Cape News

The surge of antisemitism on American college campuses has been a cause for concern, with incidents of Jewish students being harassed and obstructed from accessing campus facilities due to their faith. These are not anti-war protests but acts perpetrated by groups supporting terrorism and propagating hate.

A recent encounter with a Harvard graduate student highlighted the gravity of the situation. The student reported needing police protection against masked individuals who hurled antisemitic slurs at him while recording his movements. Disturbingly, one chant invoked Hitler's "Final Solution" and called for Israel's obliteration: “There is only one solution, intifada revolution.”

As Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which oversees the tax code, I am committed to holding accountable those colleges and universities that have allowed such behavior to thrive. These institutions benefit significantly from the U.S. tax code. They owe it to American taxpayers to fulfill their educational obligations as tax-exempt organizations while safeguarding students from intimidation, harassment, and violence. Unfortunately, many institutions have failed in this regard, thereby jeopardizing their special tax benefits.

In November, I conducted a Ways and Means Committee hearing to scrutinize these institutions' failure to protect Jewish students. Following the hearing, I dispatched letters to leaders of prestigious universities with some of the most egregious activity, demanding information on any disciplinary action taken against those whose antisemitic activity contravenes campus policy. We also sought disclosure of any donations or funding received from foreign governments. Our investigation has yielded 1,500 pages of documents currently under review.

However, despite our efforts, antisemitism continues unabated on campuses with colleges and universities turning a blind eye to breaches of their codes of conduct. Some even allow tent cities that serve as breeding grounds for antisemitism; in certain instances, faculty and staff lead these mobs.

The refusal to condemn antisemitism is not just morally reprehensible but also exposes the hypocrisy of liberal university presidents and faculty who selectively determine what speech is protected by the First Amendment. They readily discipline someone for not using "preferred pronouns" but defend students advocating genocide under the guise of "Free Speech!"

The bottom line is that it should not be difficult for these schools to enforce rules, denounce antisemitism, and ensure student safety. In Washington, I will continue to hold these colleges and universities accountable for their failure to protect Jewish students.