New York Congresswomen Elise Stefanik (R-21) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-11) joined forces in introducing the University Accountability Act to impose penalties on educational institutions that fail to protect the civil rights of their students. Anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses increased by 700% following the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7th, 2023 prompting action by the Congresswomen.
Rep. Stefanik has been a harsh and ever-present critic of colleges and universities that not just allowed hateful and sometimes violent anti-Semitic protests on their campuses, but in some cases offered tacit support through their inaction. In many cases, professors and administrators participated in these protests causing Jewish students to feel unsafe on their campuses.
Stefanik made national news early this year with her tough questioning at a House hearing of several Ivy League University presidents who had their campuses essentially shut down and taken hostage by anti-Semitic protestors.
The Act imposes penalties for civil rights violations by tax-exempt educational institutions. The University Accountability Act would require colleges and universities that meet the penalty criteria to pay a fine of either five percent of the school's aggregate administrative compensation as reported on the school's Form 990, or $100,000, whichever is greater.
After three civil rights violations, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would be required to review the college or university's tax-exempt status for possible revocation.
“I will continue to lead the efforts ridding our higher education institutions of anti-Semitism. With this new legislation, the University Accountability Act, we will impose penalties on universities who violate the civil rights of their students including by failing to protect Jewish students from anti-Semitic hate. Hardworking taxpayers have no interest in funding institutions that fail to protect their students from anti-Semitic rhetoric and behavior and this bill puts their tax-exempt status on the chopping block,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
Under current federal law, a violation of Title VI, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, can result in the loss of federal funds, but often results in only a minor corrective action that would bring the college or university back into compliance and resume business as usual.
Penalties with teeth in them are rarely, if ever, enacted leaving colleges and universities with leanings toward certain political agendas free, and without fear of accountability, to allow protests and activities that threaten others on campus and sometimes result in actual physical attacks.
"Universities have a responsibility to protect their students from violence and discrimination and instead we're seeing a disturbing increase in anti-Semitic attacks and rhetoric on college campuses," said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.
Malliotaxis added, "If these schools are receiving generous tax benefits from the federal government at the expense of American taxpayers, they should be doing more than simply giving a slap on the wrist to perpetrators of hate. Our legislation seeks to hold these institutions accountable with lofty financial punishments that would encourage them to investigate and crack down on instances of anti-Semitism and help foster a safer academic environment for all students, regardless of their gender, race, or religion."