The chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce had some strong words for Harvard University after the latest disciplinary records showed that the school allegedly failed to discipline students involved in pro-Palestine campus protests.
"Harvard failed, end of story," U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., said Thursday.
Between Oct. 7 and the establishment of an encampment on campus in the spring, Harvard did not formally punish any students for engaging in antisemitic behavior, including taking over a campus building or using bullhorns to interrupt classes, the committee found.
According to university documents released by the committee, Harvard referred 68 undergraduate students and six separate graduate schools for disciplinary action because of their involvement in the encampment. Out of those 68 students, the Harvard College Administrative Board overturned five initial suspensions and shortened probationary terms, leaving 52 in good standing, 15 on probation, and one on leave.
"These administrators failed their Jewish students and faculty; they failed to make it clear that antisemitism will not be tolerated, and in this case, Harvard may have failed to fulfill its legal responsibilities to protect students from a hostile environment," Foxx added.
The committee has threatened to withhold federal funding from Harvard several times since December, but on Thursday it explicitly accused the school of possibly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits institutions that receive federal assistance from discriminating based on race, color or national origin.
In a statement to the Harvard Crimson, a university spokesperson said the university has "updated and strengthened disciplinary procedures, allowing for common fact-finding in matters involving students across multiple schools."
"Harvard's leaders have made clear to the community our rules, norms, and expectations for civil dialogue and responsible conduct, and we unequivocally condemn antisemitism and all forms of hate and bias, which have no place in our community," the spokesperson added.
The committee has been particularly critical of Harvard's handling of antisemitism on campus, including the Harvard College Administrative Board's decision to decrease sanctions imposed on students who participated in the pro-Palestine encampment, as well as the inconsistent disciplinary procedures throughout the institution's many colleges.
The committee wrote that Harvard's graduate schools decided not to impose any "meaningful sanctions."
The group also condemned the university's decision to relaunch the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee as an official student club for the current term, following its suspension last semester.
Harvard hasn't made it clear yet if it will follow on the recommendations made by the committee.
