Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced a resolution condemning the testimony of presidents from Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Pennsylvania as well as calling from the immediate resignation of the remaining presidents at Harvard and MIT.
“This is not a partisan issue but a question of moral clarity which is why our colleagues from across the aisle have come together with us to introduce a resolution condemning antisemitism on university campuses as well as the morally bankrupt testimonies of the University Presidents from Harvard, Penn, and MIT during last week’s House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “We are only just beginning to address the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has infected America’s higher education system and we will not stop until it is rooted out and those responsible for fostering its growth are held accountable. Antisemitism has no place in America.”
“These are Ivy League university presidents that were asked a softball question: ‘Does calling for the genocide of Jews count as harassment under their school’s policies?’ That’s not a trick question, and it’s infuriating that these leaders of young people would try to equivocate with some nonsense about ‘it depends on the context.’ Sub out Jews for any other persecuted minority group and they would never have given that answer. They failed the test, and just like their students there are no makeups,” said Congressman Jared Moskowitz.
“When Chair Stefanik asked the presidents of MIT, Harvard, and University of Pennsylvania if calling for the genocide of Jews constituted harassment and violated their codes of conduct, we should have heard a simple and resounding ‘yes.’ This was not a hard question – in fact, it was probably the easiest question they could have answered. The abject failure of these presidents to defend even the most basic of human rights – the right to exist – against hypocritical wokeism exposed the moral bankruptcy at these elite universities to the world,” said Majority Leader Steve Scalise. “We must, as a nation, stand united with the Jewish people and Jewish students who no longer feel safe in the United States or on our campuses against the hateful antisemitism they are facing today. We must stand up for what is right. I applaud Chair Stefanik for introducing this resolution condemning the despicable testimony of those three university presidents and am proud to join her in denouncing the antisemitism running rampant on college campuses.”
“Students are scared to be Jewish on campus and these presidents’ answers before Congress reinforced their failures of leadership over the last few months. I will always defend the right to free speech, even when what’s being said is incredibly offensive. But, I won’t sit back when words and actions violate the law, instill fear, and put students in danger. There is a right to freedom of speech, but there is also a freedom of fear when at school. As a dad, I don’t ever want any student — regardless of background — to feel scared to be who they are at school,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer.
Last week, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik sent a bipartisan letter to the board members of Harvard, MIT and Penn demanding the immediate dismissal of the three campus presidents and to be provided with an action plan to ensure the protection of Jewish and Israeli students, faculty and community.