House Republicans open probe of 'pervasive' antisemitism at Rutgers

Fifth college under investigation by panel

By: Deena yellin
and Hannan Adely
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

..... A Republican-led House committee has launched an investigation into allegations of antisemitism at Rutgers University, citing the school's "failure to protect Jewish students."
..... The House Education and workforce Committee wrote to Rutgers last Wednesday [03/27/2024] asking for information about its response to antisemitism on campus, making it the fifth college under investigation by the committee.
..... "I have grave concerns regarding the inadequacy of Rutgers' response to antisemitism on its campuses," committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican, wrote in the letter "Rutgers senior administrators, faculty, staff,' academic departments and centers, and student organization have contributed to the development of a pervasive climate of antisemitism."
..... In a statement Friday [03/29/2024] from Rutgers spokesman Kevin Lorincz, the school said it "takes claims of antisemitism, and all forms of bias and intolerance, very seriously. The university received the committee's letter and will respond directly to the chairwoman."
..... The committee is also investigating Columbia, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
..... Rutgers was already the subject of a Biden administration investigation into accusations of antisemitism involving its Newark Campus. That probe by the Federal Education Department is still ongoing.
..... The House committee letter lists incidents of alleged antisemitism the committee says the school did not adequately address. Lawmakers requested information dating back to 2021, including all reports on antisemitic incidents, disciplinary actions and communications among university officials.
..... Tensions have mounted at Rutgers and across U.S. universities in the wake of the October 7 [2023] terror attack by Hamas and Israel's subsequent military operations in Gaza. The same House committee held a hearing last fall [2023] at which the president of Harvard and Penn were criticized for their seemingly equivocal statements on antisemitism. Both subsequently resigned.
..... Lisa Harris Glass, chief executive officer of Rutgers Hillel, a Jewish student organization, said Friday [03/29/2024] that she was pleased by word of the investigation. "We are grateful to the House Education and Workforce Committee for investigating what we have been living through at Rutgers University," she said, "and we hope that when all is said and done we will see a change and an improvement in campus climate for Jewish students."
..... The complaints by Jewish students on campus relate to antisemitic comments on students chat groups and social media, hateful comments by professors, students or guest speakers, and aggressive protests that make Jewish students feel unwanted on campus, Glass said. In addition, Jewish students are being excluded from certain spaces or groups on campus if they are Pro-israel, she said.

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