Washington, D.C., - In case you missed it, House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik exposed CUNY Chancellor Dr. Félix Rodríguez for failing to hold faculty members accountable for the alarming rise of antisemitism on campus.
Read a full transcript of her line of questioning below:
Chairwoman Stefanik: I want to begin by discussing the heinous scourge of antisemitism on your watch as Chancellor at CUNY. You are aware at Baruch [College], Jewish freshmen were welcomed with heinous antisemitic taunts about the hostages killed by Hamas. "Where's Hersh? You ugly [expletive], [expletive], go bring them home." "You ain't going home tonight. Go back to Brooklyn. All Zionists are terrorists." Are you aware of those antisemitic harassment slurs?
CUNY Chancellor Dr. Félix Rodríguez: Those are deplorable statements, and if they were associated with the event of a Baruch investigation was done and was...
Stefanik: And were students disciplined in both of those cases? At Hunter, Jewish students were forced to enter the main university building under a swastika for hours. Is that correct?
Rodríguez: My understanding of that the swastika traced outside, and we have a custom of erasing also deplorable symbols. In that particular case, there was a delay because they had to be referred to the NYPD for the anti-hate investigation.
Stefanik: Let me remind you of this particular case, because that's not according to your own staff. In fact, the Hunter College director of Jewish Studies emailed university leadership requesting that the swastika be taken down, and instead, this was the response for everyone to see: "Apologies. But it is not that simple." Is that the position of CUNY?
Rodríguez: Totally unacceptable.
Stefanik: Was this administrator disciplined, who emailed?
Rodríguez: In that particular case, we were working with it.
Stefanik: No. Was this administrator disciplined for sending this response?
Rodríguez: We, we, we any case that we have will investigate and the appropriate action will be taken.
Stefanik: What was the appropriate action taken against this administrator in this case?
Rodríguez: We're working with the New York City Police Department.
Stefanik: Has disciplinary action been taken by CUNY? Is that correct?
Rodríguez: We will investigate any action...
Stefanik: So an investigation but no actual action like so many of these failed university presidents. But it's not just this case. You've talked about how you've focused on this since 2019. Well, let me remind you, in 2021, you hired Abd Alla as CUNY's chief diversity officer, and this role includes overseeing antisemitism complaints and initiatives. Were you aware at that time that this senior administrator that you hired was previously employed by CAIR, American Islamic Relations?
Rodríguez: So, she was hired to be the chief diversity officer at the central office with no responsibility over cases that have to deal with students or faculty.
Stefanik: But yet, you were aware that she was previously employed by CAIR?
Rodríguez: I was not directly responsible for that.
Stefanik: Even though she was the senior chief diversity officer?
Rodríguez: I was not directly responsible for that hire.
Stefanik: So, is it okay from your perspective? Obviously, it is to have a former employee of CAIR. Let me remind you, CAIR was a co-conspirator in the terrorist financing case and has ties to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Is she currently still employed by CUNY?
Rodríguez: She is.
Stefanik: There you go. So, no action, just words here today. Even further - and by the way, her salary is paid for by the New York taxpayers, correct?
Rodríguez: We have the expectations of total professionalism and compliance with all the rules and policies of CUNY. Any employee that breaks our policies or rules will be investigated.
Stefanik: It obviously doesn't break CUNY rules to have a senior employee who was previously employed by a terrorist affiliated organization. That is unacceptable to New York taxpayers. It is unacceptable to American taxpayers. But it's not just that. Are you familiar with CUNY CLEAR? This is the clinical arm of CUNY School of Law.
Rodríguez: CUNY CLEAR. I'm not familiar with them.
Stefanik: Well, I will remind you that CUNY CLEAR founder and professor is the head of Mahmoud Khalil's Legal Defense Fund. Are you aware of that?
Rodríguez: No.
Stefanik: Does it concern you that New York taxpayers are paying the salary for the Legal Defense Fund of Mahmoud Khalil, and I'll remind you who Mahmoud Khalil is: This is the chief pro-Hamas agitator that led to the antisemitic encampments at Columbia, the rioting and violent takeover of Hamilton Hall, the harassment and physical assault of Jewish students.
Rodríguez: And we do not condone any kind of antisemitism.
Stefanik: You allow the head of the clinical legal organization and a professor to be the chief legal aid to Mahmoud Khalil and do his legal defense fund?
Rodríguez: Those decisions are made in the clinics and are made in the individual campuses.
Stefanik: It goes up to you. You are the Chancellor.
Rodríguez: Those decisions are made...
Stefanik: You take no responsibility?
Rodríguez: I take responsibility for any behavior of our faculty...
Stefanik: So, is this acceptable? Is this acceptable?
Rodríguez: Any behavior that is antisemitic...
Stefanik: Is it acceptable that the legal defense fund for Mahmoud Khalil is the head of CUNY CLEAR. That's acceptable under your watch?
Rodríguez: We have no tolerance for antisemitism on our campuses...
Stefanik: So, will this person be fired?
Rodríguez: Anybody that breaks our rules and our policies, there'll be an investigation. We will investigate, and if there's any disciplinary action that could be taken, we will take it.
Stefanik: Let me make a prediction: No disciplinary action. This individual is not going to be fired because it's all words, no action. You have failed the people of New York. You have failed Jewish students in New York State, and it is a disgrace.
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