Latest news with #FelixMatosRodriguez
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
US Republicans grill university leaders in latest House antisemitism hearing
July 15 (Reuters) - The leaders of three U.S. universities testified before a House of Representatives panel on Tuesday about what they have done to combat antisemitism on campus, saying they were committed to stamping out hatred while protecting academic freedom. At Tuesday's three-hour hearing, Georgetown University interim President Robert Groves, City University of New York Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez, and University of California, Berkeley Chancellor Richard Lyons came under sharp fire from Republicans. Many of them echoed President Donald Trump's recent attacks on universities, which he has described as "infested with radicalism," and questioned whether the presidents were doing enough to protect Jewish students and faculty. "The genesis of this antisemitism, this hatred that we're seeing across our country, is coming from our universities," said Representative Burgess Owens, a Utah Republican. It was the latest in a series of hearings about antisemitism on campus in which university leaders testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which is tasked with higher education oversight. Democrats on the panel used the session to question the Trump administration's gutting of the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, which probes incidents of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination. That has led to a backlog in investigations at a time when Republicans say universities are not doing enough to combat antisemitism. The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for the administration to resume dismantling the entire department, part of Trump's bid to shrink the federal role in education and give more control to the states. Representative Mark Takano, a California Democrat, called the hearing a "kangaroo court." "This scorched earth warfare against higher education will endanger academic freedom, innovative research and international cooperation for generations to come," Takano said, referring to the administration's efforts to cut off funding to some schools, including Harvard and Columbia, and impose other sanctions. University leaders have come under fire from both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian communities for their handling of protests that broke out after the 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas militants and conflict that emerged from it. On some campuses, clashes erupted between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrators, spawning antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric and assaults in some cases. During the hearing, the university leaders were repeatedly asked about their responses to antisemitic actions by faculty or affiliated scholars. Representative Mary Miller, an Illinois Republican, asked Berkeley's Lyons about a February event in which speakers "repeatedly denied that Israeli women were gang-raped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, and argued that Israel was weaponizing feminism." Lyons said the online event in question was organized by a faculty member but the comments that Miller cited did not come from the Berkeley faculty member. He said the school anticipated that some of the ideas discussed at the event would prove controversial. "I did not prevent it from happening because I felt that keeping the marketplace for ideas open was really important in this instance," he said. Previous hearings held by the panel have led to significant consequences for university presidents. In December 2023, Representative Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, raised her own political profile by grilling the presidents of Harvard, University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She asked them whether "calling for the genocide of Jews" would violate their schools' codes of conduct related to bullying and harassment. Each president declined to give a simple "yes" or "no" answer, noting that a wide range of hateful speech is protected under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment and under university policies. Their testimony, which many viewed as insensitive and detached, triggered an outcry. More than 70 U.S. lawmakers later signed a letter demanding that the governing boards of the three universities remove the presidents. Soon afterwards, Harvard's Claudine Gay and Penn's Liz Magill resigned. Columbia President Minouche Shafik resigned in August, following her April testimony before the committee.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
CUNY chancellor grilled over antisemitism on campus at congressional hearing
The chancellor of the City University of New York was one of three university heads grilled over antisemitism on campus during a heated congressional hearing Tuesday. CUNY Chancellor Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez went before the Committee on Education and Workforce along with Georgetown University Interim President Dr. Robert M. Groves and Dr. Rich Lyons, chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley. The congressional hearing follows hearings with other area school leaders, including then-New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks and then-Columbia University President Dr. Minouche Shafik. The hearing analyzed what it identified as five potential breeding grounds for antisemitism — faculty and student groups, faculty unions, Middle East studies, foreign funding and DEI policies. "The violence, fear and alienation felt by Jewish students is at its core a result of administrators and their staff lacking the moral clarity to condemn and punish antisemitism," Committee Chairman Tim Walberg said. "Antisemitism has no place at CUNY," Rodríguez said. "Our commitment to the safety of the members of our Jewish community, and to our entire community, is non-negotiable." Like colleges across the country, CUNY has seen a rise in clashes between students and enforcement following the Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel, including police making 25 arrests following the building of an encampment on campus during spring break of 2024. According to CUNY leadership, the school had 68 complaints of antisemitism in 2024, and 16 so far this year. New York Rep. Elise Stefanik did not hold back against the chancellor during the hearing. "We are working with the New York City Police Department—" Rodríguez said. "So no disciplinary action has been taken by CUNY? Is that correct?" Stefanik said. "Again we will investigate any action—" Rodríguez said. "So an investigation but no actual action," Stefanik said. Afterwards, the representative called for CUNY's chancellor to be fired. "The reality is CUNY and New York state's Democrat leadership have failed," Stefanik said. Rabbi Joe Potasnik, a member of CUNY's Advisory Council on Jewish Life, says he has faith in leadership moving forward. "The real test is not what is said at the hearing, it's what is done after the hearing," he said. "There's no instant cure, but you do want leadership that says I'm with you, I'm gonna walk with you during this very painful period."
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Stefanik shreds CUNY chancellor on antisemitism response, faculty ties to Mahmoud Khalil
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., shredded the City University of New York (CUNY) chancellor over the institution's response to antisemitism and faculty ties to Mahmoud Khalil. During a House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing, Stefanik demanded to know why students were forced to walk under graffiti of a massive swastika for hours while entering the main Hunter College building. While CUNY Chancellor Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said he believes the symbol is "deplorable," he claimed the delay in leaving it up was because the matter was referred to the New York City Police Department's hate crime unit for investigation. Stefanik lamented that there was a university investigation, but "no actual action" taken against the CUNY administrator who had responded to the Hunter College director of Jewish studies' request that the swastika be removed. The administrator, who Stefanik did not name, wrote in an email, "Apologies, but it is not that simple," according to a screenshot of the email displayed during the hearing. Stefanik further hammered Rodriguez on whether he was aware that Saly Abd Alla, who is CUNY's chief diversity officer, was previously employed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Rodriguez said he was not involved with Abd Alla's hiring decision but admitted that she remained employed by CUNY at the time of the hearing. "Is it OK from your perspective? Obviously it is to have a former employee of CAIR. Let me remind you, CAIR was a co-conspirator in a terrorist financing case and has ties to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization," Stefanik said. "So no action, just words here today," the congresswoman said, adding that Abd Alla's salary is paid by New York taxpayers. "We have the expectations of total professionalism and compliance with all the rules and policies of CUNY. Any employee that breaks our policies or our rules will be investigated," Rodriguez said. Stefanik responded: "But it obviously doesn't break CUNY's rules to have a senior employee who was previously employed by a terrorist-affiliated organization. That is unacceptable to New York taxpayers. It is unacceptable to American taxpayers." The congresswoman also pressed Rodriguez on whether he was familiar with CUNY Clear, which she described as the "clinical arm of the CUNY School of Law." "The CUNY Clear founder and professor is the head of Mahmoud Khalil's legal defense fund. Are you aware of that?" she asked, referring to the anti-Israel activist at Columbia University. Rodriguez testified that he was not aware. Though Stefanik did not mention a name, she appeared to be referencing Professor Ramzi Kassem, the founder of the CUNY Clear, or "Creating Law Enforcement Accountability & Responsibility." Kassem is handling Khalil's defense efforts. Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student who led the anti-Israel encampment on that school's campus, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in March. The Trump administration cited a rare provision arguing his activism was harmful to U.S. foreign policy. He spent more than 100 days at an ICE facility in Louisiana before a federal judge granted his release amid ongoing deportation hearings. Khalil is seeking $20 million from the Trump administration over his detention. "Does it concern you that New York taxpayers are paying the salary for the legal defense fund of Mahmoud Khalil?" Stefanik asked. "And I'll remind you who Mahmoud Khalil is. This is the chief pro-Hamas agitator that led to the antisemitic encampments at Columbia, the rioting and violent takeover of Hamilton Hall, the harassment and physical assault of Jewish students." Rodriguez said the university does not condone any kind of antisemitism, but Stefanik interjected: "But you allow the head of the clinical legal organization and a professor to be the chief legal aid to Mahmoud Khalil and do his legal defense fund." "Those decisions are made in the clinics, are made in the individual campuses," Rodriguez said. The congresswoman retorted, "It goes up to you. You are the chancellor." While Rodriguez said antisemitism wouldn't be tolerated and promised an investigation, he declined to answer whether the faculty member handling Khalil's defense would be fired from CUNY. "Let me make a prediction. No disciplinary action. This individual is not going to be fired because it's all words. No action. You have failed the people of New York. You have failed Jewish students in New York state. And it is a disgrace," Stefanik said.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
University leaders face tough questions in House hearing on antisemitism
The leaders of Georgetown University, the City University of New York and the University of California at Berkeley faced harsh questioning from House lawmakers Tuesday during a hearing about antisemitism on college campuses. Robert Groves, Georgetown University's interim president, Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, CUNY's chancellor, and Rich Lyons, UC-Berkeley's chancellor, navigated targeted questions about specific incidents of student and faculty discipline. Groves has been in his position since last year; Matos Rodriguez since 2019; and Lyons since last summer.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Hochul facing pushback over removal of Palestinian Studies professor job listing at CUNY
The faculty union at the City University of New York is objecting to Gov. Hochul's order to interrupt the hiring process for a Palestinian Studies professor, saying the move is an overreach of the governor into academic affairs. The planned hiring of the professor at CUNY's Hunter College on the Upper East Side became a flashpoint this week after the New York Post ran a story condemning the job listing, prompting the governor to intervene. Pro-Palestinian protesters had planned to confront the governor Thursday during a planned appearance at CUNY's City College in Harlem, but it was canceled over safety concerns. At nearby Barnard College Wednesday evening, protesters injured a school employee during a brief takeover of a campus building. In a forceful letter to Hochul and CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez, the Professional Staff Congress raised concerns about the governor's involvement — and its implications for academic freedom. 'We oppose antisemitism and all forms of hate, but this move is counterproductive,' wrote James Davis, president of the PSC, in the memo released Wednesday evening. 'It is an overreach of authority to rule an entire area of academic study out of bounds.' Davis pointed to turmoil even within his own union over the war in Gaza — but suggested the solution would involve more education, not less. This year, the PSC both passed, then promptly rescinded, a resolution to divest from Israel. The union head likened Hochul shying away from divisive concepts to 'something devised in Florida,' where the governor there has tried to restrict teaching about race and gender, 'What's needed are inclusive ways of teaching, not canceling concepts and areas of study,' the letter continued. The governor's office deferred to CUNY for comment on the protest, but confirmed the job listing has been removed from their website. It was not immediately clear if the job would be reposted. 'There is no class that is being canceled or pulled,' said Kara Fesolovich, a spokeswoman for Hochul. Meanwhile, a separate group of protesters — unaffiliated with the union — planned to confront Hochul on Thursday afternoon at City College, where she was scheduled to make a workforce-related announcement. Spokesmen for the event and for CUNY confirmed it was called off minutes after it was supposed to begin, which was also supposed to include Rep. Adriano Espaillat, former Congressman Charles Rangel and the CUNY chancellor. 'Due to safety concerns, we made the decision to postpone today's event,' CCNY said in a statement. 'We are very proud of the partnership between the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and City College's Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Initiative, and we look forward to rescheduling this event soon. On social media, protesters had put out an 'urgent call to action,' calling the governor a 'fascist' whose intervention will 'silence critical scholarship.' 'Hochul and every politician enabling the suppression of Palestinian voices should know they will be confronted wherever they go,' read posts on X and Instagram, by a network of student groups called CUNY4Palestine. Matos Rodriguez, the CUNY chancellor, and chairman of the CUNY Board of Trustees William Thompson have backed Hochul's decision to pull the Hunter College job description. 'We find this language divisive, polarizing and inappropriate,' read a statement on Tuesday, 'and strongly agree with Gov. Hochul's direction to remove this posting, which we have ensured Hunter College has since done.' 'CUNY will continue working with the governor and other stakeholders to tackle antisemitism on our campuses and combat hate in all of its forms.'
