NEW YORK, NY – Ivy League universities, including Harvard University, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania, have established antisemitism task forces in response to a wave of antisemitic incidents on their campuses.
The establishment of these task forces comes after student-led pro-Palestinian demonstrations, some of which involved inflammatory anti-Israeli rhetoric, escalated following the Oct. 7 attacks by the designated terrorist group Hamas against Israel.
Elizabeth Magill, President of the University of Pennsylvania, confirmed the creation of a new University Task Force on Antisemitism, underscoring the urgent need to address safety concerns and the unacceptable rise in antisemitic actions on campus. This development occurred after a shift in Magill’s position on categorizing Hamas, influenced by reactions from significant donors including Jon Huntsman Jr.
In parallel, Harvard University, under President Claudine Gay, announced a commitment to aggressively tackle antisemitism. This announcement followed a contentious period marked by the university’s handling of an anti-Israel letter and subsequent donor reactions, including the Wexner Foundation ceasing donations.
An incident at Columbia University, where an Israeli student was assaulted, has amplified concerns about safety for Israelis and Jews on campus. This prompted over 300 faculty members from Columbia and Barnard College to express their dismay at the antisemitic incidents and initiate the formation of a task force focused on creating both immediate and sustained responses to the issue.
Amidst these tensions, several pro-Palestinian student organizations at Ivy League schools, including Harvard, Columbia, and Yale, have issued statements assigning blame to Israel for the attacks.
As the universities move forward with their respective task forces, they seek to reinforce their commitment to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students, with particular attention to the Jewish community. Responses from the universities regarding these initiatives were not available at the time of reporting.