In a significant move, the House has passed a bipartisan resolution criticizing the recent congressional testimony of three prominent university presidents regarding the handling of a troubling increase in antisemitism on their campuses.
Bipartisan Support for Resolution
Introduced by Rep. Elise Stefanik, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Democratic representatives Jared Moskowitz and Josh Gottheimer, the resolution passed with a 303-126 vote. Notably, some Jewish Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, opposed the resolution, labeling it a political maneuver.
Fallout from Congressional Testimony
The resolution follows Rep. Stefanik’s questioning of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT presidents on December 5. The questioning prompted the resignation of Penn’s president, Liz Magill, with J. Larry Jameson named interim president. However, Harvard’s Claudine Gay and MIT’s Sally Kornbluth retained their positions with alumni and trustee support.
Controversial Questioning and Investigation
During the testimony, Stefanik asked whether endorsing the genocide of Jews would violate university policies. The cautious responses led to scrutiny, triggering a formal investigation by the GOP-led education committee into how the universities handled antisemitism since the Israel-Hamas conflict in October.
Calls for Resignations
Over 70 lawmakers, across party lines, signed a letter urging the presidents to step aside, citing Magill’s resignation as precedent. The resolution suggests that the remaining presidents should follow suit.
House Education Committee’s Response
Rep. Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the House education committee, announced a new resource for reporting antisemitic harassment. This initiative aims to address concerns raised during the congressional hearing.
Criticism from Campus Editorial Board
The Harvard Crimson’s student-led editorial board criticized the hearing, viewing it as political interference disguised as a response to antisemitism. They argued that the focus on student safety was overshadowed by opportunistic attacks on higher education.
Magill’s Resignation and Critique
Magill’s resignation from Penn, coupled with criticism from Scott Bok, chair of Penn’s board of trustees, highlighted the challenging environment of the hearing. Bok stated that Magill, under external pressure, provided a legalistic response to a moral question, leading to a negative portrayal.
Addressing Antisemitic Harassment
In response to concerns, Rep. Foxx announced a platform for reporting antisemitic harassment on campuses, providing students and faculty with a resource to voice their experiences.
The developments underscore the complex intersection of political scrutiny, academic freedom, and efforts to combat antisemitism on university campuses.