Two United States House of Representatives committees jointly requested information from Penn on how the institution plans to address antisemitism and campus disruptions in the upcoming academic year.
The letter, signed by House Ways and Means Committee Chair Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Education and Workforce Committee Chair Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), was sent to Interim Penn President Larry Jameson and University Board of Trustees Chair Ramanan Raghavendran on Aug. 22. The committee chairs called on Penn to provide information on the "policies, procedures, and concrete measures" the University would be implementing to prevent a recurrence of alleged "antisemitic chaos" from the previous school year.
A University spokesperson declined a request for comment from The Daily Pennsylvanian on the letter or its contents.
In the letter, Foxx and Smith expressed concern over "ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic harassment and intimidation" on college campuses since Oct. 7, 2023.
“Your institution, and those like it, must be prepared for the organized efforts directed at Jewish students that will likely come roaring back to life when students return to campus this fall,” the letter stated. “Allowing your campus to suffer massive disruptions, as happened last school year, makes it extremely difficult for students, especially Jewish students, to feel safe and receive an education.”
The committees requested responses by Sept. 5 on Penn's preparations for potential "unauthorized encampments, protests, and other disruptions," including any new or revised policies, and changes to disciplinary procedures to ensure "efficient and effective" enforcement of laws and campus policies.
They also inquired about changes to Penn's disciplinary policies for the upcoming academic year, stating that "[t]his includes ensuring that bodies responsible for disciplinary processes are willing to enforce University rules, impose the appropriate discipline, are accountable to the University administration, and urge local prosecutors to pursue charges against individuals arrested for violating the law rather than dropping charges."
House Ways and Means Committee spokesperson J.P. Freire told the DP that "[The Committee] is interested to know what the school's response is."
Similar letters were sent to nine other institutions, including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, whose leadership testified before the House Education and Workforce Committee alongside former Penn President Liz Magill in December 2023.
“The University has had the entire summer to plan for the upcoming school year," the letter reads. "As such, we expect that your institution will be ready, willing, and able to prevent such antisemitic conduct and disruptions that violate campus policies and the law."
The letter referenced a July 24 protest in Washington, where some demonstrators burned American flags and expressed support for Hamas. Foxx and Smith drew connections between these protesters and groups involved in campus disruptions. They also cited statements from National Security Council official John Kirby suggesting Iranian involvement in funding U.S. protests.
Smith and Foxx also expressed concern over what they called "empty discipline and lack of enforcement," noting that many protesters arrested in Washington and on college campuses had criminal charges against them dismissed. The representatives also claimed to have "documented evidence" that students from universities under investigation participated in the Washington protests, which "ultimately turned violent."
Thursday's inquiry follows a series of investigations into Penn's response to campus antisemitism. Six U.S. House committee chairs sent a letter to Penn officials on June 3, announcing an expanded Congressional investigation into alleged antisemitism on campus. The probe, involving six committees, will examine Penn's use of federal funds and its learning environment.
This followed a May 2 announcement by House Speaker Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) of a Housewide investigation into antisemitism at various colleges. The letter accused Penn of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and failing to ensure a safe environment for all students. This expanded investigation builds upon previous probes initiated by the Committee on Education and the Workforce in December 2023 and the Ways and Means Committee in January 2024.
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