During Tuesday’s House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on combating antisemitism on college campuses after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, Empire State Rep. Elise Stefanik asked three college presidents whether calling for the genocide of Jews is against the codes of conduct at their schools.
Harvard University President Claudine Gay, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth refused to give a straight answer after Stefanik provided numerous opportunities to do so.
“It is a context-dependent decision,” a smiling Magill said.
“It’s a ‘context-dependent decision?’ That’s your testimony? Calling for the genocide of Jews is dependent upon the context? That is not bullying or harassment? This is the easiest question to answer ‘yes,’ Ms. Magill,” Stefanik said.
“If the speech becomes conduct, it can be harassment,” Magill said.
“Conduct meaning committing the act of genocide? The speech is not harassment?” Stefanik replied.
Watch the fiery exchange above.