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10/31/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/31/2024 13:11

University statement on Republican Staff Report

University statement on Republican Staff Report

Media Information

  • Release Date: October 31, 2024

Media Contacts

Jon Yates

There is no place for antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Israeli or anti-Palestinian hate, or any form of identity-based discrimination or hate at Northwestern University. Free expression and academic freedom are among our core values, but we have made clear that these values provide no excuse for behavior that threatens the well-being of others.

The Republican Staff Report remains focused on events that were fully debated in the committee hearing last spring, and it ignores the hard work our community has put in since then to improve our policies and procedures and create a safer learning environment for our students, faculty and staff. To that end, 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.

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 allegations in the report that the University ever seriously considered hiring an "anti-Zionist" rabbi or boycotting any Israeli company are patently false.

The University objects to the unfair characterizations of our Provost and valued members of our faculty based on isolated and out-of-context communications. The University unequivocally stands behind them and their work on behalf of our students, and their hard work to successfully bring our encampment to a swift and peaceful end.

We continue to work tirelessly to make our university a safe and non-discriminatory educational institution.