The report, which details the findings of a yearlong investigation led by committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), found that antisemitism overtook college campuses over the last year and resulted in school administrators placing “the wants of terrorist sympathizers over the safety of Jewish students, faculty, and staff.”

The investigation is in response to pro-Palestinian protests that broke out across the country in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel and the war in Gaza. 

“For over a year, the American people have watched antisemitic mobs rule over so-called elite universities, but what was happening behind the scenes is arguably worse,” Foxx said in a statement. “While Jewish students displayed incredible courage and a refusal to cave to the harassment, university administrators, faculty, and staff were cowards who fully capitulated to the mob and failed the students they were supposed to serve.”

The 325-page report concluded with four main findings. The committee accused universities of making “astounding concessions” to the student leaders of pro-Palestinian encampments that overtook many college campuses. The report specifically cited Northwestern University, pointing to the school’s administrators agreeing to demands to hire “an ‘anti-Zionist’ rabbi” and to remove Sabra hummus from all campus cafeterias. 

Northwestern University officials rejected those findings, claiming the report “ignores the hard work” of the school to improve its policies and procedures over the last year.

“We have strengthened our Student Code of Conduct and other University-wide policies – including our disciplinary rules and procedures – in order to provide greater clarity on permitted and prohibited behavior, and we are continuing to add resources and expand educational opportunities in line with our commitment to protect our community while facilitating the productive exchange of ideas and perspectives,” a spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.

“The University stands behind President Schill’s accurate testimony before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding the events that took place on Northwestern’s campus last spring as well as the actions we are taking to address antisemitism and other forms of discrimination at the University,” the spokesperson added. “The allegations in the report that the University ever seriously considered hiring an “anti-Zionist” rabbi or boycotting any Israeli company are patently false.”

The report also alleged that university leaders “deliberately chose” to withhold support from Jewish students, specifically pointing to statements from Harvard University criticizing the Oct. 7 attacks that “intentionally” omitted any condemnation of Hamas. 

Harvard pushed back on those findings, noting to the Washington Examiner the university has cooperated with the committee’s investigations and has taken steps to bolster “our efforts to listen to, learn from, support, and uplift our Jewish community.”

“Harvard is steadfast in our efforts to create a safe, inclusive environment where students can pursue their academic and personal interests free from harassment and discrimination,” Jason Newton, spokesperson for Harvard, said in a statement. “At the same time, the university has taken steps to strengthen and clarify rules for use of campus spaces and disciplinary policies and procedures, as well as engage our community around civil dialogue to bridge divides. This work is ongoing, and Harvard is fully committed to it and confident we are moving in the right direction.”

Additionally, the committee found that administrators “overwhelmingly failed” to enforce “meaningful discipline” for those found engaging in antisemitic conduct. The report specifically accused Harvard and Columbia University of “derailing discipline toward antisemitic conduct violations” as well as Rutgers University for instead “disciplining Jewish students who spoke out against the harassment.”

“Our investigation has shown that these ‘leaders’ bear the responsibility for the chaos likely violating Title VI and threatening public safety,” Foxx said. “It is time for the executive branch to enforce the laws and ensure colleges and universities restore order and guarantee that all students have a safe learning environment.”

The widespread protests on college campuses have garnered national attention over the last year, especially as GOP lawmakers have criticized university leadership for failing to crack down on antisemitism. 

House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has been a leading voice on Capitol Hill, calling on colleges to crack down on violence stemming from pro-Palestinian protests, which has since resulted in the resignation of presidents from three top U.S. universities over their failure to condemn antisemitism.

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Those resignations include former Columbia President Minouche Shafik, former Harvard President Claudine Gay, and former University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill.

The Washington Examiner reached out to a spokesperson at Rutgers for comment.