High Country Times

Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) released a statement in response to reports that Columbia University President Dr. Minouche Shafik is resigning.

"During Shafik’s presidency, a disturbing wave of antisemitic harassment, discrimination, and disorder engulfed Columbia University's campus. Jewish students and faculty have been mocked, harassed, and assaulted simply for their identity. Every student has the right to a safe learning environment. Period. Yet, flagrant violations of the law and the university rules went unpunished."

Foxx continued by emphasizing the need for strong leadership at Columbia: "Columbia’s next leader must take bold action to address the pervasive antisemitism, support for terrorism, and contempt for the university’s rules that have been allowed to flourish on its campus."

The Committee has consistently supported Jewish students and called for action from Columbia's administration regarding illegal activities on campus:

- In February, Chairwoman Foxx demanded answers from top Columbia University officials about their response to antisemitism and failure to protect Jewish students, faculty, and staff.

- In April, she convened a full committee hearing with top Columbia University officials to hold them accountable for the situation on their campus.

- Following this hearing, Foxx again urged Columbia University officials to honor commitments made before Congress as conditions continued to worsen.

- In April, she accompanied Speaker Mike Johnson to observe the situation at Columbia University firsthand.

- In June, after reports surfaced that four Columbia deans had exchanged disparaging text messages while members of the university’s Jewish community discussed antisemitism, Foxx demanded these texts be turned over to the Committee.

- In August, she renewed demands for information about the University's response to antisemitism on campus and indicated that a subpoena would be issued if necessary.

###