US House Republicans challenge university presidents on antisemitism

WASHINGTON

US House Republicans went after the presidents of three universities Wednesday in a hearing focusing on campus antisemitism.

Titled "Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses," it was held by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, where the heads of Haverford College, DePaul University and California Polytechnic State University testified.

"The scourge of antisemitism has taken root far beyond the country’s best-known ivory towers. And it’s our responsibility as a committee to unearth and address antisemitism at these schools, too — especially as antisemitism is at a historic high in the United States," committee Chair Tim Walberg said in his opening remarks.

Walberg said he and his colleagues are committed to holding these three universities and others accountable for "perpetuating antisemitism."

Presidents Wendy Raymond (Haverford College), Robert Manuel (DePaul University) and Jeffrey Armstrong (Cal Poly University) explained their schools' responses to the pro-Palestinian encampments on their campuses and how they have handled antisemitism in the wake of Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.

Manuel said antisemitism is not only "a threat" to Jewish students, faculty and staff, but also to the "very fabric" of American society.

"I want to acknowledge that openly to our students, our parents, our faculty, our staff, our alumni and our friends. I am deeply sorry. I know there are areas where we must and will do better," he said.

Rep. Lisa McClain asked Manuel why he allowed the encampment to go on for as long as it did on campus.

"I’m not asking what you learned. I’m asking why you made the decision, because I’m going to refer you to your policy that you have in place. Why didn’t you follow your policy?" she said.

"Our immediate instinct was to work with our students," Manuel replied.

Raymond said Haverford condemns in the "strongest possible" terms antisemitism in all its forms.

"The ongoing war and loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza have left many shaken. In the wake of these events, we've seen a troubling rise in antisemitism in our communities and on our campuses.

"In the days following the attacks, I was inspired by how the Haverford community came together. At the same time, events have occurred on our campus that are inconsistent with our values. I take these incidents and Haverford's response very seriously," she said.

Rep. Elise Stefanik questioned Raymond over Haverford's disciplinary action on campus-related events.

"You were the one university president who failed to lay out if any disciplinary action has been taken, if any suspensions or expulsion. So I am asking you, was there any disciplinary action taken?" she said.

Raymond said she would not speak to individual cases.

"Yes, there have been some," she said, when asked multiple times whether the college took any disciplinary measures.

Armstrong said the targeting of Jewish students on campuses across the US was "terrible and unacceptable."

"As a university president and a human being, this is a matter I take particularly seriously. We have to do better," he added.

As a result of events in 2024, he said, the university has had a total of six students disciplined.