House Republicans on Thursday released findings and recommendations following an investigation into antisemitism on U.S. college campuses.
Anti-Israel protesters appeared on campuses in the aftermath of Hamas' invasion and massacre in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the ensuing war in Gaza.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., in April announced a probe into the surge of campus antisemitism. The probe was conducted by several panels including the Education and Workforce Committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Judiciary Committee, the Oversight Committee, the Veterans Affairs Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee.
"Over the past seven months, these committees have done important work. They've heard from government agencies, students, and universities and did a deep dive into the ways we can stop anti-Jewish hate. It's our intent to take this report, its recommendations, and act," Johnson said Thursday when the investigation's findings were released.
"We'll use what's in here to continue protecting our Jewish brothers and sisters from discrimination and violence. But make no mistake, we will continue these efforts in the next Congress and anytime antisemitism rears its ugly head, the House will shine a light on it and take action."
Among the investigation's findings were:
- Universities likely violated Title VI by failing to stop campus antisemitism.
- Despite violating university polices and creating unsafe, hostile environments, protesters were granted shocking concessions.
- University leaders intentionally declined to support Jewish on-campus communities, expressed hostility to Congressional oversight, and treated campus antisemitism as a public relations issue.
- Radical faculty members thwarted meaningful discipline for the protesters.
"On October 8, the world saw that antisemitic hatred was alive and well at American institutions of so-called 'higher' education. As a result, the reputation of many of these schools has been in free fall," House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx said.
"Stopping that free fall comes down to one word: accountability. We need accountability because without it, we cannot guarantee that Jewish students have the safe learning environment they deserve."
The House probe resulted in recommendations for universities, Congress, and the executive branch regarding on-campus antisemitism. The suggestions included:
- Universities should forcefully reject antisemitism.
- Universities must recognize that discrimination against "Zionists" is an unacceptable antisemitic civil rights violation.
- The executive branch should aggressively enforce Title VI and hold universities accountable for violating their obligations.
- Congress should pass legislation removing Title IV eligibility from universities that boycott or divest from Israel.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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