House Committee Probes Antisemitism Claims at University of Illinois College of Medicine

CHICAGO (WLS) — The House Education and Workforce Committee has commenced an inquiry into another Chicago-area higher education establishment due to accusations of antisemitism on campus.

In a letter sent to the chancellor and executive dean of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, the committee indicated its awareness that “Jewish students are encountering hostility and fear at the university, and it has not been shown that the university has taken meaningful steps to address and mitigate this issue.”

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The correspondence to university authorities outlined several alleged incidents on campus that may contribute to a hostile environment for Jewish students, including claims of students posting “hateful misinformation” on the College of Medicine’s Slack channel.

Further allegations include a College of Medicine surgeon posting online “equating Israel with the Islamic State and repeatedly comparing Israelis to Nazis.”

Now, the committee is requesting the school provide documentation detailing the institution’s response to the complaints.

The Illinois institution was one of three medical schools that received a letter from the Congressional committee. Similar letters were dispatched to UCLA and UCSF in California.

The University of Illinois College of Medicine is now the third Chicago institution facing federal allegations after the presidents of DePaul and Northwestern were summoned to testify before Congress following receipt of similar communications.

ABC7 reached out to the University of Illinois College of Medicine and did not immediately receive a response.