New York Republicans introduce bill to penalize universities over antisemitism

Reps. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., on Wednesday introduced legislation that would penalize universities for failing to protect students' civil rights.

Entitled "the University Accountability Act," the legislation comes in response to an increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel last year. 

“I will continue to lead the efforts ridding our higher education institutions of antisemitism," Stefanik said in a press release. "With this new legislation, the University Accountability Act, we will impose penalties on universities who violate the civil rights of their own students including by failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitic hate."

Stefanik has made headlines over the past few months for her tough questioning of the heads of Ivy League universities about antisemitism on college campuses. 

A report put forth by the Anti-Defamation League at the end of 2023 reported that antisemitism has been on the rise and the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas "helped spread a fire that was already out of control."

The legislation would "require colleges and universities that meet the penalty criteria to pay a fine of either five percent of the school's aggregate administrative compensation as reported on the school's Form 990, or $100,000, whichever is greater."

Rep. Malliotakis said that if universities receive federal tax dollars, "they should be doing more than simply giving a slap on the wrist to perpetrators of hate."