For a sixth time in six months, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing regarding the rise of antisemitism on college campuses. This latest hearing occurred just weeks after thousands of students and pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police and counterprotesters at college campuses across the country, including Rutgers, Harvard, Columbia and the University of California, Los Angeles.
The disruptions led some universities to change venues for their graduation ceremonies or cancel them altogether.
During the hearing, representatives questioned the leaders of Northwestern, Rutgers and UCLA on Capitol Hill.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., addressed Northwestern University President Michael Schill, asking about the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) report card. She pointed out that Northwestern was the only university whose grade was downgraded and inquired about the “F” grade for failing to combat antisemitism. Schill expressed his respect for the ADL and acknowledged the downgrade.
In another exchange, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., asked UCLA Chancellor Dr. Gene Block about the consequences for racists calling for genocide. Block mentioned student disciplinary processes, but Chavez-DeRemer emphasized that anything less than a suspension would be insufficient.
Hundreds of investigations are pending at several colleges to determine whether students or staff will face disciplinary action for their roles in campus clashes involving Jewish or Muslim students.
On April 30, police arrested over 200 protesters on UCLA’s campus after violence erupted between protesters and counterprotesters. Law enforcement delayed its response for nearly three hours, but eventually, officers from the LAPD and campus police stepped in to stop the violence and removed pro-Palestinian barricades and encampments.
Critics raised concerns about how the university handled the chaotic situation. In response, UCLA established a new Office of Campus Safety to oversee the campus police department. The university also reassigned Campus Police Chief John Thomas temporarily for an investigation into campus security protocol.
Several colleges are facing lawsuits related to students’ civil rights. In the lawsuits, students claimed that administrators failed to keep them safe during anti-Israel protests.
Committee Chair Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., emphasized that this hearing is just the beginning of Congress probing college administrators over antisemitism on college campuses. She warned university presidents that they would be held accountable for their records and that Congress would not tolerate violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, failure to protect Jewish students or deals advancing divestment, terrorism, radicalism and antisemitic ideologies.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students walked out of Harvard’s commencement ceremony Thursday, May 23, chanting “Free, Free Palestine.” The university barred 13 students from receiving their diplomas due to their participation in pro-Palestinian encampments on campus.
