The debate on anti-Semitism and freedom of expression continues in the US, where university students organized a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel’s indiscriminate attacks on Gaza.
After Liz Magill, the rector of the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country, was forced to resign, faculty members took action to prevent a similar situation from happening to Claudine Gay, the rector of Harvard University. At least 570 faculty members at Harvard University signed a statement calling on school administrators not to bow to political pressure and to prevent Gay’s dismissal.
‘WE DON’T WANT TO LOSE HIM FOR A POLITICAL STUNT’
In a letter to the 13-member Harvard Corporation, which has the power to fire the institution’s president, Harvard faculty members emphasized their rejection of political calls for Gay’s dismissal, Reuters reported. “We don’t want to lose him over a political stunt,” said Alison Frank Johnson, a renowned history professor who co-authored the statement, although she did not release the full text. “My impression is that many people don’t realize how much support he has within the university as an academic, colleague and administrator – including those with whom he doesn’t always agree,” Johnson said.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The controversy erupted after the rectors of UPenn, Harvard and MIT from the Ivy League, which includes the most prestigious schools in the US, testified in the US House of Representatives. The rectors answered questions from members of Congress at the hearing, which was organized in response to an increase in antisemitic attacks at schools and pro-Palestinian student demonstrations chanting the slogan “Free Palestine from the river to the sea”.
However, Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s “interrogation” of rectors about alleged “calls for genocide against Jews” at school protests sparked a crisis. “Does calling for the genocide of Jews violate your university’s rules on bullying and harassment?” Stefanik asked, pressing the rectors for a “yes” or “no” answer.
The rectors replied that the decision on violation “would depend on the context”. Magill emphasized that “if the call is translated into action” it would violate the rules, implying freedom of expression. Following this session, all three rectors were criticized for not explicitly rejecting and condemning the call for genocide against the Jews.
‘ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO’ CAMPAIGN
While Magill decided to resign, Republican Stefanik continued to target the rectors of Harvard and MIT, saying “One down, two to go”, increasing pressure on both schools.
In the US, one of the countries with the strongest Israel lobby, student protests against the attacks on Gaza have been a topic of discussion since October 7. Efforts to ban the slogan “Free Palestine from the river to the sea”, complaints from Jewish students about rising anti-Semitism and attacks, and pressure from donors have led to a debate on freedom of expression and academic independence not seen in the US in recent years.
