Why colleges are struggling with their response to the Israel-Hamas war

NEW YORK — A Cornell University professor called the Hamas attacks "exhilarating” and “energizing.” A Yale professor dubbed Israel a "murderous, genocidal settler state.”

Meanwhile, top donors at the University of Pennsylvania — including former U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. — have pulled their financial support over charges that the institution doesn't do enough to fight antisemitism on campus.

Similar battles are becoming commonplace on college campuses across the country amid the Israel-Hamas war, often pitting wealthy donors against college presidents and students versus staff. It has created a volatile mix that is causing indecision among administrators and highlighting long-brewing ideological splits at some of the nation's most respected institutions.

“What has happened is we are so afraid of engaging in picking sides and it becomes too passive,” said Jim Malatras, former chancellor of the State University of New York. “What we end up with is echo chambers, which only fuels the hate. It fuels the vitriol, and you were experiencing this even before the situation that we're dealing with.”

Some students have talked about fearing for their safety on campuses, while others — including Harvard and Columbia law students who have criticized Israel’s policies — are losing job offers.

American University Professor Lara Schwartz described efforts to limit students’ speech surrounding the war as “enormously troubling.”

“Sometimes students are going to say things that shock other community members, that disgust other community members,” Schwartz said in an interview. “Making space for that dialogue, including people countering them saying, ‘Here’s why these students are wrong,’ that’s all part of protected expression and dialogues that we’re looking for.”

Others think the heated rhetoric on campus has turned into straight antisemitic views, saying colleges need to fire staff that celebrate the Hamas attacks in Israel.

“As a person of authority at an educational institution, to celebrate murder, rape and abducting children and slaughtering children, I think he should be fired," Gillibrand told a Syracuse TV station about the comments of Cornell Professor Russell Rickford.

Rickford described the Hamas attacks as "exhilarating" and "energizing” at a rally. He has since apologized for his remarks, admitting some of the language he used was “reprehensible.” Rickford did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Following days of backlash, Cornell President Martha Pollack this week maintained that Rickford’s comments “speak in direct opposition to all we stand for at Cornell.” The university, she said, is reviewing the incident.

Suzanne Nossel, the CEO of PEN America, an advocacy group for free expression on college campuses, said institutions are in an “incredibly challenging” moment.

Collegiate leadership, she said, needs to distinguish between free speech and actions such as vandalism, assaults and the targeting of students in their response to the political climate.

“A lot of what people are experiencing as hostile and creating a hostile environment is protected speech and protected expression,” Nossel said in an interview. “That is bumping up against the obligation to make the campus a place that offers an equal education.”

As alumni and powerful donors lean on institutions to crack down, many presidents are facing pressure to take a stance, resulting in political clashes on campuses with students on either side of the conflict.

Following backlash from alumni, Penn President Liz Magill said in a statement she hears their “anger, pain, and frustration” and is taking action to make clear that the institution stands “emphatically” against the attacks. The school supports the “free exchange of ideas” but has a “moral responsibility” to combat antisemitism, she added.

Her words came after the damage was done. Huntsman, the former governor of Utah and U.S. ambassador, said he and his family, after donating hundreds of millions of dollars to the college over decades, will “close its checkbook” on future giving.

“The University’s silence in the face of reprehensible and historic Hamas evil against the people of Israel (when the only response should be outright condemnation) is a new low," Huntsman wrote.

"Silence is antisemitism, and antisemitism is hate, the very thing higher ed was built to obviate” he wrote in a letter to Magill first published by the school newspaper.

The strife on campuses has roiled state and local politics.

Universities in Florida are fielding calls to punish students and groups who participated in pro-Palestine rallies since the war broke out. Florida’s only Jewish GOP lawmaker, state Rep. Randy Fine, called for punishment including expulsion of students and faculty who spout antisemitic views.

The most notable example in the Sunshine State came at Florida Atlantic University last week when a march supporting Palestinians resulted in three arrests after a clash broke out between counter-protesters. Last week, Columbia shut down for a day amid dueling protests.

“Jews, not just in Israel, but right here in Florida, do not feel safe today,” Fine said Wednesday.

House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith, a Republican, said he’s been “disgusted” by some of the responses from leaders across the country. He signaled his committee may look to revoke some universities’ tax-exempt statuses.

He pointed out how 34 Harvard student organizations last week issued a statement holding Israel at fault for the attacks and a student group at the University of Virginia expressed support for the “right of colonized people everywhere to resist the occupation of their land by whatever means they deem necessary.”

In addition, Republican Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Thursday called on the Department of Homeland Security to deport any “foreign national” — including students here on visas — who have expressed support for Hamas and its attack.

“While American citizens may have a First Amendment right to speak disgusting vitriol if they so choose, no foreign national has a right to advocate for terrorism in the United States,” Cotton wrote in a letter.

Campus presidents have reacted differently: some backing Israel while others have been more neutral.

Columbia President Minouche Shafik last week said she was “devastated” by the attack and “the ensuing violence that is affecting so many people.”

A Columbia spokesperson referred to messages Interim Provost Dennis Mitchell sent to students and staff. Mitchell said freedom of expression is “a core University value” but also urged individuals to treat each other “with civility and respect.”

Meanwhile, state leaders and students are talking increasingly about ensuring safety on campuses.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday told reporters campus safety is a priority for state law enforcement given that schools are ripe for protests.

NYPD late Wednesday said the city is at high alert and remains at an “all-out deployment.”

In addition to more counseling on campuses, colleges have increased security measures to address the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia — especially following the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy in Illinois.

Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students accused universities of not offering them the same assistance and resources that they have to Jewish students.

At Columbia University — where pro-Palestine and pro-Israel rallies took place concurrently, prompting the university to close its campus to the public — members of the Muslim Students Association have faced doxxing attacks.

Anum, the Muslim Students Association president, blasted Columbia officials for failing to issue a statement denouncing Islamophobia on campus and urged them to do so swiftly. She also suggested the university develop an escort system for Muslim students who don’t feel safe walking alone on campus. She asked to be identified by her first name for safety reasons.

“I personally did go home this weekend and I know other students who also went home because they didn’t feel safe on campus and unfortunately not everybody has the luxury to go home during times like these,” said Anum.

But Jenna Citron Schwab, executive director of Queens Hillel — a Jewish organization at Queens College — praised the institution for boosting security on campus. The school has 4,000 Jewish students.

“The campus environment is very fragile — particularly at this moment — and this is definitely the first time in my 12 years here that I’ve had students come to me and say they’re scared and concerned about antisemitism,” Schwab said.

Andrew Atterbury contributed to this report.