2023 United States Congress hearing on antisemitism explained

On December 5, 2023, the United States House Committee on Education & the Workforce held a hearing on antisemitism on college campuses. The committee called a few university leaders to testify, including the presidents of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[1]

In the widely televised hearing, the presidents answered questions about their schools' policies, including those on antisemitism.[2] [3] After the hearing, the committee called for the resignation of the presidents, and announced a Congressional investigation "with the full force of subpoena power" into the same issues.[4]

The following week, Liz Magill, president of Penn, submitted her resignation, partly in response to backlash resulting from the hearing.[5] [6] In January, Harvard president Claudine Gay resigned as well, following the hearing on antisemitism and allegations of plagiarism.

Background

Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, there were multiple anti-Israel protests at university campuses in the United States, which supporters of Israel allege to have had antisemitic undertones.[7] Many universities were criticized for supposedly failing to adequately condemn the Hamas attacks and ensuing alleged antisemitic rhetoric, including Penn and Harvard.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] This became a conservative talking point, described by some commentators as adding to more general right-wing attacks on higher education.[13] [14]

Hearing

The Committee invited the presidents of four major universities to testify about antisemitism on their campuses.[15] Those able to attend included Magill of the University of Pennsylvania, Claudine Gay of Harvard, and Sally Kornbluth of MIT.[6] It was later reported that at least one other university president, Minouche Shafik of Columbia University, was invited to testify before the committee, but declined due to a "scheduling conflict."[16] [17] The presidents were joined by Pamela Nadell, professor of History at American University.[18]

Committee chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) led the hearing on December 5, and noted that the rise of antisemitism on college campuses is disturbing and threatening to Jewish students, faculty, and staff.[19] The presidents were each asked whether "calling for the genocide of Jews" violated their rules of bullying and harassment.[2] During the hearing when Kornbluth, who is Jewish, said she had not heard any calls for genocide, Rep. Elise Stefanik claimed that chants of "Intifada" (Arabic) may be considered a "call for the genocide" of Jewish people.[20] Each president replied that the answer at their institution depended on context.[21] [22]

In a specific exchange, Stefanik asked Harvard president Gay: "At Harvard, does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard's rules of bullying and harassment, yes or no?", Gay answered, "It can be, depending on the context."[21] [3]

Reactions and further developments

Immediately after the hearing, Stefanik and other members of the committee called for the three presidents to resign, later publishing a written letter calling for their resignation signed by 70 members of Congress. The following day, the committee announced a Congressional investigation "with the full force of subpoena power" into the same issues.

The responses of all three presidents drew public criticism for being evasive. Gay released a statement noting that some "have confused a right to free expression with the idea that Harvard will condone calls for violence against Jewish students."[23] White House spokesman Andrew Bates said, "Calls for genocide are monstrous and antithetical to everything we represent as a country." Josh Shapiro, the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, said he found the responses by Magill "unacceptable." Will Creeley, legal director at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, noted that though the university presidents' answers were "legally correct", it was frustrating "to see them discover free speech scruples while under fire at a congressional hearing," rather than in a more principled way.

Magill, who had already been under pressure in October over the university's initial response, resigned as president of Penn four days after the hearing.[24] A few days later, a series of allegations of plagiarism were levied against Gay by conservative activist Christopher Rufo and journalist Aaron Sibarium, followed the next week by an announcement by the Committee that it would open an additional probe into the allegations.[25] Gay resigned as president of Harvard on January 2, 2024.[26] [27] Both resignations were widely reported as political victories for the right.[28] [29] After Gay's resignation, Stefanik declared this was "just the beginning of the reckoning", and that "Republicans will carry out a 'long overdue' cleansing of higher education".[30] [31]

In popular culture

The hearing was portrayed in the cold open of the December9 episode of Saturday Night Live Season 49, in which Chloe Troast played Stefanik.[32] It was also satirized in an episode of the Israeli comedy show Eretz Nehederet, with a guest appearance from American comedian Michael Rapaport.[33]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: How the presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT testified to Congress on antisemitism. Associated Press. Annie. Ma. December 12, 2023. December 15, 2023. December 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231215110441/https://apnews.com/article/harvard-penn-mit-president-congress-intifada-193a1c81e9ebcc15c5dd68b71b4c6b71. live.
  2. Web site: 2023-12-06. College Presidents Under Fire After Dodging Questions About Antisemitism. 2023-12-07. The New York Times. Stephanie. Saul. Anemona. Hartocollis. en-US. December 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231208061344/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/us/harvard-mit-penn-presidents-antisemitism.html. live.
  3. Web site: 2023-12-06. Harvard's president answers backlash over response to calls for 'genocide of Jews'. 2023-12-07. ABC News. Sarah Beth. Hensley. en-US. December 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231207015000/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/harvards-president-answers-backlash-response-calls-genocide-jews/story?id=105433835. live.
  4. Web site: 2023-12-07 . House panel opening investigation into Harvard, MIT and UPenn after antisemitism hearing. CBS News . 2024-01-03 . Kathryn. Watson . en-US . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103195427/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-panel-antisemitism-investigation-harvard-mit-upenn/ . live .
  5. News: Penn President Resigns Over Disastrous Anti-Semitism Hearing. December 10, 2023. Mother Jones. Russ. Choma. December 15, 2023. December 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231217002845/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/12/penn-president-liz-magill-resigns-anti-semitism-hearing-elise-stefanik-harvard-mit/. live.
  6. News: Liz Magill, UPenn president, resigns after antisemitism testimony draws backlash. Associated Press. Marc. Levy. December 9, 2023. December 15, 2023. December 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231216080802/https://apnews.com/article/new-york-governor-antisemitism-colleges-israel-gaza-ae1294d644b3305cc51e8d9bb7252766. live.
  7. News: Hartocollis . Anemona . Saul . Stephanie . Patel . Vimal . 2023-10-10 . At Harvard, a Battle Over What Should Be Said About the Hamas Attacks . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-10-13 . 0362-4331 . October 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013013842/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/us/harvard-israel-gaza-hamas-reaction.html . live .
  8. News: Letter from Harvard group holding Israel 'responsible' for war with Hamas sparks backlash. Independent. Josh. Marcus. October 10, 2023. 17 October 2023. December 8, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231208090556/https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/harvard-letter-war-israel-hamas-b2427497.html. live.
  9. News: Harvard student groups issued an anti-Israel statement. CEOs want them blacklisted. CNN. Matt. Egan. 17 October 2023. December 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231220023428/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/11/business/harvard-israel-hamas-ceos-students/index.html. live.
  10. Web site: 2023-10-10 . Growing backlash over Harvard students' pro-Palestine letter . 2023-12-07 . BBC News. Madeline. Halpert . en-US . October 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231011060600/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67067565 . live .
  11. News: Donors are latest to punish Harvard over response to students' Israel critique. The Washington Post. Kelsey. Ables. October 17, 2023. 17 October 2023. October 21, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231021165229/https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/10/17/harvard-israel-gaza-hamas-wexner/. live.
  12. Web site: Douglas . Belkin . Lindsay . Ellis . 2023-10-11 . Blaming Israel for Hamas Attacks Sparks Backlash Across U.S., Exposing Deep Rifts . 2023-10-13 . The Wall Street Journal . en-US . October 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013013849/https://www.wsj.com/us-news/israel-hamas-attack-us-backlash-ff5f25e8 . live .
  13. News: Kazanjian . David . Steinlight . Emily . Committee . AAUP-Penn Executive . 2023-12-19 . We Must Protect Higher Ed . en-US . 2024-01-03 . 0027-8378 . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103195427/https://www.thenation.com/article/society/higher-education-gop-penn-freedom-teach/ . live .
  14. News: Jews Shouldn't Celebrate the Resignation of Harvard University's President . en . Haaretz . 2024-01-03 . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103141315/https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2024-01-03/ty-article-opinion/.premium/jews-shouldnt-celebrate-the-resignation-of-harvard-universitys-president/0000018c-ceb8-d266-a9bf-efbaa3330000 . live .
  15. News: Karni . Annie . 2023-12-12 . To Testify or Not to Testify in Congress? Your Job Could Hang in the Balance. . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-12-19 . 0362-4331 . December 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231219010417/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/us/politics/congress-testimony-harvard-penn.html . live .
  16. Web site: Bernstein . Noah . Shafik declined to testify before Congress, citing a scheduling conflict. But Columbia remains under national scrutiny. . 2023-12-25 . Columbia Daily Spectator . December 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231226223021/https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2023/12/24/shafik-declined-to-testify-before-congress-citing-a-scheduling-conflict-but-columbia-remains-under-national-scrutiny/ . live .
  17. News: Karni . Annie . 2023-12-12 . To Testify or Not to Testify in Congress? Your Job Could Hang in the Balance. . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-12-25 . 0362-4331 . December 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231219010417/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/us/politics/congress-testimony-harvard-penn.html . live .
  18. Web site: Hicks . Maggie . 2023-12-03 . In 5-Hour Hearing, Republican Lawmakers Chastise College Leaders for Campus Antisemitism . The Chronicle of Higher Education . January 2, 2024 . December 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231223000635/https://www.chronicle.com/article/in-5-hour-hearing-republican-lawmakers-chastise-college-leaders-for-campus-antisemitism . live .
  19. News: December 9, 2023. Virginia Foxx on House Investigation of Elite Schools over Rampant Antisemitism. House Committee on Education & the Workforce. December 15, 2023. December 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231215193018/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcczLSlUDAM. live.
  20. News: Haslett . Cheyenne . Hensley . Sarah Beth . December 5, 2023 . Presidents of universities grilled on efforts to counter antisemitism on campus . . December 7, 2023 . December 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231207034149/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ivy-league-presidents-testify-capitol-hill-countering-antisemitism/story?id=105387761 . live .
  21. Web site: University presidents' responses to genocide question at congressional hearing draw furor. The Boston Globe. Mike. Damiano. Hilary. Burns. December 6, 2023. December 8, 2023. December 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231207204810/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/12/06/metro/harvard-president-statement/. live.
  22. Web site: Jackson . Herb . 2023-12-13 . Transcript: What Harvard, MIT and Penn presidents said at antisemitism hearing . 2023-12-27 . Roll Call . en-US . December 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216220846/https://rollcall.com/2023/12/13/transcript-what-harvard-mit-and-penn-presidents-said-at-antisemitism-hearing/ . live .
  23. Web site: 2023-12-06 . White House condemns university presidents after contentious congressional hearing on antisemitism . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231208080308/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-condemns-university-presidents-contentious-congressional-h-rcna128373 . December 8, 2023 . 2023-12-07 . NBC News . en-US.
  24. News: Saul . Stephanie . Blinder . Alan . Hartocollis . Anemona . Farrell . Maureen . 2023-12-09 . Penn's Leadership Resigns Amid Controversies Over Antisemitism . en-US . The New York Times . 2023-12-19 . 0362-4331 . December 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231209215313/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/09/us/university-of-pennsylvania-president-resigns.html . live .
  25. Web site: House Republicans investigating plagiarism allegations against Harvard President Claudine Gay . 2024-01-03 . USA TODAY . en-US . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103195427/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2023/12/21/house-committee-harvard-president-claudine-gay/71997364007/ . live .
  26. News: Korn . Melissa . Belkin . Douglas . Harvard President Resigns After Plagiarism Allegations, Campus Antisemitism Backlash . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102211936/https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/harvard-president-claudine-gay-resigns-e52adc44 . January 2, 2024 . 2024-01-02 . . en-US.
  27. News: 2024-01-02 . Harvard president Claudine Gay's resignation letter in full . en-GB . The Guardian . 2024-01-03 . 0261-3077 . January 2, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240102221032/https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/jan/02/harvard-president-claudine-gay-resignation-letter . live .
  28. Web site: McHugh . Calder . 2024-01-02 . How the Right Toppled Harvard's President . 2024-01-03 . POLITICO . en . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103195427/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/02/claudine-gay-resignation-conservatives-00133568 . live .
  29. Web site: Alafriz . Olivia . 2024-01-02 . Republicans claim victory for Harvard president's resignation . 2024-01-03 . POLITICO . en . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103190910/https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/02/republicans-harvard-president-resignation-victory-00133479 . live .
  30. Web site: Christenson . Josh . New York Post . 2024-01-02 . Harvard President Claudine Gay resignation 'just the beginning of reckoning': Stefanik . 2024-01-03 . en-US . January 3, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240103221104/https://nypost.com/2024/01/02/news/harvard-president-claudine-gay-resignation-just-the-beginning-of-reckoning-stefanik/ . live .
  31. Web site: 2024-01-02 . New York Post: Harvard President Claudine Gay's resignation 'just the beginning of reckoning' amid House antisemitism probe: Stefanik . 2024-01-11 . Congresswoman Elise Stefanik . en . January 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240111013958/https://stefanik.house.gov/2024/1/icymi-new-york-post-harvard-president-claudine-gay-s-resignation-just-the-beginning-of-reckoning-amid-house-antisemitism-probe-stefanik . live .
  32. News: 'SNL' mocks Elise Stefanik hearing with college presidents on antisemitism. December 10, 2023. Geoff. Herbert. Syracuse.com. December 15, 2023. December 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231215110058/https://www.syracuse.com/entertainment/2023/12/snl-mocks-elise-stefanik-hearing-with-college-presidents-on-antisemitism.html. live.
  33. Web site: Kornick. Lindsay. December 13, 2023. Comedian Michael Rapaport stars in Israeli 'Harry Potter' parody of college presidents' antisemitism testimony. December 30, 2023. Fox News. en-US. January 1, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240101180319/https://www.foxnews.com/media/comedian-michael-rapaport-stars-israeli-harry-potter-parody-college-presidents-antisemitism-testimony. live.

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