Harvard Hillel, a Jewish student organization, has criticized Harvard's President, Claudine Gay, for her testimony over antisemitism on campus.
The criticism came after Gay, Liz Magill, president of the University of Pennsylvania, and Sally Kornbluth, president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, testified before Congress over campus antisemitism on December 5.
Harvard Hillel Criticizes Gay
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Dr. Claudine Gay, President of Harvard University, Liz Magill, President of University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Pamela Nadell, Professor of History and Jewish Studies at American University, and Dr. Sally Kornbluth, President of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, testify before the House Education and Workforce Committee at the Rayburn House Office Building on December 05, 2023 in Washington, DC. The Committee held a hearing to investigate antisemitism on college campuses.
Harvard Hillel released a statement about Gay's testimony. The organization said, "When pressed during her testimony, President Gay repeatedly equivocated, refusing to characterize calls for the genocide of Jews as a breach of Harvard's code of conduct, instead saying the offense 'depends on the context."
The organization added that Gay's refusal to draw a line around threatening antisemitic speech as a violation of Harvard's policies was profoundly shocking, given explicit provisions within the conduct code prohibiting this kind of bullying and harassment.
Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce ordered the hearing titled "Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism."
The testimony on December 5 was the fourth time the House has held regarding the campus antisemitism issue since October 7 and the first hearing to summon presidents of universities to testify.
Gay said at the testimony that they have seen a dramatic and profoundly concerning rise in antisemitism around the world, in the United States, and on the campuses, including her own.
Rep. Elise Stefanik has urged Gay to answer whether calling for the genocide of Jews and the elimination of Israel has violated Harvard's codes of conduct.
Gay answered that they embrace a commitment to free expression and give a wide berth to free expression even of objectionable, outrageous, and offensive views.
The organization noted that a call for genocide against Jews has always been a hateful incitement of violence. They said that Gay's failure to condemn this speech properly has called to question her ability to protect Jewish students on Harvard's campus.
They also urged Harvard to take action against antisemitism on campus as Gay's testimony has failed to reassure that the university was seriously concerned about the antisemitic rhetoric pervasive on campus.
Furthermore, the organization explained that 'globalize the intifada' was an endorsement of violent terrorist attacks against Jewish and Israeli civilians. While 'from the river to the sea' was an eliminationist slogan intended to deprive Jews of their right to self-determination in Israel, which has become tragically normal at Harvard.
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Antisemitism on Campuses
Harvard University has faced intense criticism since more than 30 of its student groups signed a letter blaming Israel for being entirely responsible for the deadly October 7 attack. The Hamas terrorists launched the surprise assault on Israel, killing over 1,200 civilians, including Americans.
According to the poll released by the ADL and the Jewish outreach organization Hillel International, 73% of Jewish college students and 44% of non-Jewish students experienced or witnessed antisemitic incidents since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, ranging from antisemitic vandalism to threats of physical violence.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL, said that no student should feel threatened or intimidated on campus and the need to hide their religious or cultural identities. He added that no parent should ever wonder whether sending their kids to certain schools was safe.
Related Article: House Hearing Piles Pressure on Universities Over Alleged Institutionalized Antisemitism
