Press Releases

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) sent a letter to Northwestern University President, Michael Schill requesting a transcribed interview about steps being taken to combat the antisemitic threats and harassment occurring on its campus.

In the letter, Chairman Walberg writes: “The Committee seeks to understand both this disturbing climate of antisemitism at Northwestern as well as the University’s apparent failure to protect Jewish students, and therefore seeks to conduct a transcribed interview with you. This investigation, including your transcribed interview, will inform the Committee’s consideration of whether there is a need for legislative reforms to protect Jewish students on college campuses, including potential changes to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is imperative that our nation’s Jewish students are able to learn free from discrimination and harassment.”

The letter continues: “Since your testimony at the Committee’s May 23, 2024 hearing, despite Northwestern’s claims to the contrary, the Committee has not seen your commitments to discipline, enforcement, and security come to satisfactory fruition. For example, as we have not yet received documentation to this effect, it remains unclear whether any students or faculty have been meaningfully disciplined in response to the repeated incidents of antisemitism at Northwestern, including the harassment and violence against Jewish students at Northwestern’s 2024 encampment. Indeed, Northwestern’s chapter of the anti-Zionist group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) recently hailed the fact that '[s]o far we have only seen a very small range of disciplinary notices. Students charged up to this point have only been given warnings and disciplinary probations, both of which are largely insignificant' (emphasis in original).”

The letter concludes: “Your testimony regarding antisemitism at Northwestern, and the steps that the university has and has not taken to address antisemitism, will assist the Committee in determining both whether there is a need for legislative reforms to combat antisemitic discrimination and harassment and what shape such potential reforms should take.”

Background:
During the period of April 12 – 20, Jewish people across the globe celebrated the religious holiday Passover. Unfortunately, a group of people on Northwestern’s campus used the occasion to vandalize campus buildings with antisemitic, hate-filled language. The university has not disclosed whether the offenders have been punished or what punishment they will face. There have also been reports of anti-Israel groups circulating materials that promote violence. In addition, it is unclear whether any Northwestern students have been satisfactorily disciplined for the violence and harassment directed at Jewish students at the university’s 2024 encampment.

Read the full letter here.

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