College presidents on antisemitism, by Annie Ma
Over five hours at a con- gressional hearing, lawmakers pressed the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and MIT on the topic of anti- semitism. In some instances, they were unable to say whether calls for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools’ conduct policies. The backlash started almost immediately. Penn’s leader stepped down within days. Har- vard’s presi- dent was on the hot seat for nearly a week before a university gov- erning board announced she would stay on the job. R e p u b l i - cans and Dem- ocrats alike criticized responses the presidents gave at the Dec. 5 hearing of a U.S. House committee on antisemitism on college campuses. In particular, the uproar centered on a line of questioning from Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who repeatedly asked how each university’s code of conduct would handle calls for the genocide of Jews. Early in the questioning, Rep. Stefanik asked the presi- dents about chants for “intifada,” an Arabic word for “uprising” or “resistance.” Rep. Stefanik equated calls for an intifada as a call for a global Jewish genocide. Here is a look at the testimony given by Claudine Gay, of Har- vard, Liz Magill of Penn, and Sally Kornbluth of MIT. Liz Magill of PENN During the hearing, Rep. Ste- fanik asked Ms. Magill, “Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate Penn’s rules or code of conduct? Yes or no?” Ms. Magill repeatedly de- clined to give a yes or no answer. She emphasized the university’s policies considered whether “speech turns into conduct,” in which case it would be consid- ered harassment. Rep. Stefanik continued to demand a definitive answer. Ms. Magill responded that if speech were “directed and severe, pervasive, it is harassment,” and that whether a student would be punished is “a context-dependent decision.” That answer became a flash- point of the criticism of Ms. Magill. The day after the hearing, Ms. Magill said in a video statement released by the university that a call for the genocide of Jewish people would be considered harassment or intimidation. Still, Penn alumni and donors increased pressure on the board for Ms. Magill to resign, a cam- paign that dated to earlier in the fall, when the university allowed a Palestinian literary festival to take place on campus despite allegations that some speakers had shown antisemitism in other comments. Amid growing pressure from donors who said they would pull money from the university, Ms. Magill and board chairman Scott Bok resigned. Claudine Gay of Harvard Dr. Gay, the first Black woman president of the 400-year-old university, also was asked by Rep. Stefanik whether similar speech would violate Harvard’s policies. She gave a similar response to Ms. Magill, emphasizing that context and whether the speech turned into conduct would factor into any disciplinary decisions. “Antisemitic rhetoric, when it crosses into conduct, that amounts to bullying, harassment, intimidation. That is actionable conduct, and we do take action,” Dr. Gay said. “So the answer is yes. That calling for the genocide of Jews violates Harvard’s Code of Con- duct. Correct?” Rep. Stefanik asked. Dr. Gay reiterated that it depended on the context. “It does not does not depend on the context,” Rep. Stefanik responded. “The answer is yes, and this is why you should resign.” A day after the hearing, Dr. Gay condemned calls for violence against Jewish students in a state- ment posted by the university to X, formerly Twitter. Sally Kornbluth of MIT Dr. Kornbluth also was ques- tioned by Rep. Stefanik about policies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She responded by saying speech targeted at individuals, not public statements, would be considered a violation of bullying and harass- ment policies. Rep. Stefanik then asked, “Yes or no: Calling for the genocide of Jews does not constitute bullying and harassment?” Dr. Kornbluth responded that she had not “heard calling for the genocide of Jews on our campus.” Rep. Stefanik then asked Dr. Kornbluth whether she had heard demonstrators calling for an intifada. Palestinians have launched two intifadas against Israel — one in the late 1980s and one in the early 2000s. Both were to protest Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and both involved violence. But since Hamas’ massacre in Israel in October, some Jews have interpreted calls for globalizing the intifada as a call for broader attacks against Jews. “I’ve heard chants which can be antisemitic, depending on the context when calling for the elimination of the Jewish people,” Rep. Kornbluth said. Speech would be investigated as harassment if it were “pervasive and severe,” she said. In a written note to the MIT community two days after the hearing, the chair of the MIT Corporation signaled the execu- tive committee’s support for Rep. Kornbluth, who is Jewish. “She has done excellent work in lead- ing our community, including in addressing antisemitism, Islamo- phobia, and other forms of hate, all of which we reject utterly at MIT,” the statement said. The writer covers education, race and ethnicity for the Associ-
Problematic political rhetoric, by Clarence Page
As someone who has appreciated the power of protest and activism on achieving progress in the U.S. and the world, it’s hard for me to watch the current high emotions over the Middle East devolve into arguments about the meanings of slogans.
Increasing opportunities for underrepresented minorities in STEM
On Dec. 15, House Science, Space and Technology (SST) Committee Member, Virginia Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan; SST Ranking Member, California Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren; and Ranking Member of the SST Subcommittee and Technology, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens sent the following letter Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, asking the Government Accountability Office to study the financial instability of graduate and postdoctoral STEM scholars.
Oklahoma judge rules man who wrongfully spent nearly 50 years in prison for murder is innocent
An Oklahoma judge has exonerated a man who spent nearly 50 years in prison for murder, the longest serving inmate to be declared innocent of a crime.
Stand’n up for books!
There’s lots of folks who want to secede, From cultural books afraid they might read,
Hall of Famer McGinnis dies at age 73
George McGinnis, whose basketball Hall of Fame career spanned multiple seasons in the old ABA and NBA, died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, of heart complications. He was 73.
Number of Black quarterbacks honored with Heisman continues to climb
A running back was the model for the iconic Heisman Trophy statue, but over time it is increasingly awarded to quarterbacks.
Cherished Holiday Memories
Holiday memories are created by family — whether it is the family in which we are born or the family we create through church, work or social interactions. May these reflections of cherished holiday memories, shared by four Richmond residents, bring you a renewed sense of joy and peace now and in the coming year. Happy holidays!
Good tidings
Various civic and social organizations continue the holiday spirit by sharing both tangible and intangible gifts throughout the community.
Henrico to accept Christmas trees for recycling Dec. 26 through Jan. 9
Henrico County will accept Christmas trees for recycling into mulch from Tuesday, Dec. 26, through Tuesday, Jan. 9.
Liberty’s Flames turning into a bonfire
On a winning football scale of one to 13, Liberty University is a 13. There are only four undefeated major college football teams left, and one of them is located only a fast two hours west in Lynchburg.
West Virginia’s Farrakhan, others suit up after court ruling against NCAA transfer policy
College athletes who have transferred multiple times but were denied the chance to compete immediately can play through the remainder of the academic year, a federal judge ruled Monday. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey in West Virginia made the ruling on a motion filed Friday by the NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization. Judge Bailey extended a temporary restraining order he issued last Wednesday barring the NCAA from enforcing its transfer rule for 14 days.
Highland Park’s Highland Grove development halted
A long-awaited 122-unit subdivision that is supposed to rise on nearly 40 acres in the 500 block of Dove Street in Highland Park remains shut down.
Library of Virginia’s ‘Indigenous Perspectives,’ highlights state’s tribal citizens
A new multimedia exhibition at the Library of Virginia explores voices and experiences of Virginia’s tribal communities and how they remain a vital part of Virginia’s culture today.
VCU Health Sciences Library exhibits focus on HIV/AIDS
“Let communities lead” was the theme of World AIDS Day, which this year fell on Friday, Dec. 1. Although AIDS deaths and HIV infection rates do not often lead news reports in 2023, that does not mean that HIV/ AIDS does not continue to impact people’s lives and our health care systems.
State Jails Board creates improvement plan for City Jail
Investigation cites 6 deaths, inconsistent inspections and other unmet standards
Only a small staff of deputies is working in the Richmond City Justice Center on any given day, the Free Press is being told, as the number of sworn officers under the command of Sheriff Antionette V. Irving continues to fall.
Lawsuits filed against RPS regarding school shooting report
Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the Richmond School Board for refusing to release the findings of an external investigation into the June 6 mass shooting in Monroe Park after the Huguenot High School graduation ceremony.
Shining stars
Bernadine Simmons, L. Victor Collins and Andre Braugher remembered
The world had Oprah. Richmond had Bernie. Longtime television journalist Bernadine A. “Bernie” Simmons, who died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at age 79, was well known to many in Richmond and surrounding communities as the creator and face of NBC12’s popular “12 About Town” news show.
Give a child a book for Christmas, by Julianne Malveaux
They don’t call it “Black Friday” because they love Black people; they call it Black Friday because many businesses are pushed into the black (from the red ink of losses to the black ink of profits) on that day or into the holiday season.
