Harvard University’s president and other school leaders were put on blast by Congress members at a Tuesday hearing after antisemitism has spiked on college campuses in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel.

The leaders of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania testified in front of Congress following repeated reports of Jewish and Israeli students being threatened and assaulted on campuses since the Oct. 7 terror attacks.

Harvard has been at the epicenter of these campus clashes, with dozens of student groups blaming Israel for the Hamas terrorist attacks and then continued pro-Palestinian protests with students chanting antisemitic phrases. Classes were recently disrupted by such protests, and the Cambridge campus is now facing a federal civil rights investigation for antisemitism.

“I have sought to confront hate while preserving free expression,” Harvard President Claudine Gay testified on Tuesday. “This is difficult work, and I know that I have not always gotten it right.”

During the House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing, protest videos from Harvard were shown of students chanting, “Globalize the intifida” and “Long live the intifida.”

Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik grilled Gay over these phrases heard on Harvard’s campus, noting it’s a call for violent armed resistance against the state of Israel, including violence against civilians and the genocide of Jews.

“I’ve heard that thoughtless, reckless and hateful language on our campus. Yes,” Gay responded to the New York congresswoman.

“I will say again, that type of hateful speech is personally abhorrent to me,” the Harvard president added.

Stefanik continued to ask Gay whether that type of hateful speech is contrary to Harvard’s code of conduct or whether it’s allowed at Harvard.

“It is at odds with the values of Harvard… We embrace a commitment to free expression, even of views that are objectionable, offensive, hateful,” Gay responded. “It’s when that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying, harassment and intimidation.”

Stefanik questioned whether that hateful speech crosses that barrier.

“Does that speech not call for the genocide of Jews and the elimination of Israel?” Stefanik asked.

Gay continued to repeat that the campus protects free speech, even of views that are offensive and hateful.

“What actions have been taken against students who are harassing and calling for the genocide of Jews on Harvard campus?” the congresswoman asked.

“Given students’ rights to privacy and our obligations under FERPA, I will not say more about any specific cases other than to reiterate that processes are ongoing,” Gay responded.

Stefanik said several times that Gay should resign immediately.

“Your testimony today, not being able to answer with moral clarity, speaks volumes,” Stefanik said.

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At today’s hearing, Harvard’s President shamefully refused to say whether the calling for the mass violence and genocide of the Jewish people is considered harassment or bullying according to Harvard’s own code of conduct.

Claudine Gay should resign immediately. pic.twitter.com/gjzmTHUcec

— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) December 5, 2023

MIT President Sally Kornbluth at the hearing was also asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews constitutes bullying and harassment against Jewish students.

“If targeted at individuals, not making public statements,” the MIT president responded to Stefanik, noting that she has heard intifida chants on campus, which “can be antisemitic depending on the context when calling for the elimination of the Jewish people.”

Stefanik asked if that would violate MIT’s code of conduct.

“That would be investigated as harassment if pervasive and severe,” the MIT president responded.

Stefanik again asked Gay whether calling for the genocide of Jews violated Harvard’s rules for bullying and harassment.

“It can be, depending on the context,” the Harvard president responded.

“What’s the context?” Stefanik asked.

“Targeted at an individual,” Gay responded.

“It’s targeted at Jewish students, Jewish individuals,” the congresswoman responded. “Do you understand your testimony is dehumanizing them? Do you understand that dehumanization is part of antisemitism?”