By:  Hellen Zaboulani

Following the shocking responses to anti-Semitism from elite University Presidents on Capitol Hill last week, New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a warning to state schools.

As reported by the NY Post, Gov. Hochul warned there will be consequences for Empire State universities that don’t discipline students or faculty members who call for the genocide of Jews.  In a letter addressed to the presidents of colleges and universities across the State, Hochul said NYS would take enforcement action against schools which allow anti-Semitism to go unchecked.  “The moral lapses that were evidenced by the disgraceful answers to questions posed during this week’s congressional hearing cannot and will not be tolerated here in the state of New York,” she wrote in a letter on Saturday.

Hochul pointed to the testimony given by the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who failed to offer a clear-cut answer when asked if calling for genocide of Jews would violate the university’s codes of conduct.

“I was shocked to see the presidents of several prominent universities – current leaders that are responsible for educating young minds who will grow into the leaders of tomorrow – fail to clearly and unequivocally denounce anti-Semitism and calls for genocide of the Jewish people on their college campuses,” Hochul wrote in the letter.  Hochul, a Democrat, said she has already received affirmations from SUNY Chancellor John King and CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez, who said that such speech would constitute a violation at their school systems.

Per the Post, the governor said that any instances left unchecked by a college would be referred to NYS’s Division of Human rights, and to the federal government for potential legal action under civil rights laws.   Hochul also went so far as to suggest that colleges may lose their funding if they fail to enforce satisfactory codes of conduct banning hate.  “I want to reinforce that colleges and universities not in compliance with federal and state laws protecting students against discrimination can be deemed ineligible to receive state and federal funds,” she wrote.

On Saturday, UPenn President Liz Magill resigned in the aftermath of her testimony, with pressure mounting.  Last Wednesday, Magill had attempted to clarify her comments, however, she still did not offer an apology.  Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said Magill’s attempt to rebrand her testimony “looked like a hostage video, like she was speaking under duress” and called on her to resign.

On Thursday, Ross Stevens, CEO of Stone Ridge Asset and a major donor to Penn, sent a letter to Penn threatening to take steps that would cost the Ivy League school about $100 million if Magill stays on as president, CNN reported.  On Friday, a bipartisan group of more than 70 members of Congress sent a letter to board members of Harvard, MIT and Penn demanding that Magill resign, per the Post.  The letter also called for Harvard President Claudine Gay and MIT President Sally Kornbluth to step down.

Republicans in congress have said they will move forward with a full investigation into the colleges and other elite universities.

Gov. Hochul has assigned former Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippmann to investigate alleged hate at the CUNY school system.