Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong will testify before Congress on May 7 regarding the university’s “mishandling” of pro-Palestinian activism in a hearing titled “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses.”
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce described the protests as “antisemitic and violent,” according to a Friday press release.
Armstrong will testify alongside the presidents of DePaul University and Haverford College, with the hearing live-streamed on the Committee’s YouTube channel at 7:15 a.m. PT.
The upcoming hearing reflects the Trump administration’s ongoing investigation into antisemitism on college campuses. His Jan. 29 executive order unleashed a multi-agency response to enforcing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act — which bars discrimination based on shared ancestry – as a means to combat antisemitism.
The hearing will address the university’s “failures to address antisemitism on campus,” according to the Committee post’s on X. However, it remains unclear what specific actions or incidents by Cal Poly the Committee considers problematic.
Just like Cal Poly’s initial grade, both DePaul University and Haverford College also received “F” grades on their ADL report cards, though it is not known if these ratings were used to determine witnesses for the hearing.
“Combating antisemitism is a high priority for Cal Poly, and I look forward to sharing with committee members the significant steps we’ve taken to maintain a safe and secure environment for our entire community,” University Spokesperson Matt Lazier said on behalf of Armstrong in an email to Mustang News.
The hearing comes after a year-long investigation assessing how the presidents of “elite universities” have handled rising campus tensions amid Israel’s war on Gaza.
“Our investigation has shown that these ‘leaders’ bear the responsibility for the chaos,” said former Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), accusing the universities of likely violating Title VI and endangering public safety.
Current Chairman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) said the hearing helps continue their efforts to crack down on campus activism and address the escalation of alleged antisemitism.
Campus activism
Since the war on Gaza began, Cal Poly has seen numerous pro-Palestinian demonstrations — most peaceful, except for two leading to arrests and increased scrutiny from law enforcement.
In January 2024, eight protesters were arrested after attempting to enter an on-campus career fair in protest of defense missile companies supplying Israel with weapons.
Another eight protesters were arrested in May 2024 demonstration after blocking the California Boulevard entrance to campus for four hours, demanding divestment from Cal Poly’s financial ties with weapons manufacturers profiting from Israel’s military operations. More than 20 police vehicles and the Dean of Students Joy Pederson were present at the scene.
It is unclear whether these protests will be cited as antisemitic in the upcoming hearing.
ADL grades Cal Poly an ‘F’ for antisemitism — later raised to a ‘D’
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) initially gave Cal Poly an “F” grade in its annual Campus Antisemitism Report Card on March 3, citing an insufficient response to antisemitism. After the university announced a new antisemitism task force in April, the ADL raised Cal Poly’s grade to a “D.”
Steph Sussman, Chabad co-president and an experience industry management senior, believes these failing grades overshadow the vibrancy of Jewish student life at Cal Poly.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) created the Campus Antisemitism Report Card, an assessment profile of 135 schools rating their administrative policies, Jewish student life and campus conduct. Jewish life exceeded the ADL’s standards but the administrative policies and campus climate categories significantly brought down Cal Poly’s grade, according to the ADL report.
“Cal Poly values every member of its university community — and we welcome advisement that aids in the continual improvement of our campus culture for all who live, study, visit or work here,” Lazier said in his email.
The ADL, a U.S.-based civil rights organization, is known in recent years for embracing a pro-Israel stance — a position held by CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who equated criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
Federal scrutiny of antisemitism on college campuses has intensified in recent months. In March, the U.S. Department of Education sent warning letters to 60 colleges and universities to re-comply with Title VI or be subject to “potential enforcement actions.” The U.S. Department of Justice subsequently launched a civil rights investigation into the University of California system, and the Trump administration froze billions in federal funding through grants and contracts to six top universities over alleged inaction on antisemitism.
Addressing student concerns
Last May, Southwest Asian North African (SWANA) students met with Armstrong and senior leadership to discuss the university’s handling of Israel’s war on Gaza, increased police presence and alleged censorship of pro-Palestinian activism.
Administrators had a separate meeting with Jewish students, who suggested tangible solutions such as expanding kosher campus dining options and offering academic accommodations for Jewish holidays, Sussman said.
“The administration doesn’t need to have a task force, it just needs to listen more,” said Avi Shapiro, Chabad co-president and a materials engineering senior, in reference to Cal Poly’s public response to antisemitism and Jewish students’ needs.
Sussman recognized that Armstrong has made efforts to engage with the Jewish community, including attending Chabad’s Mega Shabbat on April 4 with Matthew Weinstein, the new vice president for university development and alumni engagement.
However, Sussman said that if the university wants to meaningfully serve Jewish students, they should redirect their investment back to the Jewish community.
“There’s so many ways that I think the Jewish community could use these resources better than some people sitting in a boardroom talking about what antisemitism means at Cal Poly,” Sussman said.