Harvard, UPenn Presidents Grilled in Congress on Antisemitism

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik grilled the presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday during a congressional hearing on antisemitism.

The presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania were forced to issue statements clarifying their responses to a US congressional hearing on antisemitism after a barrage of criticism from business leaders and politicians that shows few signs of abating.

Harvard’s Claudine Gay and Penn’s Liz Magill were lambasted for refusing to say at the Dec. 5 event that calling for the genocide of Jews is against school policy, instead offering narrow legal responses.

Magill said late Wednesday in a video message that such language would amount to “harassment or intimidation,” while Gay stated on social media that Harvard won’t condone violent speech against Jewish students.

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[tonik]

Depends on the context???!!!! When is calling for genocide for anyone acceptable, or not seen as harassment/bullying?? This is disgusting!

[enjoyitbro]

But if she was asked if calling someone by the wrong pronoun, she would absolutely consider it harrassment.

[mobuseseko]

Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

[jamesp]

These people should not be allowed to resign. In their resignation letter they no doubt will state their reason is to be able to spend more time with their families or to pursue other interests. BS. They should be fired.

[kellymcclendon]

So glad that they showed their true colors.

[willysbest]

Insert blacks or Hispanic instead of jews and these people would be saying yes absolutely. It's like pulling teeth to get answers out of a liberal.

[stockjonebills]

This is a sad example of academia's habit of overanalyzing something with a common sense answer. Their responses about the context of the message is ridiculous. I would be curious how they would respond with the same question if it was genocide against Palestinians. Regardless of religion or race asking for the genocide of anyone is ethically wrong.

[theinformationcenter]

Let’s be honest, regardless of how you feel about what Israel’s doing to Palestine, calling for a genocide is crazy.

[MarkFox]

These ladies are replying in the same way as Eichmann did. They must be fired, fined and sentenced.

[alexjames]

What "context" ? Genocide has no "context". Genocide IS "genocide" . It is exactly what it means.

[mechak]

Watching the way those so-called highly educated women intentionally dodging the question made my blood boiled.

[ReactorFour]

It’s odd how much context and nuance now seemingly matters to them when discussing the persecution of Jews, but on matters of LGBTQ or black and brown people, it is completely clear without nuance. It’s pretty obvious they are not for racial equality and the respectful treatment of all people, rather they just despise those who aren’t dependent on the government and can’t be controlled by their progressive cult.

[trocycling]

Just when you thought it Universities couldn't possibly be any worse, this. This is where Universities are folks.

[marmadukewinterbotham]

How on earth did such people rise to such highly-paid positions of authority and influence??

[lisagilmore]

Funny how these people who call what you say as racist but yet they can say what they want because they are college educated

[PlaGueRFLEX]

I never would have EVER guessed we could get to a point in society where the head of Harvard couldn't give a straight answer as to whether genocide was right or wrong.

[tfhouoe]

The correct answer is "not only does it violate our policy on bullying and harassment, but it violates federal law and should be reported to the FBI."

[Philosophyrules]

Man I am as liberal as the day is long and this is just disgusting. This is the clearest question to answer. It shouldn’t even be a question. This makes liberals look bad. This is unacceptable.

[ioxwhhl]

This is Crazy they should all be sacked. Why do they defend it??

[mohammednoordesmukh]

What about the call for genocide of Palastinians? & calling them animals, is it not dehumanising?

Why this extreme hypocrisy?