Colleges’ Inexcusable Cowardice on Hamas

Overview:

This article by Samuel J. Abrams at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) criticizes the response of colleges and universities to Hamas's actions against Israel, highlighting what he perceives as their failure to adequately condemn Hamas and support Jewish students.

• Abrams argues that the silence or delayed response of college administrations in the face of Hamas's attacks is a moral failure and indicative of a broader issue of anti-Semitism on campuses.
• The article discusses specific instances at Sarah Lawrence College and Harvard University, where responses to the situation were seen as inadequate.

Key Quotes:

1. "The notable silence around the Jewish community and its worst day since the Holocaust was a choice and sent a powerful message."
2. "Far too many colleges and universities have made disingenuous statements about Hamas and Israel, and donors and numerous groups are now appropriately holding schools accountable for this disgusting, illiberal behavior."

What They Discuss:

• The perceived lack of support and delayed reactions from college administrations towards Jewish students during Hamas's attacks.
• The contrast between the immediate political statements made by colleges on other issues and their silence or delayed response to anti-Semitic incidents.
• The criticism of events organized on campuses that are seen as anti-Semitic and threatening to Jewish students.
• The reaction of donors and alumni to the perceived failure of colleges to condemn Hamas and support Jewish students.

What They Recommend:

• Colleges and universities should swiftly condemn actions taken by Hamas against innocent Israelis.
• Administrators and presidents who fail to confront these issues should step down.
• Higher education institutions should strive to promote discovery, curiosity, and truth, and confront difficult realities honestly.
• Colleges should maintain institutional neutrality on political and social issues, as per the University of Chicago’s Kalven Report.

Key Takeaways:

• The article highlights a perceived problem of anti-Semitism and inadequate response to it on college campuses.
• It calls for greater accountability and moral leadership from college administrations in addressing these issues.
• The author urges higher education institutions to adhere to principles of neutrality while also confronting anti-Semitism and supporting affected students.

This is a brief overview of Samuel J. Abrams' article from the American Enterprise Institute. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full article.