Press Releases

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (R-UT) sent letters to California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo), DePaul University, and Haverford College ahead of the May 7 Committee hearing.

In the letter to California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo), the Members write: “As you know, the Committee continues to investigate and gather information about the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, including Cal Poly, which has surged in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack against Israel. In the month after the attack, antisemitic incidents in the United States increased 388 percent. America’s colleges and universities have been a major source in this rise in antisemitism. In particular, the Committee has found that ‘[i]n the aftermath of that horrific event, American institutions of higher education were upended by an epidemic of hate, violence, and harassment targeting Jewish students.’” Read the full California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo) letter here.

In the letter to DePaul University, the Members write: “Just last month, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) published its second annual Campus Antisemitism Report Card… DePaul University’s Report Card notes that a number of hostile antisemitic events have occurred on campus, including but not limited to a physical attack against two Jewish students who were showing support for Israel, and an anti-Israel encampment that was found to contain knives, a pellet gun, and other weapons and where numerous antisemitic incidents occurred. In regards to the violent attack, one of the students was allegedly diagnosed with a wrist fracture requiring surgery, and the other suffered a concussion as well as contusions and bruising… The students’ attorney has publicly stated that ‘DePaul University has done nothing to put a stop to this harassment, nor have they made any genuine effort since the attack to ensure the safety of their Jewish students moving forward.’” Read the full DePaul University letter here.

In the letter to Haverford College, the Members write: “President Raymond recently emailed the entire Haverford community to acknowledge that there was ‘growing concern about antisemitism on [Haverford’s] campus,’ that ‘flyers inviting the community to Chabad House . . . were displaced or removed,’ and that one campus event ‘evoked centuries-old pernicious tropes related to blood libel.’ In fact, the Committee has received direct reports of antisemitism regarding another campus event… Whistleblowers who observed the event have informed the Committee that it promoted a culture of antisemitic discrimination.” Read the full Haverford College letter here.

###