The Congressional Committee on Education & Workforce, chaired by Tim Walberg (R-MI), will hold a hearing on May 7 at 10:15 a.m. titled “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses.” Haverford College’s President Wendy Raymond will testify alongside Dr. Jeffrey Armstrong, President of California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo), and Dr. Robert Manuel, President of DePaul University. The April 10 press release from the committee was titled, “College President to Answer for Mishandling of Antisemitic, Violent Protests.”
Walberg’s statement included in the release reads, “For the past few years, our Committee has played a critical role in both uncovering the rampant antisemitism on college campuses and holding administrators accountable. This hearing is a continuation of this work so that we can ensure Jewish students across the nation don’t face threats or harassment in violation of Title VI. Numerous legislative options are under consideration to make certain that schools across the country are ensuring a safe learning environment for all students in compliance with federal law.”
Walberg was selected as the chairman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce on December 12, 2024. On that day, he vowed to get to work on “…enshrining protections for parents, continuing to protect Jewish students on college campuses, [and] rights providing more opportunity and flexibility to American workers.”
Haverford College is one of many institutions of higher education across the nation which saw — and continues to experience — widespread student protests on its campus in the wake of the events of October 7, 2023. Since then, the college has been criticized by several groups outside the community for the administration’s response to student activism.
Similar criticism has manifested within the college’s own student body, including the anonymous group “Jews at Haverford,” which is composed of students and currently pursuing a lawsuit against the College. The plaintiffs, represented by The Deborah Project, accuse the administration of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act in an ongoing suit begun on May 13, 2024.
Jesse Lytle, Vice President and Chief of Staff of the College, told the Bi-Co News, “President Raymond has been invited to testify before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce on matters relating to antisemitism. We appreciate the work of the Committee and the opportunity to engage with them in meaningful dialogue on May 7.”
