University Officials Pressed Over Alleged Antisemitism

Four university officials faced questioning on Tuesday over allegations of antisemitism and the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion on their campuses.

The hearing titled, “Training Activists, Not Physicians: The impact of DEI on Medical Schools,” probed into alleged antisemitism found on the campuses stretching back to 2023, according to the Committee of Education and Workforce.

Interim Dean for University of Illinois College of Medicine (UICOM), Enrico Benedetti, testified over a letter addressing allegations of antisemitism found following the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, per the Chicago Tribune.

In an investigation brought by the Committee on Education and Workforce they allegedly found repeated removal of posters to raise awareness of hostages from the Hamas attacks, hateful messages posted by students in Slack, and failure to address antisemitism under the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, according to a letter.

“Last August, the Education and Workforce Committee opened investigations into the three medical schools before us today. We had received repeated complaints of severe antisemitism from students and faculty on these campuses, and we wanted to understand what was causing it,” according to a Tuesday Committee on Education and Workforce press release.

The Committee also launched investigations into the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and the University of California Los Angeles Geffen School of Medicine (UCLA),