It didn’t take long after the terrorist attacks on Israel for college campuses to once again become a culture-war battleground. Pro-Palestinian — even explicitly pro-Hamas — statements and demonstrations from activists at Harvard, George Washington University, the University of Arizona, and other schools have unsurprisingly prompted considerable backlash and debate about university neutrality, academic freedom, and free speech on campus.
Many prominent college and university donors have led that backlash and questioned how their alma maters have reacted to the events of October 7. That crisis of confidence has spurred many to say “enough” and sever their ties with certain institutions — including their financial support. Some donors are threatening to withhold donations until universities condemn the Hamas attacks. While that impulse is understandable, it would be a squandered opportunity to take a situation that underscores what’s so deeply wrong with higher education and make a meaningful change.
Comments