US Congress - Charged atmosphere at hearing on anti-Semitism at universities
The presidents of three elite universities in the US have defended themselves at a hearing in the US Congress against accusations that they have not done enough to combat anti-Semitism on campus. The Republican-led Education Committee summoned the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Tuesday. All three acknowledged anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents at their universities since the Islamist Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
Republican Elise Stefanik in particular caused quite a stir during the hearing. She asked, for example, whether the "call for genocide against Jews" at universities violated guidelines on bullying and harassment. "It can be, depending on the context," replied Harvard President Claudine Gay, for example. When asked to answer "yes" or "no", Gay again said that it depends on the context. The other presidents expressed similar views and emphasized that it depended on whether it was directed against an individual.
At another point in the hearing, Gay also said: "These kinds of hateful, inconsiderate and offensive statements are personally repugnant to me." However, freedom of expression is an obligation. This also applies to views that are "offensive, insulting and hateful". The decisive factor is when such statements turn into "behavior" that violates the guidelines. It has been made clear that any behavior that disrupts teaching and research efforts will not be tolerated. Stefanik, a Harvard graduate, had already called for Gay's resignation before the hearing.
Most recently, the dispute over the conflict in the Middle East had also erupted at universities and schools. US media reported on incidents of physical violence or the threat of it. Anti-Semitic and racist graffiti appeared on school campuses. Videos circulating online showed young people tearing down posters with photos of the Hamas hostages. The US Department of Education had launched investigations into anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents at US educational institutions - including Harvard and the elite universities of Columbia and Cornell.
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- The University of Pennsylvania, along with Harvard and MIT, faced questions at a US Congress hearing over alleged inadequate action against anti-Semitism on their campuses.
- Elise Stefanik, a Republican and a Harvard graduate, was particularly critical during the hearing, raising concerns about the tolerance of calls for genocide against Jews in university settings.
- The hearing came amidst reports of conflicts in the Middle East leading to incidents of anti-Semitism and other forms of hate speech at universities and schools across the USA.
- The US Department of Education launched investigations into anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents at various educational institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania, following these reports.
- The University of Pennsylvania's president, during the hearing, expressed that while hateful statements were personally repugnant, freedom of expression was an important obligation, with behavior disrupting teaching and research being the issue of concern.
- The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its effects on American universities and schools were also referred to in the US Congress hearing on anti-Semitism, attended by high-profile figures from the US Congress and the Harvard community.
- As the matter of extremism and hate speech on campuses continues to gain traction in the US Congress and public discourse, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and other elite institutions face the challenge of balancing freedom of speech with a safe and inclusive learning environment.
Source: www.stern.de
