Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) today denounced Harvard University for its refusal to hold those responsible for the antisemitic protests that consumed its campus accountable with meaningful discipline.
 
New documents provided to the Committee as part of its ongoing investigation into campus antisemitism show that Harvard failed to discipline the overwhelming majority of those involved in the protests, and none of those found responsible for the spring encampment were suspended. Failure to punish these students for their antisemitic actions amounts to a likely failure to provide a safe learning environment for Jewish students, a violation of Harvard’s responsibilities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
 
“Harvard failed, end of story. These administrators failed their Jewish students and faculty, they failed to make it clear that antisemitism will not be tolerated, and in this case, Harvard may have failed to fulfill its legal responsibilities to protect students from a hostile environment,” said Chairwoman Foxx. “The only thing administrators accomplished is appeasing radical students who have almost certainly returned to campus emboldened and ready to repeat the spring semester’s chaos. Harvard must change course immediately.”
 
An executive summary of documents provided to the Committee can be read here and the current status of all offenders can be found here. These documents demonstrate Harvard’s abysmal follow-through after students were found responsible for violating university rules and regulations, raising serious questions about administrators’ tolerance of antisemitic, anti-American protests that broke University rules and created significant disruptions:

• In the months between October 7 and the establishment of the spring encampment, Harvard failed to impose formal discipline on any students for antisemitic conduct violations, including the occupation of a campus building and the disruption of classes with bullhorns.
• Fifty-two of the 68 students who were referred for disciplinary action relating to the encampment are currently in good standing. This includes several instances in which students were initially told they would receive a multi-semester suspension before having punishments reduced to probation.
• The Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) Committee on Rights and Responsibilities declined to punish five students who participated in the encampment in violation of University policies and instead “encourage[d] [them] to continue engaging in meaningful discourse, provided that all future activities are conducted in a manner consistent with HGSE and University policies.”