Main Facts
The House Committee on Education and Labor announced on Thursday the launch of an official investigation into Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Pennsylvania, stating that the committee will investigate “learning environments” and the disciplinary policies and procedures at the three universities.
The Investigation and Inquiry
The investigation comes two days after the university presidents testified at a tense congressional hearing regarding anti-Semitic protests on campus following Israel’s war with Hamas, with university officials facing criticism from members of Congress, university trustees, and major donors for their handling of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Reactions
Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina) stated in a Thursday press release that members of the committee “are deeply concerned” about the “leadership of the three university presidents and their failure to take steps to provide a safe learning environment for Jewish students in accordance with the law.”
Scope of the Investigation
The scope of the investigation is not yet clear, but Foxx stated that it will involve “large document requests,” and congressional members may subpoena the universities.
Institute’s Position
In a statement to Forbes, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said it “rejects anti-Semitism in all its forms and pledges not to allow it to poison our community,” emphasizing that the institute will cooperate with the congressional committee in the investigation.
Responses from University Presidents
Harvard University President Claudine Gay and University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill did not respond to a request from Forbes for comment.
Background
Tensions on college campuses nationwide have reached a boiling point in recent weeks due to student-led protests sharply criticizing Israel, while university officials have faced backlash from some trustees, donors, and members of Congress who claim that those universities are acting leniently in the face of increasing anti-Israel rhetoric. Among these critics is hedge fund executive Bill Ackman, who earlier this week called for Gay to address the “explosion of anti-Semitism” on campus. On Wednesday, Ackman urged Gay, Magill, and MIT President Sally Kornbluth to resign “in disgrace,” citing the responses of the three university presidents to a question from Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) during their testimonies about whether calls for genocide against the Jewish people violate the behavior and harassment policies of the three universities. In her testimony, Gay stated that such speech could violate university policies “depending on the context” if it were “targeted at a specific individual.”
Important Quote
Foxx stated in her release: “Targeting and harassing Jewish students is not limited to these institutions, and other universities should also expect investigations, as the sequelae of their similar failures has not gone unnoticed.”
Main Criticism
Stefanik, who also serves on the committee, stated in a Thursday release that the committee will use “its full congressional authority to hold these universities accountable for their failures on a global scale,” considering the testimonies of the university presidents as “pathetic and morally bankrupt.”
Further Reading
Harvard President Admits Spike in Campus Anti-Semitism at House Hearing
Harvard Faces Federal Investigation, Joining These Other Universities – Here’s What Led To It
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