University Presidents Testify on Antisemitism

The presidents of three of the top universities on the East Coast testified before Congress on Tuesday in a hearing on antisemitism and Islamophobia on college campuses after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The presidents of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., panel chairperson, said during the hearing that the universities "have largely stood by, allowing horrific rhetoric to fester and grow" with "countless examples of antisemitic demonstrations on college campuses."

Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., the ranking Democrat on the panel, said in his opening remarks that, "Historically, college campuses have been hubs for students and faculty to foster intellectual thought and expression. Regrettably, following Hamas' October 7 attack on innocent civilians in Israel, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, college campuses have become polarized, and we've been witnessing a disturbing rise in incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia."

Harvard's Claudine Gay said during the hearing that she recognized a rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia on her campus and others.

"During these difficult days, I have felt the bonds of our community strained," she said. "In response, I have sought to confront hate, while preserving free expression. This is difficult work. And I know that I have not always gotten it right. The free exchange of ideas is the foundation upon which Harvard is built, and safety and well-being are the prerequisites for engagement in our community." 

MIT's Sally Kornbluth added: "As an American, as a Jew, and as a human being, I abhor antisemitism, and my administration is combating it actively."

All three university presidents said that Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish nation.

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