Lawmakers to grill college presidents over antisemitism concerns
Share this @internewscast.com


() House Republicans are set to grill three college presidents accused of tolerating antisemitism as pro-Palestinian protests took campuses by storm last year.

The presidents of Haverford College, California Polytechnic State University and DePaul University will appear before the Committee of Education and Workforce on Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. EDT.

“This hearing is a continuation of this work so that we can ensure Jewish students across the nation don’t face threats or harassment in violation of Title VI,” said committee chair Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., in a statement.

Ahead of Wednesday’s hearing, lawmakers said their goal is not to get the presidents fired for their handling of protests but to get them to do their jobs.

“What we’re seeing on college campuses today isn’t activism, it’s intimidation, it’s harassment … Let me be clear, there’s no justification none for chanting in support of the evil terrorist group Hamas,” said Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah.

Some universities, such as Harvard, have shared concerns that the administration is using the “guise of combating antisemitism” to overstep and control the nation’s schools.

Recent Gaza war protests on college campuses

Earlier this week, protesters at the University of Washington clashed with police, occupying a campus building and calling for the school to cut ties with Boeing over its role in supplying weapons to the war in Gaza.

The occupation lasted several hours with blockades and dumpster fires, and it ended with police storming the building and making 30 arrests.

“The University will not be intimidated by this sort of offensive and destructive behavior and will continue to oppose antisemitism in all its forms,” university spokesperson Victor Balta said in a statement.

Hillel International, a Jewish student organization, said antisemetic incidents on college campuses increased 700% after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023.

The president of DePaul University told his campus has implemented systemic changes to eliminate antisemitism and that he looks forward to Wednesday’s hearing.

Trump cuts federal funding for universities

The committee’s findings could influence President Donald Trump’s decisions on federal funding cuts. He previously vowed to curtail aid for schools that allow pro-Palestinian demonstrations or refuse to follow his controversial list of demands for institutions.

At Columbia University, the loss of federal funding has resulted in the termination of nearly 180 employees after Trump canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to the school.

Meanwhile, the Education Department said this week that Harvard will not receive any new federal grants until the school meets the administration’s demands.

Trump already froze more than $2 billion in federal grants to Harvard and wants to strip the school of its tax-exempt status.

Harvard has continued to call those actions “government overreach.”

‘s Nancy Loo and Anna Kutz contributed to this report.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Edmunds: Top Five Affordable Performance Cars Under $35,000

New car prices are climbing, particularly for high-performance sports models. For instance,…

Local Walk Pays Tribute to Gun Violence Victim

SAVANNAH, Ga. () — A mother’s mission to honor her daughter and…

Human Skull Discovered on California Beach 32 Years Ago Finally Identified

(KRON) — A forensic genetic genealogy team has uncovered a mystery behind…

McMahon Announces Harvard’s Ineligibility for New Federal Research Grants

Education Secretary Linda McMahon sent a letter to Harvard on Monday telling…

Father of Austin Metcalf, the Teen Who Was Killed, Reacts to Statement from Karmelo Anthony’s Representative

() A spokesperson for the Next Generation Action Network released a statement…

Trump to Declare US will Rename the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Gulf, Officials Say

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expected to announce during his…

A 3.2 Earthquake Shakes the Area Near Malibu Coast

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.2 rattled off the coast of Malibu…

Springfield City Council Discusses Funding for Economic Development Group Amid Earmark Controversy

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — The relationship between Springfield and a coalition consisting…

House Republicans Advocate for Selling Thousands of Acres of Western Public Lands

WASHINGTON – House Republicans have incorporated a clause into their extensive tax…

Trump Introduces Two New National Holidays, Including One for Veterans Day

(The Hill) President Donald Trump on Monday said he is establishing two…

The White House Seeks $46.5 Billion for Building Border Wall

SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — A couple from Salt Lake City, on…

Two Men from Rantoul Arrested for Assaulting and Robbing Teen in Paxton

The Paxton Police Department has apprehended two men from Rantoul in relation…