“Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard’s rules regarding bullying and harassment?”
The question was presented to Harvard University President Dr. Claudine Gay during a House committee hearing on the rise of antisemitism on college campuses on Tuesday.
The answer should have been a simple “yes” or “no.” Instead, Dr. Gay refused to give a straight answer. “That type of hateful speech is personally abhorrent,” she said, adding, “We embrace a commitment to free expression, even of that are objectionable, offensive, hateful.”
Questioning her was Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a Republican representing New York’s 21st congressional district.
Stefanik mentioned multiple instances of Harvard students chanting, “There is only one solution. Intifada, Revolution,” and “globalize the intifada” since the massacre orchestrated by Hamas terrorists against Israel on October 7.
The House GOP chair stated, “the use of the term intifada in the context of the Israeli-Arab conflict is indeed a call for violent armed resistance against the state of Israel, including violence against, civilians and the genocide of Jews,” according to a report on Fox News.
“We embrace a commitment to free expression, even of that are objectionable, offensive, hateful. It’s when that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying,” Dr. Gay said.
“Harvard ranks the lowest when it comes to protecting Jewish students,” Stefanik noted. “This is why I’ve called for your resignation and your testimony today — not being able to answer with more clarity speaks volumes. I yield back.”
Questions were also addressed to University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Dr. Sally Kornbluth. Both responded with similar deflections like Harvard’s president.
VIDEO:
🚨🚨🚨Presidents of @Harvard @MIT and @Penn REFUSE to say whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” is bullying and harassment according to their codes of conduct. Even going so far to say it needs to turn to “action” first. As in committing genocide.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND… pic.twitter.com/hUY3SgoOOi
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) December 5, 2023
Sick people
Although it does sound like the university administrators being questioned were refusing to label “harassment and bullying” antisemitic rhetoric on their campuses, that wasn’t what they were trying to avoid. Instead, they were trying to avoid labeling any speech as “harassment and bullying.” That is, since universities promote “freedom of speech,” how can they possibly condemn any speech.
Had Mrs. Stefanik asked the administrators to label racist remarks against any other protected group as “harassment and bullying,” I genuinely believe they would have the same reluctance to do so.
The same freedom of speech is not the same the minute the chanting is towards Islam, Christianity or any other group. Suddenly it becomes harassment, bullying and punishable. This is classic discrimination. This is unacceptable and unconstitutional to say the least. Calling for the annihilation of an entire people is not harassment? Physically and other forms of abuse are not harassment if they are directed towards Jews??? And they have labeled in the past when other societies and religions were chanted or even slightly offended so I hate to be blunt but they are trying to regulate antisemitism in a… Read more »
Only when it comes to “misgendering” can speech be considered harassment and bullying!!!!
Had she asked about any other group, they would not have the same answer, they simply cannot answer yes about the genocide of Jews, because in their hearts….
She did. She asked Harvard president Gay if calling for elimination of African Americans would be hate speech and bullying. Same dumb response
Sad to see how Jews are so good at sticking up for and trying to defend and give explanations for people that want them killed
In the age of “SAFE SPACES”, “MICRO AGGRESSION” and “FEELINGS” — the free speech argument is very weak…
Now would be it!
Proves you don’t need to have brains or morals to be an Ivy league college president!
At the very end of the questioning, the chair asked each college president if they believed Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state. They each stated that they believe Israel has a right to exist. Not one of them would say “as a Jewish state”.
One thing for sure is that trump would never allowed this to happend. Let’s be honest we all need him now .
Such a simple question !!
It is beyond disgusting what transpired at this hearing.