Restoring Critical Thinking at NYU Gallatin

I’m a member of the Faculty and Staff Against Antisemitism at New York University (FSAANYU). We’re sharing the statement below out of concern for rising antisemitism and the erosion of critical thinking on campus. In the days since we drafted it, a violent attack in Boulder, Colorado, has further underscored the real-world consequences of rising antisemitism and the hate it fuels. That tragic event only sharpens the urgency of calls like the one below—to uphold academic integrity and ensure a safe, thoughtful environment for all members of the NYU community—and beyond. 

A Graduation Speech and a Breach of Trust
The recent breach of trust at NYU Gallatin—where a student willfully broke his word to the university during graduation, coupled with the tragic shooting in Washington DC that claimed the lives of two young Israeli embassy workers, highlights an urgent need to recommit to what Gallatin was designed to be: a place where students become active, self-directed learners rather than passive consumers of ideology.

On May 14, Logan Rozos, a Gallatin student selected to represent his graduating class, chose to abandon his prepared remarks and instead deliver what he described as a condemnation of “genocide” and “atrocities currently happening in Palestine,” drawing thunderous applause from the audience. This incident demonstrates several concerning trends that should alarm anyone committed to genuine education. Rather than presenting a nuanced analysis of a complex geopolitical situation, the speech relied on inflammatory rhetoric and unsubstantiated claims. 

True critical thinking requires examining multiple perspectives, acknowledging complexity, and distinguishing between advocacy and analysis. The fact that most graduates in the Beacon Theatre cheered (yes, some booed) suggests an academic environment that is producing ideological conformity rather than intellectual diversity. Perhaps most troubling, the university noted that the student “lied about the speech he was going to deliver” and violated his commitment to comply with institutional rules, representing a fundamental breach of the trust that underpins academic discourse.

From Rhetoric to Violence: A Week Later in DC
On May 21, just one week after the Gallatin incident, two Israeli Embassy staff members—Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, a young couple planning to become engaged—were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC by Elias Rodriguez, who chanted “Free Palestine” after his arrest. Rodriguez had allegedly written a manifesto titled “Escalate for Gaza, Bring the War Home,” which condemned what he called “atrocities committed by Israelis against Palestine” and justified the morality of “armed” action. This tragedy illustrates how simplified, emotionally-charged narratives can contribute to a climate where violence becomes rationalized as moral action.

Historical Parallels: The Power of Propaganda
Jews have heard this story before, many times. The fabricated “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” provides a classic example of how oversimplified conspiracy theories can fuel violence. This forged document, presenting Jews as orchestrating global domination, became a foundational text for Nazi ideology. Despite being thoroughly debunked, it spread widely because it offered a simple explanation for complex social and economic problems. The result was millions of deaths during the Holocaust, justified by those who believed they were fighting against an existential threat based on fabricated evidence. The critical-thinking failure here was clear: acceptance of unverified sources, failure to examine evidence, and preference for emotionally satisfying narratives over factual complexity.

Gallatin’s Founding Vision–and Its Drift
Gallatin was founded in 1972 to respond to students who felt traditional undergraduate programs were creating “passive consumers of knowledge.” The school’s mission emphasizes self-directed learning and seeks to “cultivate an environment conducive to intellectual exploration across traditional academic disciplines.” May 14 suggests that Gallatin may be failing to live up to this mission in several ways. Students appear to be learning to confirm pre-existing beliefs rather than challenging themselves with contradictory evidence. Complex geopolitical situations are being reduced to simple moral binaries, leaving no room for nuance or uncertainty. Academic discourse is being replaced by political activism, blurring the line between education and indoctrination. 

The uniformity of response at the graduation ceremony suggests students may be learning to conform rather than think independently. This was not an isolated incident. In late 2023, Jewish students filed a federal civil rights lawsuit alleging that NYU had long enabled a hostile climate for Jews. NYU has since settled the case, enacted a series of reforms, and has hired a Title VI coordinator to oversee discrimination complaints. The university also committed to mandatory training and annual reporting. These are important steps—but they underscore just how deeply rooted the problems had become.

A Path Forward: Rebuilding Intellectual Rigor
Changes are needed both in the short- and long-term. Gallatin should require courses focused on logical reasoning, source evaluation, and argument analysis. It should recruit faculty and invite speakers representing diverse viewpoints on controversial topics, creating formal opportunities for students to argue positions they personally disagree with, developing empathy and understanding. Students need training to identify bias and verify sources. Faculty need training on facilitating difficult conversations and maintaining academic neutrality in politically charged environments.

Real-World Stakes
The tragic events in Washington DC remind us that the failure to think critically about complex issues has real-world consequences. Sarah Milgrim was described by colleagues as someone who “brought people together with empathy and purpose.” Yaron Lischinsky described himself as an “advocate for interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding” between Israel and its Arab neighbors. These were individuals working toward the kind of nuanced, bridge-building approaches that true critical thinking produces. Their deaths represent not just a personal tragedy but a loss of the very perspectives our educational system should be cultivating.

The Time to Act is Now
Gallatin has an opportunity to recommit to intellectual rigor over ideological conformity. This doesn’t mean avoiding difficult topics or suppressing student voices. It means elevating the quality of discourse and thought.

We must ask ourselves: Are we producing graduates who can navigate complexity, build bridges, and solve problems? Or are we creating ideological foot soldiers who reduce every issue to simple moral categories?

Gallatin has a problem, and we’d like to help. We are happy to discuss ways to educate your students and faculty, so that they can think for themselves and express their political views in ways that do not stir hatred against an entire country or people. The cost of continued failure—as tragically demonstrated this week—is too high to ignore.

Faculty and Staff Against Antisemitism at NYU
The mission of FSAANYU is to stand against antisemitism anywhere on any NYU campus and for open dialogue seeking peace and understanding.

Instagram: @fsaanyu
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