Washington, D.C. - In case you missed it, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a Harvard alumni, had multiple rounds of questions for the Presidents of Harvard, MIT, and UPenn, for their failure to condemn antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric on campus.
Following her first round of questions, Congresswoman Stefanik continued to question Harvard University’s President Claudine Gay about Harvard receiving funds from foreign entities and governments and their failure to discipline students who espouse antisemitic views. In a final line of questioning, the three Presidents refused to say whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” is bullying and harassment according to their codes of conduct. Even going so far to say it needs to turn to “action” first.
Her additional lines of questioning are available below.
Watch her second line of questioning here.
Watch her third line of questioning here.
Watch her fourth line of questioning here.
Watch her fifth line of questioning here.
Read a full transcript of her line of questioning below:
During the House Committee on Education and the Workforce Hearing, Congresswoman Stefanik questioned Harvard President Claudine Gay on Harvard’s refusal to stop the rise of antisemitism on their campuses, Harvard receiving funds from foreign governments and entities, and President Gay’s failure to discipline perpetrators of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel harassment.
Congresswoman Stefanik: Harvard receives funding from foreign entities and governments which support its Middle East Studies Department. Correct?
President Gay: We receive funding from a variety of sources because we have alumni from all over the world.
Congresswoman Stefanik: But that is correct, right? The Middle Eastern Studies department.
President Gay: We receive funding from various sources.
Congresswoman Stefanik: It’s a yes or no. Are you not aware where the Middle Eastern Studies Department receives funding?
President Gay: We receive funding from various sources.
Congresswoman Stefanik: I am asking you a yes or no question. You are under oath in front of the United States Congress. You are giving lip service provided your attorneys. It's a yes or no question. Harvard receives funding from foreign entities and governments which support its Middle Eastern Studies Department. Correct?
President Gay: We have alumni all over the world, and we benefit from their philanthropy.
Congresswoman Stefanik: So the answer’s correct, yes, yes, the answer is correct?
President Gay: We receive support from alumni all over the world, from individuals.
Congresswoman Stefanik: And what amount of support is that reported to the federal government?
President Gay: I'd have to actually look at our filings.
Congresswoman Stefanik: You don’t know? As the President of the University, you don't know?
President Gay: Not that particular number.
Congresswoman Stefanik: It's 1.5 billion dollars over the past three years. Are you aware of that?
President Gay: I don't know if that is the correct number, but that's the number you've shared.
…
President Gay: That is not data that we collect as part of the admissions process. So I can't speak to those numbers or to the trajectory.
Congresswoman Stefanik: So what is the percentage of students who are Jewish at Harvard in undergraduate now
President Gay: We do not collect religious affiliation as part of the admissions process.
Congresswoman Stefanik: Do you not rely on data collected by Harvard Hillel, which you visited for the first time after October 7? I'll just be honest with you. When I was a freshman, I enjoyed going to Harvard Hillel and had the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat dinners with my fellow undergrads. The fact that it took you until after October 7 to go to Harvard Hillel is unacceptable. Yield back
….
Congresswoman Stefanik: Dr. Gay did anyone contact you about flying the Israeli flag over Harvard Yard?
President Gay: Yes.
Congresswoman Stefanik: And the decision was made not to allow the flag to be flown over Harvard Yard.
President Gay: It's been standard protocol at the university for years to only fly the American flag unless we have a visiting dignitary.
Congresswoman Stefanik: So the decision was made to allow the Ukraine flag to be flown over Harvard Yard.
President Gay: That was a decision that was made by my predecessor, as an exception to a long standing rule.
Congresswoman Stefanik: So it was an exception. So you made an exception for the Ukrainian flag, but not the, the university made an exception for the Ukrainian flag, but not the Israeli flag.
President Gay: That was a choice made by my predecessor.
Congresswoman Stefanik: Are you aware that there are stickers that are placed on Harvard University dining services food calling for Israeli apartheid? It says Warning. “Sabra funds, Israeli apartheid and the murder of Palestinians.” Is that acceptable?
President Gay: I can assure you that we have strong disciplinary processes when there are violations of our rules.
Congresswoman Stefanik: And this is a violation of the rules.
President Gay: I can't see that very clearly but.
Congresswoman Stefanik: Are you not aware of the stickers being placed on the food items provided to Harvard students?
President Gay: I do recall an episode like that.
President Gay: Given students privacy and FERPA which I'm sure you know, well. I will not say more about these particular cases other than to say that disciplinary processes are underway.
….
Congresswoman Stefanik: Dr. Gay, does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard's rules on bullying and harassment?
President Gay: The rules around bullying and harassment are quite specific. And if the context in which that language is used amounts to bullying and harassment then we take, we take action against it.
Congresswoman Stefanik: Can you say yes to that question of: does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard's rules on bullying and harassment?
President Gay: Calling for the genocide of Jews is antisemitic.
Congresswoman Stefanik: So yes?
President Gay: And that is antisemitic speech, and as I’ve said.
Congresswoman Stefanik: And it’s a yes?
President Gay: When speech crosses into conduct, we take action.
Congresswoman Stefanik: So is that a yes? Is that a yes? The witness hasn't answered, Madam Chair. Is that a yes? You cannot answer the question.
President Gay: When speech crosses into conduct, we take action.
