U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, District 21 | Facebook Website
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, District 21 | Facebook Website
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, a senior member of the Education and Workforce Committee, released a statement addressing a recent report on Harvard University's enforcement and disciplinary actions.
“This Education and Workforce report demonstrates that Harvard University failed to provide a safe learning environment for Jewish students in direct violation of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “It is absolutely unacceptable that Harvard failed to enforce their own rules and take disciplinary action against the pro-Hamas antisemitic encampment that clearly violated University rules and policies. In this new academic year, Harvard must change course and institute a zero-tolerance policy with disciplinary action for any and all antisemitic attacks on campus.”
Stefanik has been vocal about protecting Jewish students on campus and holding higher education institutions accountable for enabling antisemitism.
In October 2023, Stefanik led a letter from Harvard alumni demanding that President Claudine Gay condemn over 30 student organizations that blamed Israel for Hamas's terrorist attack. On the same day, Gay doubled down, leading Stefanik to become the first elected official to call for her resignation.
In November 2023, the House passed with overwhelming bipartisan support a resolution condemning violence glorification and antisemitic rhetoric on college campuses. The resolution called for college administrators to ensure the safety of Jewish faculty, students, and staff.
During a committee hearing in November 2023, Stefanik highlighted the rise in antisemitism at Harvard and other American colleges. In December 2023, she hosted a press conference with Jewish students ahead of an Education and Workforce hearing on antisemitism involving university presidents.
Stefanik questioned the presidents of Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Pennsylvania regarding their failure to condemn antisemitism on campus. Following their testimonies, she demanded their immediate resignation. This congressional hearing became one of the most watched in history with over one billion views.
In December 2023, an investigation was announced into these universities after their presidents were unable to condemn antisemitism on campuses. Stefanik also led a bipartisan letter demanding immediate dismissal of these presidents and an action plan to protect Jewish students.
Following these events, University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill resigned in December 2023. In January 2024, Harvard University President Claudine Gay also resigned.
The Education and Workforce Committee Republicans requested documents regarding Harvard’s response to campus antisemitism in January 2024. That same month, Stefanik condemned Derek Penslar's appointment as co-chair of Harvard’s Antisemitism Task Force.
In February 2024, Stefanik participated in a roundtable with students from various universities including Harvard. In May 2024, she addressed the Israeli Knesset about combating antisemitism in higher education.
Stefanik criticized Harvard again in May 2024 for allowing Maria Ressa as their commencement speaker due to her alleged antisemitic views. In July 2024, along with Rep. Nicole Malliotakis introduced legislation imposing penalties on educational institutions failing to protect civil rights after increased campus antisemitic incidents.
She also expressed concerns over inadequacies in Harvard’s Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism's recommendations through letters sent alongside Rep. Tim Walberg in July 2024.
Most recently in September 2024, Stefanik published an opinion piece demanding higher education take action ahead of Back-to-School season. She also led another letter with Chairwoman Foxx urging Alan Gerber at Harvard to stop obstructing investigations into physical assaults against Jewish students by Suffolk County authorities.
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