Southern West Virginia News

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) participated in a Ways and Means Committee Hearing to discuss the continued antisemitism on college campuses across the country and the Committee's ongoing investigation into the issue.

Congresswoman Miller began her remarks by expressing concerns about growing antisemitism in the United States. She asked Talia Dror, a recent graduate from Cornell University, if she had received any support from the faculty or the university in planning for her post-college life.

“I am horrified by the acts of antisemitism. I can’t really comprehend it. Ms. Dror, you seem like a very strong young woman. I’m proud of you, and I commend you for the bravery of standing up for yourself, and of course, congratulations on your graduation. I’m sorry that you really didn’t have the experience of enjoying your senior year, hanging out, and looking forward to graduation. Did you have any help from the university planning ahead of where you are going to go with your life in your senior year? Did you have any of that kind of support?” asked Congresswoman Miller.

“I just graduated and had a pretty busy year trying to deal with the hatred on my campus. I have sent multiple emails to my university, calling out the hate, asking for help, asking them to do something. I’ve been met with generic email responses saying, ‘Please see the office with help, care, love, and hugs,’ and that absolutely will not do it for me. I’ve also turned to career services for help. I remember particularly in one meeting; I was working with a staff member when she told me, ‘By the way, I just want you to know people might not hire you because of your political involvement.’ My political involvement is standing against Jews feeling afraid to walk on their campus. If people aren’t hiring me, we have a much bigger problem. That’s bigotry,” responded Ms. Dror.

Congresswoman Miller continued her questioning by asking Kenneth L. Marcus, Founder & Chairman of Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law about his thoughts on Institutional Neutrality across colleges and universities.

“Mr. Marcus, in spite of instances of physical violence against Jewish students, universities have still held to inaction. They’re hiding behind ‘free speech’ as the reasoning for their silence. Violence is not free speech. Many colleges and universities have adopted a policy called ‘Institutional Neutrality,’ which means that the institution won’t take a public position on social or political issues unless it threatens the very mission of that school and its values. Since its creation, Institutional Neutrality has since been adopted by several schools across the country. What do you think of this policy of Institutional Neutrality?” asked Congresswoman Miller.

“When the principle of Institutional Neutrality first became popular, I thought it was a fine idea because too many institutions are taking wrong sides on issues and impairing their campus environment by doing so," responded Mr. Marcus." On the other hand," he continued," there are many institutions now adopting that principle only when they've been asked to condemn terrorist attacks against Jewish people." He added," Then all of a sudden they say,' Oh well maybe we don’t want to take a stand.' Maybe if we adopt this principle we will have some sort of cover or excuse for why we don’t do it.’ In those instances," he concluded," it’s not really about neutrality; it’s about cowardice and should be called out as such.”

###