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Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has introduced her forthcoming book, Poisoned Ivies: The Inside Account of the Academic and Moral Rot at America’s Elite Universities, claiming it offers an in-depth examination of the nation’s prestigious universities.
In a conversation on Breitbart News Saturday with host Matthew Boyle, who leads Breitbart News’ Washington bureau, Stefanik discussed the historical significance of Ivy League schools, many of which were established prior to America’s independence in 1776. She expressed concern that these universities have “lost their way” fundamentally.
Recalling a notable congressional hearing, Stefanik highlighted her interrogation of university presidents from institutions like Harvard, Penn, and MIT. She posed a stark ethical question: “Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate your university’s code of conduct?” The presidents’ responses, which boiled down to “It depends on the context,” sparked widespread attention and outrage.
This exchange, according to Stefanik, became the most-watched testimony in the annals of the United States Congress. It served as a pivotal moment, exposing both the ethical and intellectual deterioration at these revered schools. She noted that many of these elite institutions, such as Harvard founded in 1636, predate the nation and were originally aligned with American ideals, yet have strayed from their foundational principles.
Stefanik’s book, a project she has been crafting for three years, delves deeply into each university’s current state. It also underscores ongoing initiatives with former President Trump, both through executive orders and legislative measures, aimed at ensuring these institutions realign with American values.
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When Boyle pointed out that Democrats “ahead of the midterm elections, are trying to scare” Ivy League universities from “doing any future deals” or cooperating with the Trump administration on making changes, Stefanik said Democrats “have treated these institutions as an arm of their political ecosystem.”
“In my chapters on Harvard, I literally talk about how the Harvard Corporation, which is the board that oversees Harvard, are mostly Obama appointees from his cabinet. Barack Obama actually called the Harvard Corporation to urge them to keep Claudine Gay — this is despite her massive plagiarism scandal, that of course was revealed after the hearing,” Stefanik added.
“For so long, these institutions have been entitled to U.S. taxpayer dollars, and after this hearing, they failed to fix themselves. So, what did we do? We correctly worked with President Trump. On day one, a number of executive orders were issued; we got provisions in the most recent tax bill to rein in some of the tax incentives for these universities.”
Breitbart News Saturday airs on SiriusXM Patriot 125 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern.