Nearly 75 members of Congress signed a letter to the governing boards of Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Pennsylvania, demanding the immediate removal of the university presidents amid increasing calls for the resignation of the three university leaders due to their response to the rise in antisemitism on campus.
Key Facts
The letter was signed by Representative Elise Stefanik (R-New York) and Representative Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida), with 72 Republicans signing on, including Representatives Steve Scalise (Louisiana), Chip Roy (Texas), Kevin Hern (Oklahoma), and Pete Sessions (Texas), along with two Democrats: Moskowitz and Representative Josh Gottheimer (New Jersey).
Criticism of University Presidents
Harvard President Claudine Gay, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, and MIT President Sally Kornbluth are facing sharp criticism from members of Congress on both sides and university donors for their responses to student protests in support of Palestinians on campus and rhetoric that critics deem antisemitic.
Controversial Hearing
Gay, Magill, and Kornbluth also faced criticism during a controversial hearing before the Republican-controlled House Education and Workforce Committee this week, over their responses to a question from Stefanik about whether calls for the genocide of the Jewish people would constitute a violation of school policies regarding harassment and bullying.
In her testimony, Gay said that a violation of this speech depends on the context if the speech is “targeted at a specific person,” while Magill stated that such speech could constitute a violation of policy if it escalates to “behavior,” and Kornbluth noted that such speech would be “investigated as harassment if it is pervasive and severe.”
Demands for an Actionable Plan
In addition to demanding the “immediate” removal of these presidents, House members also called on universities on Friday to provide an “actionable plan to ensure the safety of Jewish and Israeli students, staff, and faculty” on campus, arguing that “anything less than these steps will be considered an endorsement of what” the three presidents told House members in their testimonies and “an act of complicity in their antisemitic stance.”
The signatories emphasized that “the failure of the three presidents to condemn the systematic calls for the killing of Jews is deeply concerning” and “is contrary to the principles we expect high-ranking academic leaders to uphold.”
Reactions from Presidents Gay and Magill
On Friday morning, Gay told the “Harvard Crimson” that she was “engaged” in a “sharp exchange regarding policies and procedures,” asserting that “calls for violence against our Jewish community” have “no place at Harvard and will not go unchallenged.” A spokesperson for Harvard told “Forbes” on Thursday that the university’s efforts to combat antisemitism in our community are being pursued with the utmost commitment and concern from university leaders.
In a video on Thursday, Magill stated that calls for the genocide of the Jewish people are an example of “harassment” and “intimidation,” describing those arguments as “evil, plain, and simple.”
House Committee Investigation
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce launched an investigation into Harvard, Penn, and MIT on Thursday to review the “learning environments” at those universities, as well as their policies and disciplinary procedures. In a tweet, Stefanik stated that if “Gay fails to ensure the safety of Jewish students at Harvard,” the committee “will do so.”
Looking Ahead
Harvard’s president apologized on Friday morning to the “Harvard Crimson,” saying she was “engaged” in a “sharp exchange regarding policies and procedures,” asserting that “calls for violence against our Jewish community” have “no place at Harvard and will not go unchallenged.” A spokesperson for Harvard told “Forbes” on Thursday that the university’s efforts to combat antisemitism in our community are being pursued with the utmost commitment and concern from university leaders.
In
In a video on Thursday, Magil stated that calls for the extermination of the Jewish people are an example of “harassment” and “intimidation,” describing those arguments as “evil, simplistic, and clear.”
An investigation was launched by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce into Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Thursday to review the “learning environments” at those universities, as well as their policies and disciplinary procedures. In a post on Twitter, Stefanik said that if “Guy fails to ensure the safety of Jewish students at Harvard,” then the committee “will do so.”
Further Reading
Harvard University President is set to apologize to the “Harvard Crimson” on Friday morning, saying she was “involved” in a “sharp exchange over policies and procedures,” affirming that “calls for violence against our Jewish community” have “no place at Harvard and will not go unchallenged.” A Harvard spokesperson told “Forbes” on Thursday that the university’s efforts to combat anti-Semitism in our community are advancing with the utmost commitment and concern from university leaders.
In a video on Thursday, Magil stated that calls for the extermination of the Jewish people are an example of “harassment” and “intimidation,” describing those arguments as “evil, simplistic, and clear.”
An investigation was launched by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce into Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Thursday to review the “learning environments” at those universities, as well as their policies and disciplinary procedures. In a post on Twitter, Stefanik said that if “Guy fails to ensure the safety of Jewish students at Harvard,” then the committee “will do so.”
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