CUNY Reports 68 Antisemitism Complaints in 2024 as Chancellor Concedes Faculty May Engage in Antisemitic Behavior

City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez faced intense questioning before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, regarding the university's handling of antisemitism on its campuses. During the hearing, Matos Rodríguez made a notable concession when asked directly if CUNY had antisemitic faculty. He responded:

"We have faculty that might conduct themselves in antisemitic behavior." This testimony comes amidst heightened scrutiny of higher education institutions following the October 7, 2023 attacks and subsequent campus protests.

The congressional hearing was the latest in a series scrutinizing university leaders over alleged failures to protect Jewish students and address rising antisemitism. Chancellor Matos Rodríguez appeared alongside interim presidents from Georgetown University and the University of California, Berkeley. Republican lawmakers, notably Representative Elise Stefanik, pressed the university heads on various issues, including faculty unions, Middle East studies, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, often leading to combative exchanges.

Matos Rodríguez affirmed CUNY's commitment, stating, "Antisemitism has no place at CUNY," and emphasized the non-negotiable safety of the Jewish community. He reported that CUNY recorded 68 complaints of antisemitism in 2024, with an additional 16 so far in 2025. The university has also implemented a "zero-tolerance policy" against encampments, a measure adopted after police involvement in spring 2024 protests, and has increased security personnel across its 26 campuses.

Rep. Stefanik challenged the Chancellor on specific instances, including delays in removing a swastika at Hunter College and the hiring of a chief diversity officer with previous ties to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Stefanik also questioned a CUNY Law professor's representation of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. Matos Rodríguez largely responded by stating that investigations would be conducted and appropriate actions taken, while also noting that decisions regarding legal clinics are made at individual campuses.

The hearing also brought to light concerns from CUNY faculty and the Professional Staff Congress (PSC) union regarding the recent non-reappointment or termination of at least four adjunct professors, who allege their dismissals were linked to their pro-Palestinian activism. PSC President James Davis has described these actions as "highly irregular" and indicative of a "new McCarthyism," arguing that the university is infringing on free speech and academic freedom. Critics, including some Democratic lawmakers, have labeled these congressional hearings as "political theater" that disproportionately focuses on antisemitism while overlooking other forms of discrimination.