GUEST POST: American universities react to Trump

The main question currently preoccupying those concerned about tackling anti-Semitism on American campuses is the likely impact of the incoming Trump administration.

A shift was already apparent even before the inauguration. Many universities were rushing to settle suits alleging anti-Semitic and anti-Arab discrimination filed with the Department of Education. They have undertaken  to review their policies, strengthen training for staff and students and also to review complaints filed before the suit was settled. Interestingly Cornell and Columbia, epicentres of the worst occurrences of anti-Semitism, remain under federal investigation.

 There can be little doubt that the rush to settle is related to Trump’s presidential election victory. He has threatened to revoke federal funding for universities which do not tackle anti-Semitism on their campuses. For Trump this phenomenon is closely linked to anti-Israel protests. As if to put universities’ concerns beyond any doubt, Harvard has hired a firm of consultants to lobby the new administration. 

As well as dealing with the reality of the new administration, university staff have to keep campuses calm on an everyday basis. University administrations have enforced rules governing when and where demonstrations can take place and the imposition of penalties when their policies are breached. Nevertheless, the nature of comments and threats made online have reportedly grown worse. 

The University of Pennsylvania recently cancelled West Craft Fest, an annual festival, on its premises. University officials argued that some of the art on display supported terrorism. The organisers countered that the objection was simply to art being pro-Palestinian. Either way there is an interesting contrast with the decision in September 2023 to hold a festival which purported to celebrate Palestinian culture. It was later held to have contributed to the worst expressions of anti-Semitism on the university’s campus in the aftermath of Hamas’s 7 October atrocities.

Columbia continues to experience what looks like the worst unrest, at least amongst academic staff. A professor who was under investigation for anti-Israeli discrimination, Katherine Franke, recently left Columbia. The official  announcement (paywall) said she was retiring, but she has claimed she was effectively forced out because of her pro-Palestinian views. 

In some circles blatant anti-Israel bias of the sort which inevitably spills over into anti-Semitism continues to manifest itself. Members of the American Historical Association (AHA) overwhelmingly passed a resolution condemning Israel for what it termed ‘scholasticide’ (the mass destruction of education).  The text contained no mention of Hamas’s terrorist attack or the fate of the hostages. However, the organisation’s council (paywall)  later vetoed the resolution. 

Despite the veto, the AHA’s resolution is an indication of disturbing  problems on campus. It is not only its failure to maintain any sort of balance as it omitted any mention of Hamas’s atrocities. It is more that it seeks to go as far as to invent a new language in its attempt to demonise Israel. The Jewish state has also been accused, among other things, of exemplifying ecocide, misogyny, patriarchy, settler colonialism, toxic masculinity and white supremacy. Initiatives such as the AHA’s motion gives a glimpse into how this new language is being used to demonise Israel.

It is tempting to consider how far Trump will go in implementing his threat to revoke federal funding for those which do not tackle anti-Semitism. The problem is that his pledge will become entangled with his stated wish to close the Department of Education. The latter is part of his campaign to reduce the size of the state and his war on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. He will almost certainly fail to close the department as he would need congressional approval and possibly a super-majority in the Senate. 

Overall the fact that campuses appear to be back under control is welcome. But the threats made by the president against the university authorities can only change cultures superficially. There is also always the risk of suppressing free speech. 

What is needed is systematic research into what really tackles anti-Semitism and happily this is now underway. Matt Williams, the founder of a research centre under the auspices of the Anti-Defamation League, has realised that the tactics used up till now have had little if any effect. So he wants to bring a systematic approach to measuring the effectiveness of new methods. This initiative is to be welcomed. If anti-Semitism has become embedded in the university system, a systematic approach to tackling it based on proven methods is essential. Williams’s efforts should be monitored by anyone who wants to see the narrative shift. It should switch from documenting and lamenting the rise of anti-Semitism on campus to devising successful attempts to reverse it.

Guy Whitehouse is a member of the Academy of Ideas and the Free Speech Union. His views do not necessarily reflect those of those organisations.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the Radicalism of fools project.

PHOTO: Portrait of President-elect Donald Trump. 2016. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2017645723/.