The October 7 terrorist attacks and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war have transformed American college campuses into a different kind of battlefield. Along with extreme anti-Israel protests, anti-Semitic incidents have also surged. School administrators are walking a tightrope to balance student freedom of expression and campus safety. The right path forward is clear. University presidents must follow the law and enforce the rules equally for all.
The cornerstone of this approach is the moral and legal obligation to define and condemn antisemitism. Doing so is not a political statement. Under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, universities have a legal obligation to protect students from discrimination, particularly based on religion or national origin. The failure to identify and appropriately address anti-Semitism is often the result of vague or non-existent definitions of the term.
Adopting the standards of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, as the U.S. Department of Education has done, will provide colleges and universities with a globally recognized framework and align them with their obligations under civil rights law. The actual definition of an alliance is: “Anti-Semitism is a specific perception of Jews, which can be expressed as hatred of Jews. Rhetorical and physical expressions of anti-Semitism target Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, Jewish community institutions, and religious institutions.” The alliance also includes real-world examples of anti-Semitic content and commentary, along with resources for academics and education professionals. Integrating this important tool does not require a formal announcement or formal policy change. Administrators can direct deans and other campus officials to use the definition of allyship when evaluating incidents of bias on campus.
This is a necessary step, but it is not sufficient. The University of Pennsylvania adopted the Alliance's standards as part of its 'Anti-Semitism Action Plan,' but it was too late. President Elizabeth Magill's lackluster response to a surge in anti-Semitism on campus led to a revolt from donors, embarrassing congressional hearings, and ultimately her resignation. A proactive approach to the issue with meaningful steps to protect Jewish students would almost certainly have saved Magill's job.
To avoid her fate, college presidents must apply policies across the board, consistently and relentlessly. A basic legal and moral expectation on all college campuses is that no student will be targeted because of his or her race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin. Jewish and Israeli students do not seek special treatment. Selective enforcement undermines the integrity of institutional rules and sets a dangerous precedent, as we saw when MIT President Sally Kornbluth overturned suspensions for foreign students who violated campus rules, citing “visa issues.” Having different standards for student behavior is counterproductive and dangerous.
Related: Students reacted strongly to college presidents' congressional testimony on anti-Semitism.
While many institutions face great challenges in this environment, others avoid scrutiny. High-profile leadership failures, such as that of Harvard President Claudine Gay, make the front pages. People who successfully navigate these difficult situations don't make headlines. Syracuse University is a great example of the right school. all viral video Syracuse staff were captured calmly and purposefully directing students to remove signs calling for an “intifada.” The university interpreted the sign as a call for the genocide of Jews and therefore determined that this form of protest was a violation of its student code of conduct.
Universities often serve as melting pots for students representing diverse backgrounds and perspectives. It is the job of administrators to leverage this dynamic for academic discovery and learning while keeping students safe from discrimination and harassment. Schools do not have to choose sides in a geopolitical conflict or decide whether to protect one group of students or another. They must defend and protect the rights of all people. Institutionalizing the Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism would further protect Jewish and Zionist students now and in the future. Managers must take the lead and take practical action now.
Avi D. Gordon is the Executive Director of Alums for Campus Fairness, which sponsors advocacy campaigns at several colleges and universities across the country, including: Cornell and northwestEncourage defining and condemning anti-Semitism.
This commentary on anti-Semitism on campus was written as follows: Hechinger Reportis a nonprofit, independent media outlet focused on inequality and innovation in education. join Hechinger's Newsletter.