Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) released the following statement in response to reports that Columbia University President Dr. Minouche Shafik is resigning:

“During Shafik’s presidency, a disturbing wave of antisemitic harassment, discrimination, and disorder engulfed Columbia university’s campus. Jewish students and faculty have been mocked, harassed, and assaulted simply for their identity. Every student has the right to a safe learning environment. Period. Yet, flagrant violations of the law and the university rules went unpunished.

“Columbia’s next leader must take bold action to address the pervasive antisemitism, support for terrorism, and contempt for the university’s rules that have been allowed to flourish on its campus.”

BACKGROUND

The Committee has stood firm in support of Jewish students and consistently called for the Columbia administration to take action against the illegal activity on its campus: 

• In February, Chairwoman Foxx demanded answers from top Columbia University officials regarding its response to antisemitism and failure to protect Jewish students, faculty, and staff.
• In April, Chairwoman Foxx convened a full committee hearing with top Columbia University officials to hold them accountable for the situation on their campus.
• Following the hearing, Chairwoman Foxx again called on Columbia University officials to honor their commitments made before Congress just days earlier as the situation continued to deteriorate.
• In April, Chairwoman Foxx accompanied Speaker Mike Johnson to see the chaos at Columbia University firsthand.
• In June, following reports that four Columbia deans had exchanged disparaging text messages as members of the university’s Jewish community discussed antisemitism, Chairwoman Foxx demanded that the texts be turned over to the Committee.
• In August, Chairwoman Foxx renewed demands for information into the University’s response to antisemitism on campus, and made it clear that the Committee was prepared to issue a subpoena if the University failed to produce it voluntarily. 

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