Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik confronted Northwestern University President Michael Schill over the school's "F" grade for its handling of antisemitism and whistleblowers' allegations that Schill sought to hire an anti-Zionist rabbi.
New York Republican Representative Elise Stefanik grilled Northwestern University President Michael Schill during a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on the school's handling of antisemitism and whistleblower claims against Schill.
"Isn't it true that you asked the Hillel director whether it was possible to hire an anti-Zionist" rabbi for the campus’ Jewish community? Stefanik asked Schill.
"I did not. I absolutely did not. I would never hire anyone based upon their views of being Zionist or anti-Zionist. That is not what I do," Schill responded.
"That's not according to the whistleblowers that have come forward to this committee," Stefanik shot back. "… I can assure you many people have [spoken] to this committee."
Stefanik focused her questioning on the university's "F" grade in the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) Campus Antisemitism Report Card, highlighting specific allegations of anti-Semitic incidents on campus.
"Isn't it true that a Jewish Northwestern student was assaulted?" Stefanik asked.
"There are allegations that a Jewish student was assaulted. We are investigating those allegations," Schill continued.
"Isn't it true that a Jewish student was verbally harassed and stalked to Hillel?" Stefanik questioned further.
"There were allegations of that sort, and we are investigating them," Schill responded.
"Isn't it true that a Jewish student wearing a yarmulke was spat on," Stefanik said.
Schill acknowledged ongoing campus investigations into these allegations. Stefanik emphasized that these incidents contributed to Northwestern's "F" grade.
Northwestern has faced lawsuits over its handling of antisemitism, including a class action suit accusing the school of failing to protect Jewish students.
Northwestern Kellogg School of Management student Zeev Wolf Cukiert Sztrigler shared his experience of assault on campus, emphasizing that the university's agreement with campus agitators left him and other Jewish students feeling unsafe.
The ADL has circulated a petition calling for Schill's resignation, arguing that his negotiations with protesters "rewarded" campus agitators involved in anti-Semitic incidents.
Stefanik's questioning follows similar hearings where the presidents of Penn, Harvard, and MIT were grilled about their handling of antisemitism on their campuses. The hearing resulted in the resignations of Penn President Liz Magill and Harvard President Claudine Gay.
