The chair of the House committee investigating allegations of anti-Semitism on Harvard University's campus blasts the Ivy League school for its “woefully inadequate” response to the committee's request for materials, saying Harvard University continues to do so. with an inquiry warning they could face “enforcement action” if they did not comply.
Harvard University had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to submit all documents related to Jewish students and anti-Semitism on campus. This includes documents such as internal emails and text messages between trustees, evidence that students and staff have been disciplined for harassing Jewish students, and funding documents, among other things. Shows donations from Qatari sources.
But Rep. Virgina Foxx (R-North Carolina), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, said university officials have so far only submitted public documents.
“Rather than respond substantively to the committee’s request, Harvard University has chosen to provide letters from nonprofit organizations and student handbooks, many of which are already available to the public.” said Mr. Fox. said in a statement.
“This is unacceptable,” she continued. “Harvard must submit the remaining documents in a timely manner or risk enforcement action.”
Such “enforcement actions” could include subpoenas, commission spokesman Nick Varley told the Post.
The Post has reached out to Harvard University for comment.
in Statement to Bloomberg, Spokesman Jason Newton said the university is committed to cooperating with Congressional investigations, providing information and addressing questions.
“We condemn all forms of anti-Semitism in the strongest possible terms and are committed to the safety and well-being of our students,” he said. “We will continue our dialogue with the commission and respond to their continued requests.”
Additionally, the committee sent similar requests for documents to University of Pennsylvania officials as it investigated allegations of anti-Semitism on the school's campus.
fox In a 14-page letter, he wrote: On Wednesday, the committee told University President Ramanan Ragevendan and Interim President Larry Jameson that it had “grave concerns about Penn's inadequate response to anti-Semitism on campus.”
She cited multiple instances in which school grounds were vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti, including the vandalism of a Jewish fraternity house in late October. “Jew R Nazi” scrawled on it”
Two Jewish students also claim in a civil lawsuit that Jews on campus are “routinely subjected to vile and threatening anti-Semitic slurs and chants,” Fox noted. .
As a result of these anti-Semitic acts, a December 2023 Brandeis University study that surveyed Jewish students on 51 college campuses in the aftermath of Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel found that Penn was among the “worst… It ranked in the category 'Most Anti-Semitic Hostility,''' Fox said. she wrote in her letter Wednesday.
But anti-Semitism was rampant on campus even before the attack, and the university hosted a Palestinian literature festival in September that featured speakers calling for “death to Israel,” the lawmaker said. did.
Next, when asked whether calls for the genocide of Jews violated the school's code of conduct, then-principal Liz McGill insisted it was a “decision based on the circumstances.”
Although he and former board chairman Scott Bok have since resigned from their positions, Foxx argued that “Penn's institutional failures on anti-Semitism extend far beyond the two leaders.” .
Other university officials said, “It shows a clear double standard in condoning anti-Semitic vandalism, harassment, and intimidation while suppressing and penalizing other expressions they deem problematic.'' “There are numerous instances where Penn has canceled or sanctioned speech he did not like,” she argued.
Mr. Fox is also asking the university to turn over all internal communications, minutes of board meetings, and evidence that students and staff have been disciplined for harassing Jewish students.
She also urged the university to submit documents “related to or reflective” of the Palestine Letters Festival and documents “sufficient to demonstrate changes to Penn's governing documents and code of conduct” in the wake of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks. I am asking you to provide it. .
Universities must submit a large amount of documentation by February 7th.
The newspaper has contacted University of Pennsylvania officials for comment.
