At today's House Education Committee hearing, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) questioned Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor of The City University of New York.
00:00Let me ask the college university leaders this first question.
00:06I'd like you to define anti-Semitism as understood by, in your case, Dr. Groves, Georgetown University in all its campuses.
00:24So we define anti-Semitism as hatred of the Jewish people and all of the behaviors that might be connected with such hatred.
00:39Dr. Matos Rodriguez, what is CUNY's definition?
00:44Anti-Semitism is hatred or prejudice against Jews or individuals who are perceived to be Jewish.
00:54Dr. Lyons, similarly, your microphone.
01:01I define anti-Semitism as hatred or discrimination against Jewish people.
01:09Okay.
01:10I appreciated the fact that each of you were able to quickly define it and simply, at least for your institution, as you understand it.
01:19Chancellor Matos Rodriguez, does CUNY have an anti-Semitism problem, yes or no?
01:26Without objection, I'd like to enter into the record the testimony of dozens of CUNY students who have experienced severe anti-Semitism on campuses.
01:43Hearing no objection, they will be entered.
01:49How many Jewish students have transferred out of CUNY since October 7th, 2023?
01:54I don't have that information, Chair.
02:00It would be good information to get.
02:01How many anti-Semitism complaints has CUNY received system-wide since October 7th, 2023?
02:10We have received, in 2024, 68 complaints of anti-Semitism.
02:16On the current year, 2025, we have 16.
02:23How many students has CUNY suspended or expelled for anti-Semitic conduct since October 7th, 2023?
02:30We have, over the last two years, disciplined 18 students for anti-Semitic conduct, and we have disciplined another 25 for inappropriate behavior in protests, demonstrations, or rallies.
02:47Chancellor, you have referred to the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism as a vital resource.
02:55Does that mean university officials are employing this definition to determine what constitutes anti-Semitism across the CUNY system?
03:03Thank you for your question, and that is correct, and we've added in our training for all the individuals who participate in the investigations on our campuses.
03:14The ones who are higher in this year receive new training, which includes using the definition as stipulated by OCR, and it's also part of refreshing courses that we have for all personnel, in addition to public safety officers.
03:31Does CUNY have any anti-Semitic faculty?
03:34We have faculty that might conduct themselves in anti-Semitic behavior, and we have no tolerance for it, and we're clear about the expectations to follow all our rules and policies, and if any individual breaks those rules, they will be investigated, and the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken if warranted.
03:57How many Zionist professors has CUNY hired since October 7th?
04:03We do not track the hiring of faculty in terms of ideology or things of that nature, so I wouldn't be able to tell you that information.
04:14But you're able to tell us that you had anti-Semitic professors?
04:17Well, that is based on some of the disciplining and behavior that we had in some of the campuses, so.
04:26Without objection, I'd like to enter the record a complaint filed by Hunter College Jewish Studies Chair Leah Garrett against CUNY alleging a hostile workplace environment.
04:39Without objection, I hear none.
04:41That will be submitted.
04:41While Dr. Garrett was suffering under CUNY's indifference to anti-Semitism, in February 2025, Hunter College posted a job announcement looking to hire a Palestinian studies professor, well-versed in settler colonialism, genocide, and apartheid.
05:00As you know, Hunter College was forced to edit this anti-Semitic job description.
05:05Did Hunter College still hire people for this position?
05:08When that posting reached my attention, we made sure to tell Hunter College that it was entirely inappropriate to have that posting, that it needed to be modified, and that they needed to also take steps to make sure that any postings in the future would not contain language like that.
05:28That hiring process is ongoing.
05:32That's an issue of great concern to us.
05:34We continue to hear rhetoric denouncing settler colonialism and Israeli genocide contribute to anti-Semitism in the college and CUNY.
05:44Specifically, my time has expired.
05:47And now I recognize the gentlelady from Oregon, Ms. Bonamici.
