Rep. Stefanik Confronts CUNY Chancellor on Antisemitism and Swastika Incident

CUNY's Response to Antisemitism

• 🎯 Rep. Elise Stefanik questioned CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez regarding the university's handling of antisemitism, particularly an incident where Jewish students had to enter a building under a swastika.
• ⚠️ The Chancellor stated that the swastika was placed outside and that there's a custom of removing such symbols, but acknowledged a delay in removal due to an NYPD anti-hate investigation.
• 📧 Stefanik highlighted an email from Hunter College's Director of Jewish Studies requesting the swastika's removal, which received an unresponsive reply, questioning if this was CUNY's stance.

Administrator Accountability

• ❓ Stefanik pressed for details on disciplinary actions taken against the administrator who sent the unresponsive email, to which the Chancellor responded that investigations are conducted and appropriate action is taken.
• 🚫 When pressed further, the Chancellor confirmed no disciplinary action had yet been taken against the administrator in that specific case, citing ongoing work with the NYPD.

Chief Diversity Officer Hiring

• 🔍 Stefanik raised concerns about CUNY hiring Abdi Allah as Chief Diversity Officer in 2021, noting her previous employment with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR).
• 🔗 It was confirmed that Allah was previously employed by CAIR, which Stefanik described as a co-conspirator in a terrorist financing case with ties to Hamas.
• 🏛️ The Chancellor stated that Allah has no direct responsibility over student or faculty cases and that he was not directly responsible for that hire, though she remains employed by CUNY.

CUNY Clear and Legal Defense Funds

• ❓ Stefanik inquired about CUNY Clear, the clinical arm of CUNY School of Law, and its founder, Professor Mahmud Khalil's legal defense fund.
• ⚖️ The Chancellor expressed unfamiliarity with CUNY Clear but stated that decisions regarding clinics are made on individual campuses.
• 🚫 Stefanik expressed concern that New York taxpayers fund the legal defense of Mahmud Khalil, whom she identified as a chief pro-Hamas agitator involved in encampments and assaults on Jewish students.
• 🗣️ When asked if the head of CUNY Clear being involved with Khalil's legal defense was acceptable, the Chancellor reiterated CUNY's zero-tolerance policy for antisemitism and stated that any faculty member breaking rules would be investigated and potentially face disciplinary action.