Old North News

WASHINGTON – Today, Chairwoman Virginia Foxx of the Education and the Workforce Committee has initiated an investigation into the University of California, Berkeley's handling of antisemitism and its alleged failure to protect Jewish students on campus.

In a letter addressed to UC Berkeley's Chancellor Dr. Carol T. Christ, President Michael V. Drake, and Board of Regents Chair Richard Leib, Chairwoman Foxx expressed concerns over the university's response to various antisemitic incidents. The letter highlights a specific event on February 26, 2024, where an anti-Israel protest turned violent, resulting in the assault of Jewish students and the cancellation of an Israeli speaker's lecture. Foxx stated, "UC Berkeley’s failure to address this activity breaches a specific and longstanding university commitment to keep the gate unobstructed as part of a legal settlement and constitutes a selective dereliction of duty to enforce university rules against harassment."

Furthermore, the letter referenced an October 2023 survey revealing the sentiments of Jewish UC Berkeley students towards the administration's handling of safety concerns related to antisemitism. Foxx emphasized that a significant percentage of Jewish students do not feel safe expressing their Jewish identity on campus, indicating a deep-rooted issue that needs to be addressed urgently.

The letter detailed several antisemitic incidents at UC Berkeley, including assaults on Jewish students during riots, attacks on students holding Israeli flags, and the targeting of a Jewish professor with an antisemitic email. Additionally, an antisemitic note left in a Jewish student's apartment was referenced, highlighting a concerning trend of discrimination and hate on campus.

Chairwoman Foxx's letter concluded with a request for information from UC Berkeley, including all reports of antisemitic acts, documents outlining the university's policies to ensure safe learning environments, and details of any disciplinary actions taken in response to incidents targeting Jews, Israelis, or Zionists since January 1, 2021.

The Education and the Workforce Committee's investigation into UC Berkeley's handling of antisemitism marks a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by Jewish students and faculty on campus. For the full content of Chairwoman Foxx's letter, it can be accessed here.