The war in the Middle East is creating high tensions on American universities, which are desperate to take action against anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
American campuses in turmoil. Since the October 7 Hamas attack and the outbreak of war in Gaza, Jewish students have spoken out to denounce the hostile atmosphere on certain campuses where demonstrations of support for Palestinians have been increasing.
While the White House expressed concern in late October about an “alarming rise in anti-Semitic incidents in schools and on college campuses,” on Tuesday, December 5, the presidents of Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania were interviewed in Congress.
Questioned by Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, the three politicians appeared uncomfortable when asked about condemning anti-Semitic statements.
“The decision depends on the context”
Elise Stefanik cited students who had called for an “intifada” against Israel and asked them whether “calling for genocide against Jews violated the rules” of their respective universities “on bullying and harassment.”
“When conversation turns into behavior, we take action,” responded Harvard President Claudine Gay.
“The situation could be subject to a harassment investigation if it is widespread and severe,” said Sally Kornbluth, president of the University of Massachusetts (MIT).
Liz Magill, head of the University of Pennsylvania, ultimately concluded that “the decision depends on the context.” “When language becomes behavior. It can be harassment, yes.”
Call for resignation
“So calling for genocide against Jews is not intimidation or harassment, depending on the context?” said MP Elise Stefanik. “This is unacceptable,” she said, and then called on X for the “immediate resignation” of the three university leaders.
The sequence, which was widely circulated on social networks, revived criticism of the university management. But the exchange – reported in full by The Washington Post – also raises the question of freedom of speech in the United States, which is much more permissive than in France and protected by the First Amendment.
In fact, all three presidents recognized that anti-Semitism had become a real problem on campus, but appeared powerless to confront the phenomenon.
Liz Magill spoke of “calls for the intifada” and denounced “hate speech”. But “the question of whether this is an incitement to violence that could be sanctioned given the policies implemented by the University of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia, rules that are guided by the Constitution of the United States, is, in my opinion, more difficult. “Question,” she said.
In mid-November, the US Department of Education announced that it had opened several investigations into anti-Semitism or Islamophobia at very prestigious universities, including Columbia, Cornell and Pennsylvania.