Vantage | Are top US colleges defending anti-semitism?

In recent congressional hearings, the presidents of three prestigious American universities—Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania—faced scrutiny over their responses to a seemingly straightforward question: Is calling for genocide wrong? The revelation of their equivocal answer sheds light on a disturbing trend of moral ambiguity and the potential influence of foreign funding on US college campuses.

Congressional hearing On Tuesday, the presidents of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania appeared before Congress to address concerns about rising anti-semitism on their campuses. What should have been a straightforward acknowledgement of the wrongfulness of calling for genocide turned into a disconcerting display of hesitation and equivocation. Republican lawmaker Elise Stefanik posed a clear and direct question to the university leaders: Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate your college’s code of conduct on bullying or harassment? The answers, however, were far from decisive. MIT president Dr Sally Kornbluth responded with a concerning statement: “I’ve heard chants that can be anti-Semitic depending on the context when calling for the elimination of the Jewish people.” This vague response raises questions about the acceptance of genocide under certain circumstances. University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill added to the ambiguity, stating, “It is a context-dependent decision, Congresswoman.” Such responses suggest a lack of clarity and a failure to unequivocally condemn actions that should be universally recognised as abhorrent. Harvard president Dr Claudine Gay mirrored the trend by stating, “It can be, depending on the context”, and when pressed further, clarified that it would be considered harassment if targeted at an individual. This nuanced approach to such a fundamental ethical question is alarming. The context To provide context, Harvard is currently under investigation by the US Department of Education for the escalating anti-semitism on its campus. An example of this is the blame placed on Israel for the Hamas attack on 7 October where Harvard students wrote a letter accusing Israel without mentioning Hamas revealing a concerning bias. Instances of anti-semitism at Stanford and Yale further highlight a systemic issue. At Stanford, a professor targeted Jewish students, while at Yale, a professor questioned the value of settlers’ lives, with the university defending such expressions as freedom of speech. A recent report indicates a potential link between foreign funding and the rise of anti-semitism on US campuses. Qatar, a major supporter of Hamas, has poured billions into American colleges since 2001. A study in 2020 found that wherever Qatari money flowed, the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) was actively present, some of whom have expressed support for Hamas. The implications of this moral ambiguity and potential foreign influence are reflected in a concerning poll. Approximately 73 per cent of Jewish students have experienced anti-semitism this year with a notable decline in feelings of safety and welcome on college campuses after the 7 October attack. The alarming responses from top US college presidents and the potential influence of foreign funding raise critical questions about the state of leadership and moral clarity on American campuses. Immediate action is needed to ensure that universities remain spaces for open dialogue and discussion, free from discrimination and bias. As the poll indicates, Jewish students deserve better and the current state of affairs is a disheartening failure of leadership. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.