Washington, D.C. - House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, a senior member of the Education and the Workforce Committee released the following statement:
“This Education and Workforce report demonstrates that Harvard University failed to provide a safe learning environment for Jewish students in direct violation of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “It is absolutely unacceptable that Harvard failed to enforce their own rules and take disciplinary action against the pro-Hamas antisemitic encampment that clearly violated University rules and policies. In this new academic year, Harvard must change course and institute a zero-tolerance policy with disciplinary action for any and all antisemitic attacks on campus.”
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 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 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 Gerber demanding Harvard stop obstructing Suffolk County investigation into Harvard Students physical assaults of Jewish students.
