On Wednesday, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who has been the leader in Congress grilling university presidents about their failure to confront antisemitism on campus, took apart Haverford College President Wendy Raymond, who consistently evaded giving direct answers and referred to a cheat sheet she brought with her.
The president of Haverford showed up to a congressional hearing on antisemitism with flashcards of pre-written answers.
Not convictions. Not moral clarity.
Flashcards.
This is what higher ed leadership looks like now—scripted, spineless, and coached to the bone.
https://t.co/WHb90uJv0h pic.twitter.com/hGbVOWmFXd
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik)
May 7, 2025
Stefanik asked about a statement from a student group on Haverford’s campus which called for the “complete dismantling of the apartheid settler colonial state of Israel by all means necessary,” asking, “What does ‘by all means necessary’ mean to you?”
Raymond answered with a quote from her cheat sheet, replying, “Invoking that kind of terminology is repugnant.”
When Stefanik asked if any disciplinary action was taken, there was a long pause before Raymond started to repeat, “Those kinds of statements are” — then looked at her notes.
“I’m not asking you if they’re repugnant; I’m asking about the disciplinary action,” Stefanik stated. “You were the one university president who failed to lay out if any disciplinary action has been taken, if any suspension or expulsions. So I am asking you: Was there any disciplinary action taken?”
“Disciplinary action can include expulsion and —,” Raymond began.
“I’m not asking what it can include; I’m asking, was it taken?” Stefanik pressed.
“I will not be talking about individual cases here,” Raymond dodged.
Stefanik asked about a professor who had said in the wake of the murderous Hamas massacre of more than 1200 people in Israel on October 7, 2023, “We should never have to apologize for celebrating these scenes of an imprisoned people breaking free from their chains. This was a historic moment to be recorded in your history books.”
“Jewish students have reported that you said, ‘This post could be perceived in many ways.’ Does this post simply depend on the context President Raymond, and were there any disciplinary actions taken against this professor?” Stefanik asked.
“Such posts have been incredibly harmful to our entire community and I disavow them and that outcome for us,” Raymond said.
When Stefanik asked if the professor had been investigated, Raymond dodged again, prompting Stefanik to assert, “This is a simple question. The other presidents are answering this straightforward as to disciplinary action; again, these university presidents, who are former presidents, failed to answer these direct questions. In this case, was there disciplinary action taken or an investigation of this professor?”
“Respectfully, representative, I will not be talking about individual cases,” Raymond said loftily.
“Respectfully, President of Haverford, many people have sat in this position who are no longer in their positions as presidents of universities for their failure to answer straightforward questions,” Stefanik fired back.
After further attempts by Raymond to evade giving direct answers, Stefanik concluded, “For the American people watching, you still don’t get it. Haverford still doesn’t get it. It’s a very different testimony than the other presidents who are here today who are coming with specifics. So again this is completely unacceptable and it’s why this committee has stepped in, because higher education has failed to address the scourge of antisemitism putting Jewish students at risk at Haverford and at other campuses across the country.”
Text of exchange below:
Stefanik: Let me ask you a specific question. There was a student group on Haverford’s campus who called for the “complete dismantling of the apartheid settler colonial state of Israel by all means necessary.” What does “by all means necessary” mean to you?
Raymond: Invoking that kind of terminology is repugnant because of what it can mean and I will not —
Stefanik: So does that depend on the context?
Raymond: I will not defend that statement.
Stefanik: So what disciplinary action was taken against that group or those individuals who made that call? Any disciplinary action? (long pause) Was there any disciplinary action taken against that group or those individuals?
Raymond: Those kinds of statements are (looks at her notes)
Stefanik: I’m not asking you if they’re repugnant; I’m asking about the disciplinary action. You were the one university president who failed to lay out if any disciplinary action has been taken, if any suspension or expulsions. So I am asking you: Was there any disciplinary action taken?
Raymond: Disciplinary action can include expulsion and —
Stefanik: I’m not asking what it can include; I’m asking, was it taken?
Raymond: I will not be talking about individual cases here and I’m saying that that is —
Stefanik: So have there been any actions taken by Haverford related to antisemitism? Any?
Raymond: Disciplinary actions are absolutely in our work against antisemitism?
Stefanik: Have they been taken? Have they been taken by Haverford?
Raymond: Yes, there have been some.
Stefanik: I want to ask you another example. There was a professor of mathematics and statistics who posted after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks, “We should never have to apologize for celebrating these scenes of an imprisoned people breaking free from their chains. This was a historic moment to be recorded in your history books.” Jewish students have reported that you said. “This post could be perceived in many ways.” Does this post simply depend on the context President Raymond, and were there any disciplinary actions taken against this professor?
Raymond: Such posts have been incredibly harmful to our entire community and I disavow them and that outcome for us.
Stefanik: Was there an investigation of the professor?
Raymond: Investigations happen in all such cases.
Stefanik: So yes in this case.
Raymond: Investigations happen in all such cases, as I have said, and we follow —
Stefanik: This is a simple question. The other presidents are answering this straightforward as to disciplinary action; again, these university presidents, who are former presidents, failed to answer these direct questions. In this case, was there disciplinary action taken or an investigation of this professor?
Raymond: Respectfully, representative I will not be talking about individual cases.
Stefanik: Respectfully, president of Haverford, many people have sat in this position who are no longer in their positions as presidents of universities for their failure to answer straightforward questions. Another question I have, because this is a theme at Haverford: There was an administrator who said that “racial minority students have never felt safe at Haverford” and that “Jewish perspective students should not expect to feel safe and should instead be brave.” This was according to litigation against your college. Was there any investigation into this administrator for making those statements?
Raymond: That report does not reflect administrators that I know, who stand strongly with me and the entire college against antisemitism.
Stefanik: So that didn’t happen is your position? Was that statement not made by that administrator?
Raymond: That statement does not comport with those administrators that I know.
Stefanik: I’m not asking if it comports with the administrators that you know. I’m saying, is it your testimony that statement did not happen even though it’s coming out in litigation? So are you saying it did not happen.
Raymond: What I am saying is that I cannot imagine that happening from those colleagues of mine.
Stefanik: Let me ask you: If it did happen, what disciplinary action would Haverford take against that administrator.
Raymond: We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment or bias.
Stefanik: And what does that mean, “not tolerate”? Does that mean suspension, firing of that individual, what does that mean?
Raymond: It means following all of our policies which begin with investigation and then can lead to any of the aspects that you listed.
Stefanik: For the American people watching, you still don’t get it. Haverford still doesn’t get it. It’s a very different testimony than the other presidents who are here today who are coming with specifics. So again this is completely unacceptable and it’s why this committee has stepped in, because higher education has failed to address the scourge of antisemitism putting Jewish students at risk at Haverford and at other campuses across the country.
WATCH: I questioned Haverford College President Wendy Raymond on her failure of leadership and the scourge of Antisemitism within her institution during the
@EdWorkforceCmte hearing.
pic.twitter.com/YKPbLPXBIV
— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik)
May 7, 2025
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