DePaul University's President Robert Manuel has been summoned to Washington to provide testimony before Congress about antisemitism on college campuses. Joining him on May 7 will be the presidents from Haverford College and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The trio is slated to address the U.S. House Committee on Education & the Workforce, which has titled the hearing "Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses," as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
This development follows keen interest from Committee Chair Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Michigan), who communicated concerns in a letter suggesting that failing to combat antisemitism could be seen as a violation of federal civil rights laws. Along these lines, a recent incident at DePaul's Lincoln Park campus has intensified scrutiny on the university’s measures to safeguard students from hate crimes. Two Jewish students, Max Long and Michael Kaminsky, were assaulted in November and have since filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging negligence in failing to provide adequate protection.
In response to the invitation to testify, DePaul University released a statement saying Manuel "looks forward to having the conversation with our lawmakers and describing all that DePaul has done to confront antisemitism on campus." The university has publicly condemned all forms of hatred, including antisemitism, as outlined on their website, a point underscored by their efforts to maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all community members.
Furthermore, the university found itself at the center of a contentious national debate when pro-Palestinian students erected an encampment on campus during the spring of 2024. As covered by CBS News Chicago, the encampment followed a series of similar protests nationwide and was later disbanded by police. The issue of campus antisemitism has also drawn the attention of the Trump administration, which has clashed with universities over policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, exerting pressure through threats of federal funding withdrawal.
Adam Erkan, 20, the individual accused of assaulting Long and Kaminsky in the aforementioned attack, faces two felony counts of a hate crime and aggravated battery. These legal motions occur amidst greater conversations about the responsibilities of universities to create environments that both champion free expression and aggressively counteract discrimination and bias. DePaul's forthcoming congressional testimony could potentially shape these wide-ranging debates as legislators consider measures to address concerns of antisemitism and safety on America’s college campuses.
