Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong will testify before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on May 7th, addressing the university's response to antisemitism. The hearing will also include representatives from DePaul University and Haverford College.
The committee's concern stems from what it perceives as mishandling of antisemitic and violent protests at Cal Poly. While most pro-Palestine protests were peaceful, some resulted in arrests and conflicts with law enforcement. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) gave Cal Poly a failing grade on its Campus Antisemitism Report Card, citing hostile student groups, lack of public condemnation of antisemitic incidents, and pro-Palestine demonstrations.
Cal Poly announced the formation of a task force to combat antisemitism, which will evaluate data from a Jewish climate survey and develop a campus action plan. Following the announcement, the ADL upgraded Cal Poly's grade from an āFā to a āDā.
President Armstrong expressed his commitment to combating antisemitism and creating a safe environment for all students and staff. The House Committee Chairman, Tim Walberg, emphasized the committee's role in holding administrators accountable for addressing antisemitism on campuses.