House Education and the Workforce Chair, Rep. Virginia Foxx, has initiated an investigation into the University of Pennsylvania’s response to antisemitism on its campus. The inquiry, outlined in a letter to the University’s Board of Trustees and Interim President, alleges that a pervasive environment of antisemitism existed at Penn before the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
This move comes following a similar investigation into Harvard University, where Foxx criticized the document response as “woefully inadequate.” The investigations were prompted by the testimonies of former university presidents during a House hearing on antisemitism. The letter to Penn details several incidents of antisemitism on campus, including vandalism and threatening emails received by Penn staff.
Foxx is seeking all reports of antisemitic incidents and related documents since January 1, 2021, along with information on the school’s disciplinary process. The request extends beyond antisemitism, encompassing documents related to free speech legal settlements, the budget of the Penn Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and details on foreign donations received by the university.
The University of Pennsylvania has been given until February 7 to provide the requested documents. Penn has not yet commented on the investigation. This development reflects ongoing efforts to address antisemitism on college campuses and ensures transparency in handling such incidents.
This report aims to present the facts surrounding the investigation without taking a political stance, providing readers with an unbiased perspective on the situation at the University of Pennsylvania.
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