Rep. Stefanik Demands CUNY Chancellor Resignation Over Campus Antisemitism

Rep. Elise Stefanik has publicly demanded the resignation of City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez, accusing him of failing Jewish students by not adequately addressing antisemitism on campus and for hiring Saly Abd Alla, a chief diversity officer previously employed by the pro-Hamas group CAIR. Stefanik criticized Matos Rodríguez during a House Education & Workforce Committee hearing, highlighting incidents such as Jewish students being exposed to antisemitic taunts and forced to walk under a swastika at Hunter College, and questioned the university's delayed removal of the symbol, which was reportedly due to an ongoing NYPD hate crime investigation. Despite Matos Rodríguez's claims that Abd Alla had no role in handling antisemitism complaints, Stefanik emphasized that Abd Alla remains employed by CUNY and condemned the university's tolerance of someone linked to an organization named an unindicted co-conspirator in a Hamas financing case. Stefanik also called on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to push for Matos Rodríguez’s resignation, criticizing her response to antisemitism in the state. The controversy has drawn attention to CUNY's campus climate and administrative decisions, with Stefanik asserting that New York taxpayers should not support leadership that fails to protect Jewish students and uphold professional standards. Matos Rodríguez defended the university's actions but faced bipartisan scrutiny over the handling of antisemitism and faculty ties to controversial figures.