Amid allegations of rampant antisemitism and academic dishonesty at Harvard University, House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik has called on the institution to cooperate fully with a congressional probe launched by the House Education and Workforce Committee. The investigation comes after dozens of examples of alleged plagiarism were uncovered in the 1997 Ph.D. thesis of Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay.
Despite the allegations, Harvard Law Professor Randall Kennedy has publicly supported Gay. He has also suggested that Harvard leadership could decline to cooperate with the congressional investigation if lawmakers’ inquiries are deemed to be “bad faith efforts to harass, embarrass, and intimidate.”
However, Stefanik has dismissed Kennedy’s comments, highlighting that Harvard is “funded with billions of taxpayer dollars” and Congress has the clear legal authority to make inquiries into the conduct of the institution. Stefanik argues that the funding is a privilege, not a right, and Congress has a prerogative to assess whether Harvard is meeting its responsibilities under federal civil rights laws and conducting itself in a manner consistent with its accreditation.
Stefanik has expressed strong support for Chairwoman Virginia Foxx’s investigation, reiterating that Harvard must cooperate fully. The committee’s probe focuses on allegations of rampant antisemitism on Harvard’s campus and academic dishonesty by its president.
As the congressional investigation continues, the spotlight is firmly on Harvard University, which has a responsibility to demonstrate its commitment to academic integrity and compliance with federal civil rights laws. The institution’s cooperation with the investigation will be crucial in providing transparency and accountability.
While Kennedy may have stood by Gay, Stefanik’s position is in line with the congressional committee’s role in investigating such allegations against academic institutions.