Virginia Foxx Questions UC Berkeley Chancellor on Anti-Semitism and Faculty Conduct

Faculty Union and BDS Support

• 🎯 Representative Foxx questioned Chancellor Lyons about faculty and staff unions supporting the anti-semitic BDS movement.
• ❓ Lyons stated he has repudiated BDS and believes it has no place at the City University of New York, but did not provide a direct yes or no answer regarding union representation.
• ⚠️ An EEOC substantiated claim found the Professional Staff Congress (PSC) discriminated against Jewish professors, and Lyons was unaware of any disciplinary action taken.

Georgetown Professor's Statements

• ⚡ Foxx raised concerns about a Georgetown professor, Jonathan AC Brown, who expressed hope for an Iranian strike on a US base and was criticized for justifying it.
• 🔍 In response, the dean contacted Professor Brown, the tweet was removed, a statement condemning it was issued, and Brown is no longer department chair and is on leave pending review.

UC Berkeley Faculty Remarks

• 🚨 Foxx highlighted specific instances of UC Berkeley faculty and staff making anti-semitic remarks and justifying Palestinian terrorism.
• 💬 Examples included a history professor tweeting about breaking the siege on October 7th, referencing an article praising Hamas, and another professor posting anti-semitic tweets.
• 😔 An October 2023 survey indicated 85% of Jewish students felt UC Berkeley had not adequately addressed their safety concerns.

Chancellor's Response to Faculty Conduct

• 🚫 Chancellor Lyons stated he could not comment on individual faculty discipline but found such statements objectionable and reprehensible.
• 🤝 He committed to reporting such statements, having empathy for the Jewish community, and would report and have empathy for the Jewish community.
• 💡 When asked about reforms to hiring practices, Lyons asserted that academic standards, not ideological conditions, are used for hiring faculty.
• ⚠️ Foxx concluded that the university's academic standards appeared to be failing them.