House Republicans are pushing for new legislation that would require universities to be transparent about their campus protest policies and whether those guidelines are being followed.
Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-New York), with the support of six of their fellow House Republicans and several conservative groups, including Parents Action for Education, have introduced the “Ban Taxpayer Funding for College Camps Act.”
It’s part of House Republicans’ continuing response to the wave of anti-Israel protests that have hit college campuses across the country this spring.
UT Austin protest descends into chaos as anti-Israel students yell at police: ‘Go home you pigs!’
American University students participated in a campus protest in Washington, DC on November 1, 2023, protesting Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Students and activists have set up tent cities at top universities including Columbia University, the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of Michigan in protest against Israel’s invasion of Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack.
“This past year, makeshift camps have flourished on college campuses across the country, disrupting classes and intimidating Jewish students. This is unacceptable. My bill will hold these woke universities accountable and ensure that protest rules are enforced fairly and equally, not just when it serves a political purpose,” Banks told Fox News Digital in a statement.
Guns confiscated from anti-Israel protesters at University of Texas at Austin, University of South Florida
Rep. Jim Banks is leading the new bill. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“This bill will prevent the disgraceful mob violence that has ravaged college campuses across the country, including Columbia University, and ensure that university leaders enforce their policies against hostile campus occupations. University leaders who fail to stand up for the Jewish community will be held accountable,” Stefanik told Fox News Digital.
The bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require universities that receive federal funding to disclose their policies for dealing with civil disturbances on their campuses and how they enforce those policies.
It would also mandate strict monitoring of campus crime statistics at these schools.
Colleges, chaos, and cash: No wonder trust in higher education is low today
A Columbia University student checks damage to windows and doors at Hamilton Hall at Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
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Police arrested about 300 people in New York City earlier this year during protests on two campuses, including Columbia University, where students briefly occupied a building, and in Los Angeles, videos of clashes between activists and police went viral.
But it’s not clear whether anyone has been charged. For example, a case against 30 people charged with trespassing for occupying Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall was dismissed.
Meanwhile, Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe on campus and claim to have witnessed and experienced an alarming increase in anti-Semitism, prompting House Republican investigators to launch a high-profile investigation into how universities are addressing these issues.
