The House approved a resolution Wednesday condemning the testimony of three elite university presidents at a hearing last week, during which officials declined to say calls for the genocide of Jewish individuals would violate their universities’ policies.
The chamber approved the resolution by a vote of 303-126-3, formally criticizing comments by Harvard President Claudine Guy, MIT President Sally Kornbluth, and former University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) President Liz Lise. Magill, which caused a nationwide uproar – and provoked Magill’s ouster.
Wednesday’s vote divided Democrats, with some opposing the resolution — despite their condemnation of the certification — because they felt it was congressional overreach to interfere with higher education hiring.
During a hearing last week before the House Education and Workforce Committee, when asked whether calling for the genocide of Jewish individuals would be considered harassment on their campuses, the presidents of the three top schools said their answers would depend on the context of the situation.
The resolution — led by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (New York), who has questioned presidents about calls for genocide — said the three officials “were evasive and dismissive” in their responses, “and simply failed to condemn such an act.”
“This is not a partisan issue but a matter of moral clarity,” Stefanik said in a statement when proposing the resolution. “That’s why our colleagues from across the aisle came together with us to introduce a resolution condemning anti-Semitism on campus as well as the morally bankrupt testimony of university presidents from Harvard, Penn, and MIT during last week’s House Committee on Education and Workforce Hearing. ”
The legislation also condemned the rise of anti-Semitism on campuses across the country, the latest measure condemning rising anti-Semitism since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7. Last month, the Council approved a resolution condemning support for Hamas and Hezbollah. And other terrorist organizations in higher education institutions.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (N.Y.), a prominent Jewish Democrat, announced shortly before the vote that he would vote against the legislation “in part because it represents a gross overreach.” He also criticized the “cynicism” of the measure because it “exploits real fear about anti-Semitism.”
“Congress should not interfere in the hiring and firing of university presidents. But mostly, I am voting against this resolution because the mockery of it disgusts me,” Nadler said in a statement.
“MAGA Republicans have spent years undermining America’s colleges and universities — attacking these schools for their diversity and inclusion efforts, for their support of the LGBTQ+ community, and for teaching U.S. history in a way that doesn’t fit their preferred narrative,” he continued. “Today’s decision exploits real fear about anti-Semitism.” In America to push this extremist agenda.”
Nadler also took aim at Stefanik, writing that she “remains a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, who continues to associate himself with white nationalists, and has herself trafficked in the so-called ‘Great Replacement’ theory, which is a racist and anti-Semitic core.”
Stefanik was accused of subtly parroting the tenets of the Great Replacement Theory with Facebook ads in September 2021 that said Democrats were planning a “perpetual election insurrection” with a plan to provide amnesty to undocumented immigration for election purposes.
“If these Republicans really cared about anti-Semitism, they would help us do something about it. “Instead, they hide behind the cheapest words,” he added.
The criticism is similar to one that Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), another prominent Jewish Democrat, leveled at Stefanik earlier this week. Stefanik responded to Raskin in a lengthy X post this week, writing in part, “President Trump has been the best friend of the Jewish people in a modern-day White House.”
The hearing exchange, which has since spread, has reverberated throughout the country.
Magill, who had been UPenn’s president since July 2022, resigned from her position after days of testimony. Additionally, the school lost a major $100 million donation amid the fallout from the hearing.
The resolution indicates that the presidents of Harvard and MIT should follow suit and resign, although it does not explicitly call for this.
However, the boards of both schools issued statements supporting their leadership and rejecting the removal of the two presidents.
“As members of the Harvard Foundation, today we affirm our support for President Jay’s continued leadership of Harvard,” the Harvard Board of Regents said. “Our extensive deliberations underscore our confidence that President Jay is the right leader to help our community heal and address the very serious societal issues we face,” he added.
The repercussions have been felt on Capitol Hill as well: House Education Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R.N.C.) launched an investigation into the three universities last week, calling the testimony of the three presidents “completely unacceptable.”
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The House of Representatives recently approved a resolution condemning anti-Semitism testimony on college campuses, but the decision was not without controversy. Democrats were divided on the issue, with some expressing concerns about free speech and others adamant about the need to address rising levels of hate speech and discrimination. The resolution has sparked a heated debate within the party, highlighting the complex and nuanced nature of navigating issues related to religious tolerance and freedom of speech.