DePaul University President Testifies on Antisemitism in U.S. Colleges

WASHINGTON, D.C. — DePaul University President Robert Manuel has been summoned to testify before Congress regarding antisemitism on college campuses. The U.S. House Committee on Education & the Workforce, led by Republican Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan, will hold the hearing titled “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses” on May 7.

In a letter sent to Manuel and DePaul’s board of trustees, Walberg expressed concerns that the university may be violating federal civil rights laws by not adequately addressing antisemitism on its campus. The hearing will also include testimony from the presidents of Haverford College and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.

“President Manuel looks forward to having the conversation with our lawmakers and describing all that DePaul has done to confront antisemitism on campus,” a university statement read.

Prior to this congressional hearing, DePaul has publicly condemned antisemitism, stating, “We are committed to ensuring DePaul is a safe and welcoming space for every member of our community.”

The call for testimony comes in the wake of a hate crime incident that occurred on DePaul’s campus. Adam Erkan, 20, is currently charged with felony counts of hate crime and aggravated battery following an attack on two Jewish students, Max Long and Michael Kaminsky, on November 6, 2024. The students allege that DePaul failed to protect them during the assault.

The attack took place near the DePaul student center, where Long suffered a concussion and Kaminsky fractured his wrist. A DePaul Public Safety officer was present at the time of the attack but reportedly did not intervene.

This incident follows a series of pro-Palestinian student actions at DePaul, including an encampment protesting against the Israeli bombardments in Gaza. These protests have drawn national attention and have been scrutinized by officials concerned about antisemitism on campuses.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has pressured universities to take decisive action against antisemitism, threatening to withdraw federal funding from those perceived as not doing enough to support Jewish students. This maintains a broader trend of heightened scrutiny of institutions’ handling of diversity and inclusion initiatives.

As the hearing date approaches, tensions continue to rise as multiple stakeholders in higher education discuss the implications of antisemitism on campuses nationwide.