In a rare move, the White House criticized the presidents of three prestigious universities on Wednesday for their apparent evasion of questions related to students advocating for the genocide of Jews.
The condemnation followed a congressional hearing on antisemitism on college campuses. The leaders of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) faced scrutiny for their responses.
Campus Antisemitism Debate
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates expressed strong disapproval, stating, “It’s unbelievable that this needs to be said: calls for genocide are monstrous and antithetical to everything we represent as a country.
Any statements that advocate for the systematic murder of Jews are dangerous and revolting — and we should all stand firmly against them, on the side of human dignity and the most basic values that unite us as Americans.”
During the House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing, Harvard’s Claudine Gay, Penn’s Elizabeth Magill, and MIT’s Sally Kornbluth acknowledged a significant rise in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents on their campuses since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.
They condemned antisemitism and islamophobia broadly, affirming that steps were being taken to address the issue.
However, when asked by Rep. Elise Stefanik about whether a student calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools’ codes of conduct, the university leaders appeared to deflect the question.
Read more: Boston Woman Dies In Bahamas Shark Attack, Police Provide Details
White House Condemns Genocide Campus Antisemitism
Claudine Gay of Harvard responded, stating that determining whether advocating for the genocide of the Jewish people violates Harvard’s code of conduct “depends on the context.”
She emphasized that antisemitic rhetoric crossing into conduct amounts to bullying, harassment, and intimidation, which Harvard takes action against.
Elizabeth Magill of the University of Pennsylvania mentioned that if the speech becomes conduct, it could be considered harassment. When pressed for clarity, she maintained that it is a context-dependent decision.
Sally Kornbluth of MIT, when asked about calling for the genocide of Jews constituting bullying or harassment, stated, “I have not heard calling for the genocide of Jews on our campus.”
The responses drew criticism for their perceived lack of clarity and directness, prompting the White House to issue a statement reinforcing the unequivocal stance against statements advocating genocide.
As discussions around campus antisemitism continue, the incident highlights the challenges educational institutions face in addressing and preventing hate speech while upholding freedom of expression.
Read more: SNAP Aid In December: Dates Announced For 2023 Payment Schedule
