In a recent episode of the popular television show Saturday Night Live (SNL), a sketch centered on the recent congressional hearings concerning anti-Semitism on college campuses, specifically focusing on the testimonies given by the heads of the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, and MIT.
However, the sketch was met with criticism for its portrayal of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Republicans as the primary antagonists.
SNL cast member Chloe Troast played the role of Stefanik, delivering her lines in a loud, confrontational manner. "Anti-Semitism yay or nay! Yes or no! Is calling for the genocide of Jews against the code of conduct for Harvard?!" she demanded. Following the university leaders' evasive responses, Troast retorted, "Keep in mind, if you don't say yes, you're going to make me look good which is really, really hard to do."
The sketch, however, failed to generate much laughter from the live audience, with the response being described as "sparse and tepid at best."
The Gateway Pundit reported that the House Education Committee had invited the leaders of MIT, Harvard, and Penn to testify before Congress. During the hearing, Stefanik asked the university leaders whether advocating for the genocide of Jews violated their respective campus codes of conduct. None of the university heads provided a clear answer.
The university leaders suggested that advocating for the genocide of Jews did not necessarily contravene their policies against harassment and bullying on campus. Penn President Liz Magill even suggested it would not be a violation unless it led to actual genocide. Following an emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees, Magill resigned from her position.
Stefanik also questioned Harvard's President Claudine Gay, asking, "You understand that the use of the term intifada in the context of the Israeli-Arab conflict is indeed a call for violent armed resistance against the State of Israel, including violence against civilians and the genocide of Jews And there have been multiple marches at Harvard with students chanting quote 'There is only one solution, intifada revolution' and quote 'Globalize the intifada.' Is that correct?"
Gay acknowledged the presence of "thoughtless, reckless and hateful language" on campus, describing it as "abhorrent" and "hateful speech." However, when asked if calls for "intifada," or direct support for the genocide of Jewish people, violated Harvard's code of conduct, Gay ambiguously replied that it "depends on the context."
Following the hearing, billboard trucks were dispatched to Harvard's New England Campus on Sunday, demanding Gay's dismissal.
The New York Post reported that former SNL star Cecily Strong, who was initially slated to portray Stefanik in the sketch, withdrew at the last minute due to discomfort with the content of the sketch.
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