The Congressional Committee on Education and Workforce sent a letter to President Armstrong Thursday asking for clarification on his May 7 testimony on antisemitism on college campuses.
The letter outlines three quotes from Armstrong’s opening statement, where he discussed how Cal Poly planned to combat antisemitism. The Committee posed follow-up questions, requesting updates on the following initiatives: mandatory student and employee training, the new Presidential Antisemitism Task Force and the development of a new endowed chair of Jewish studies. The letter additionally requested documentation to support each update.
This comes nearly a month after pro-Palestinian activists vandalized Cal Poly’s administration building with the messages “Free Palestine” and “Cal Poly Divest.” The committee mentioned this incident in the beginning of their letter.
“To better understand Cal Poly’s compliance with Title VI and the statements that you [President Armstrong] made at the hearing, the committee requests that the following items be produced to the Committee no later than July 10, 2025,” the Committee wrote.
Here’s a look at what the committee asked Armstrong to clarify.
Student Orientation and Employee Training
The first quote the letter cites is when Armstrong said Cal Poly is “enhancing our mandatory student orientation and biannual employee training to provide greater education and awareness about antisemitism.”
The committee requested that Armstrong provide details, such as whether Cal Poly employees are required to undergo the training, what that and student orientation will entail and what kind of instructional materials they will have.
Cal Poly is already a member of Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative, which provides antisemitism training to college administrators.
Antisemitism Task Force
The committee also wanted to know about when Armstrong stated Cal Poly is “establishing a new Presidential Antisemitism Task Force that will develop an action plan focused on Jewish student life, antisemitism, education, and cultural awareness.”
The committee asked to know the task force’s selection process, the number of members that will serve, their governing documents and their “action plan.”
The task force was first announced by President Armstrong on April 7 in a campus-wide email. Its creation came after the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) gave Cal Poly an “F” grade in their assessment of handling antisemitism.
Jewish Studies and Interfaith Center
The last question pertained to Armstrong saying he will “continuing to fundraise to endow a Chair in Jewish Studies and build an interfaith center focused on Jewish student life, antisemitism, education, and cultural awareness.”
The Committee asked when fundraising for the Chair would be complete, which university department the Chair will belong to, how much funding has been raised, how this Chair’s funding will compare to other chairs and a timeline for the interfaith center’s opening.
The interfaith center is being created in collaboration with Hillel, according to the ADL’s report.
This is a developing story, Mustang News will update as more information becomes available.