Fight Antisemitism and Preserve Academic Freedom

For many years, our nation’s system of high education has been the envy of the world. Our colleges and universities have attracted some of the brightest students and faculty on the planet. Now President Trump is striving to demolish this wonderful system by asserting that, to achieve his goal of fighting antisemitism on campus, certain decisions to be made by universities, such as what and how to teach, whom they can admit as students, and whom they can hire as faculty, will be subject to the approval of his administration. In addition, he is threatening to terminate research funding, revoke tax-exempt status, and deport pro-Palestinian activists. However, a majority of Jewish students, Jewish faculty, and the larger American Jewish community reject the president’s linkage of university curricula and peaceful pro- Palestinian protests with campus antisemitism. Judaism has always valued education. American Jews admire our universities and respect their academic freedom.

To combat antisemitism on campus, universities can strengthen their internal security forces, require students and staff to carry IDs, prohibit face masks, and strictly enforce their rules for student discipline. Jewish organizations on campus, such as Hillel, can explain to the university community what a great shock the surprise Hamas massacre of civilians and abduction of hostages on October 7, 2023, was to Israel and to Jewish people everywhere.

The government of Israel must ensure that Hamas will release the hostages and will never be capable of repeating this war crime. Jewish organizations can remind the campus community of the enormous contributions that Jews have made and continue to make to the community, the nation, and the world. Universities can fight campus antisemitism without sacrificing academic freedom.