U.S. Lawmakers Push for Stronger Measures Against Antisemitism on College Campuses
Amid growing concerns over antisemitism on college campuses, two Michigan representatives from the House Education and Workforce Committee have called for heightened institutional efforts to combat this issue. Their comments were made ahead of a significant committee hearing involving university leaders.
The upcoming hearing will feature testimonies from presidents of various colleges and universities on their strategies to address antisemitism. This event follows the Trump administration’s previous actions, including the signing of executive orders and the creation of a Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism. These measures threaten to cut federal funding for institutions that fail to tackle antisemitism effectively, a policy that has already seen grants and contracts being withdrawn in certain cases.
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI 10) emphasized the necessity for educational institutions to demonstrate their efforts against antisemitism, stating, “And if they’re not doing anything, then I have a question. Why should they receive federal funding? My answer is clear. They shouldn’t.”
Committee Chair Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI 5) expressed disappointment over the lack of progress from previous hearings, noting, “We stood in this room for a similar press conference last year, and hoping that it would be the last one that we would need. I don’t think that’s going to be the case.”
Meanwhile, some Jewish student and faculty groups argue that the measures being promoted by lawmakers could suppress legitimate criticism of Israel, particularly regarding its human rights practices and actions in Gaza. A coalition of Jewish organizations recently stated that the administration’s approach might inadvertently make Jewish communities feel less secure by targeting pro-Palestinian activists.
—
Read More Michigan News
