College Presidents Grilled on Campus Antisemitism at Congressional Hearing

Three college presidents from Haverford College, DePaul University, and California Polytechnic State University faced intense questioning during a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing regarding their handling of campus antisemitism in the wake of recent pro-Palestinian protests. Republican lawmakers, led by Committee Chair Rep. Tim Walberg and Rep. Elise Stefanik, accused the schools of failing to sufficiently protect Jewish students and of allowing antisemitic rhetoric and actions to go unpunished. The college presidents admitted to missteps and outlined new actions, such as suspending student organizations and enacting protest restrictions, to address the problem. Democratic committee members, while acknowledging the seriousness of antisemitism, criticized the focus as politically motivated, pointing out that other forms of discrimination like Islamophobia and homophobia were not receiving similar attention. Testimony also included arguments for protecting free speech, even when it is offensive, and noted a dramatic increase in reported antisemitic incidents on campuses since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023. The hearing, part of an ongoing Congressional effort, considered legislative measures to ensure compliance with federal laws protecting students from discrimination.