Washington- A 4-hour hearing during which the presidents of 3 of the best American and international universities presented their testimony to Congress – about the tension taking place on campus against the backdrop of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip – led to great anger among donors, graduates, students and politicians, and highlighted the simmering tensions between Jewish and Muslim students. .
Harvard University President Claudine Guy, University of Pennsylvania President Lise Magill, and MIT President Sally Kornbluth were questioned by the House Education Committee earlier, against the backdrop of escalating “anti-Semitism” on campus since October 7th.
The presidents of the three universities are under severe criticism for their answers, which some considered vague and inconclusive, when they were asked whether calling for the genocide of Jews violates their universities’ code of conduct. Many political commentators and financial donors called for the resignation of university presidents, because of what they said in the interrogation session.
It is noteworthy that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology came in second place according to the “US News & World Report” ranking of the best global universities for the year 2023, while Harvard University came in third place, and the University of Pennsylvania came in sixth place.
Congress opens fire
The session began with a minute of silence for the Israelis killed, wounded, and detained by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), in addition to a short video montage of pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the three universities calling for an “intifada.” Republican Representative from New York State Elise Stefanik (Harvard graduate) said that this could be interpreted as “A call for violence against Israel and those who support it.”
The presidents of the three universities condemned the Hamas attack and the so-called anti-Semitic incidents on campus, discussed freedom of expression policies (and the challenges they represent) and pledged to work immediately and in the long term to combat “hate” in all its forms.
Representative Stefanik asked about the universities’ position on chants supporting the Palestinian Intifada, and said, “Doesn’t this speech call for the genocide of the Jews and the elimination of Israel? Is this speech compatible with the code and rules of conduct in your universities or not?”
The presidents of the three universities refused to give a simple “yes” or “no” answer and instead provided carefully worded responses that touched on the thorny issue of freedom of expression. In response, they agreed to respect the principle of commitment to freedom of expression, and to give wide space for different opinions, even rejected opinions.
They pledged to address the rise in “anti-Semitism and Islamophobia” crimes and other forms of “hate” as well, and they agreed that the goal of the university is to preserve the physical safety of students, not to secure students intellectually or force them not to confront ideas that do not agree with them.
Tension in universities
The tension due to the Israeli aggression on Gaza has reached American universities, at a time when universities have been left to face the rise in phenomena of “anti-Semitism and Islamophobia,” as students on both sides feel upset and dissatisfied with the response of university officials.
Since October 7, with the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, most American universities have become a center for discussions, demonstrations, and protests about the fighting between Israel and Hamas, which has brought tension and discomfort to many Jewish and Muslim students. Students agreed that they did not feel widely supported by their university administrations, something the hearing confirmed.
Muslim students accuse university administrations of focusing on addressing concerns of “anti-Semitism” more than concerns related to the spread of “Islamophobia,” amid growing concerns, especially after 3 university students of Palestinian origin were shot and seriously injured in Vermont last month.
Arab and Muslim students also believe that there is a deliberate confusion “between protests for freedom for Palestine and anti-Semitism.”
Several interviews conducted by Tel Aviv Tribune Net with Jewish and Muslim students at the American University in Washington and George Washington University showed that most Jewish students, and most Muslim students, are not happy with how the administration of the two universities is dealing with the consequences of what the Gaza Strip is witnessing.
Between freedom of expression and student safety
The hearing highlighted the problem of balancing between protecting freedom of expression and maintaining student safety. The three witnesses spoke about this challenge.
MIT’s Kornbluth said she believes freedom of expression should be “protected as long as it does not extend to harassment or incitement to violence.”
Meanwhile, PEN Director of Free Expression and Education Programs Jonathan Friedman told National Radio that “while the tensions of the present moment demand action, universities must try to stand up for something bigger than the current moment, which is their deeper commitment to free expression and support for all students.” .
The responses of university presidents sparked widespread condemnation from financial donors, university governing boards, and members of Congress, amid widespread calls for the presidents of the three universities to step down or dismiss them. The responses of university presidents were considered confirmation of the failure in the policy of protecting students, especially Jewish ones.
The presidents of Harvard and Pennsylvania universities were forced to issue separate statements to clarify and retract their testimony.
Many influential donors ended their financial support to the University of Pennsylvania and called on its president to resign, arguing that the administration did not go far enough in condemning the Palestinian Literature Festival that was held on campus last September, and included speakers who had previously made anti-Semitic statements.
