In 2017, when Harvard rescinded admissions offers for 10 students involved in posting offensive memes in a Facebook messaging group, the school pointed to its right to withdraw offers under certain conditions. Among them was “if an admitted student engages or has engaged in behavior that brings into question their honesty, maturity or moral character.”
While this incident took place prior to current president Claudine Gay’s tenure, during a Tuesday Committee on Education & the Workforce hearing on “Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism,” Rep. Elise Stefanik wondered if such a standard applies today amid the rise of antisemitism seen on campus since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
“Will admission offers be rescinded or any disciplinary action be taken against students or applicants who say, “from the river to the sea” or “intifada,” advocating for the murder of Jews?” asked Stefanik, a Harvard alum, in a fiery exchange.
While Gay said she finds such behavior “personally abhorrent,” she emphasized throughout Stefanik’s questioning that Harvard embraces a “commitment to free expression … even of views that are objectionable, outrageous, and offensive.”
Regarding the accountability of those who are essentially advocating for genocide against the Jewish people, Gay said action will be taken “when speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies, including policies against bullying, harassment and intimidation…”
Gay declined to go into detail about cases that are ongoing.
Stefanik, dissatisfied with her testimony and responses, closed by reiterating her call for Gay’s resignation.
“Harvard ranks the lowest when it comes to protecting Jewish students. This is why I have called for your resignation and your testimony today and not being able to answer with moral clarity speaks volumes,” the New York Republican said.
At today’s hearing, Harvard’s President shamefully refused to say whether the calling for the mass violence and genocide of the Jewish people is considered harassment or bullying according to Harvard’s own code of conduct.
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) December 5, 2023
Claudine Gay should resign immediately. pic.twitter.com/gjzmTHUcec
Gay’s appearance on Capitol Hill, along with the leaders of the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, came amid a sharp uptick in antisemitic incidents on campuses in the U.S.
As Stefanik pointed out, there have been multiple demonstrations at Harvard alone that included students chanting, “There is only one solution. Intifada revolution” and “Globalize the Intifada.” Additionally, a group of more than 30 student organization signed on to a letter after the Oct. 7 massacre arguing that Israel is “entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.”
Gay’s response to Hamas’ attack and the student letter prompted fierce backlash from donors and others. Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer and his wife resigned from the executive board in protest, for example, and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan withdrew his offer to participate in fellowships at Harvard.
