On Thursday, May 23, the United States House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing in Congress titled “Calling for Accountability: Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos.” The presidents of Northwestern University, Rutgers University, and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) defended their handling of campus antisemitism amidst the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Campuses of these universities have witnessed anti-Jewish, pro-Palestinian encampments which have now been dismantled.
The hearing was chaired by Virginia Foxx, the chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor. Foxx criticized the presidents of Northwestern University, Rutgers University, and UCLA, stating, “Each one of you should be ashamed of your decision to allow antisemitic encampments to endanger Jewish students.”
Michael Schill, the President of Northwestern University, stated that disciplinary actions have been taken against individuals accused of engaging in prolonged anti-Jewish activities on campus. The university is in the process of updating its student code of conduct.
Schill explained that while the administration did not seriously consider allowing these encampments to persist, sending law enforcement could pose significant risks and potential danger to students, faculty, and staff. He claimed that the “law enforcement resources available to the university are limited.”
Last month, Northwestern University reached an agreement with members of the encampment, including providing free tuition for select Palestinian students. However, Schill noted that this was part of a program for international students, and Israeli students have also received these scholarships.
In response to the agreement, several members of the Task Force to Combat Campus Antisemitism have withdrawn from the group, stating they were not consulted. Schill confirmed this and said seeking input from Jewish students before reaching the agreement was “impractical.”
Northwestern University has over 8,000 undergraduate students, with 1,200 to 1,600 being Jewish students, comprising 15% to 20% of the total student population.
During the hearing, Republican Congressman Burgess Owens criticized Schill for receiving $690 million in funding from Qatar under his leadership from 2007 to 2022. The university has a contract with the Qatar Foundation, which expires in the 2027-2028 academic year, and Schill stated they are considering whether to renew it.
Northwestern University has a campus in Qatar, and its Medill School of Journalism has a partnership with Al Jazeera.
Furthermore, Schill refused to answer whether he would respond differently if the antisemitic encampments were established by white supremacists.
At the hearing, Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway mentioned the establishment of two committees at the university – one addressing antisemitism and the other Jewish Life Advisory Council. He stated that the campus has been working to bring together pro-Israel and pro-Palestine students to listen to each other’s perspectives and engage in respectful dialogue.
Earlier this month, Rutgers University reached an agreement with anti-Israel protesters, including accepting at least 10 homeless Gaza students and providing them with scholarships, establishing Arab cultural centers on each campus before the fall semester, and creating a “long-term educational partnership” with Birzeit University in the West Bank, among other concessions.
Republican Congressman Bob Good from Virginia repeatedly asked Holloway about the issue of “ethnic cleansing” by the Israeli government. Holloway evaded the question and only stated that Israel has the “right to survive and defend itself.”
Gene Block, the UCLA Chancellor, mentioned at the hearing that on April 28th, he issued a written warning to campus campers to dismantle their structures, but they did not comply.
The encampment was reportedly attacked by pro-Israel individuals, leading to the dispersal of the campers by law enforcement. The delayed response of the police received criticism.
Block stated, “The university has also hired an independent law enforcement expert to review this incident, including our planning and security and safety protocols.”
In addition to the three university presidents, Frederick Lawrence, the Secretary and CEO of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, also testified at the hearing.