Dupage Policy Journal

In the aftermath of Harvard President Claudine Gay’s controversial testimony on antisemitism, candidate Mark Rice, running for the 8th Congressional District, highlights the public outcry against the university’s board unanimously supporting Gay. Rice joins those calling for Gay’s resignation, citing her handling of antisemitism and allegations of extensive plagiarism.

"You have to read public comments reacting to the news that the Harvard board 'unanimously stands in support' of Claudine Gay following her Israel remarks in Congress," Rice said on Facebook.

Gay is currently under scrutiny and facing backlash after her testimony before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce concerning antisemitism at Harvard. During an interaction with Rep. Elise Stefanik, Gay was asked whether advocating for the genocide of Jews on campus would breach Harvard’s codes of conduct. In response, Gay said that it would depend on the "context" and later suggested that antisemitic speech might warrant action if it involved bullying, harassment, or intimidation. These comments sparked a social media backlash, an official investigation by the House Committee, and led to Rabbi David Wolpe resigning from an advisory group established by Gay to address threats against Jews.

Jacob M. Miller, president of Harvard Hillel and Crimson editorial lead, criticized Gay’s testimony. He claimed that it raises doubts about her ability to protect Jewish students on campus.

According to New York Post, Miller and Davis expressed dissatisfaction in a statement. They noted that President Gay’s testimony failed to reassure them about the university’s commitment to addressing prevalent antisemitic rhetoric on campus.

"President Gay’s testimony fails to reassure us that the University is seriously concerned about the antisemitic rhetoric pervasive on campus," Miller and Davis stated.

In light of a scathing House committee hearing, calls for Gay's resignation have increased. It has also been revealed that she extensively plagiarized a significant portion of her academic publishing output.

The New York Post Editorial Board penned a column arguing that Harvard’s issues, exemplified by Gay’s recent controversies, can only be resolved by her removal from her position. The Post criticized Gay’s handling of antisemitism on campus. It cited her failure to clarify whether calls for the genocide of Jews violate Harvard’s Code of Conduct during a congressional hearing and alleged that Gay supports radical leftist ideology. The Post also accused Gay of prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion over academic freedom. According to the Post, until Gay and those who share her views are gone, Harvard will continue down a problematic path.

Rice's campaign for representation in the 8th Congressional District focuses on key areas such as economic growth, fiscal discipline, tax relief, immigration reform, and border security. According to his website, Rice is an executive in the energy sector with 35 years of residence in Illinois. He currently serves as CEO of Energy CX. Under his leadership, Energy CX has become a nationwide leader in providing energy solutions with a team of 70 professionals.

The current representative for the 8th Congressional District is U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill). The district includes northern Cook County, northern DuPage County, and northeast Kane County. A map of the district is available on Krishnamoorthi’s website.