2024, Stefanik voted in favor of the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act to require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s working definition of antisemitism and its contemporary examples when enforcing anti-discrimination laws.
- In May 2024, Stefanik addressed the Israeli Knesset to discuss her work combating antisemitism in higher education and promoting support for Israel
- In May 2024, Stefanik blasted Harvard University for allowing a known antisemite, Maria Ressa, as their 2024 commencement speaker.
- In July 2024, Stefanik and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis introduced the University Accountability Act to impose penalties on education institutions who fail to protect the civil rights of their students after antisemitic incidents on campus increased
- In July 2024, Stefanik and Rep. Tim Walberg led a letter to Harvard University Interim President Alan Garber expressing serious concerns over the inadequacy of Harvard’s Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism’s Preliminary Recommendations.
- In August 2024, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik resigned.
- In September 2024, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway announced he would resign at the end of the school year.
- In September 2024, Stefanik published an opinion in the Washington Times demanding action from higher education ahead of Back to School
- In September 2024, Stefanik led a letter with Chairwoman Foxx to Harvard’s Alan Garber demanding Harvard stop obstructing Suffolk County investigation into Harvard Students physical assaults of Jewish students.
