What It’s About
American universities that issued statements concerning Hamas’s October 7 attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza faced intense backlash. As a result, many universities have adopted or are considering policies of institutional neutrality on global events.
Why It Matters
The adoption of institutional neutrality policies signifies a shift in how academic institutions address contentious global issues. These policies are aimed at preventing backlash from multiple sides while refocusing on education, learning, and research. However, such neutrality has sparked varied responses within the Jewish community and among pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian advocates.
Backstory
Institutions like Williams College have codified their stance of neutrality, emphasizing that issuing statements can support some community members while disregarding others. High-profile universities such as Harvard and Columbia have followed suit, realizing that taking sides on global issues forces them under intense scrutiny from all sides.
Perspective
Weapons Policy Formation: Jewish leaders and pro-Israel advocates have mixed feelings about institutional neutrality. While Hillel International CEO Adam Lehman views this step as beneficial for returning campuses to their core missions, he acknowledges that it’s not a comprehensive solution against harassment and intimidation of Jewish students. On the other hand, critics like Mark Yudof argue that some issues, such as assaults or racist behavior, demand vocal responses.
Cases
Harvard President Claudine Gay’s delayed and subsequent statements post-Hamas attacks received scrutiny from various groups. The University’s new president, Alan Garber, has stated that the institutioAligningBelieveril, the Jewish president of Northwestern University, condemned Hamas while explaining the school’s neutrality policy, facing criticism from both Israeli and Palestinian supporters.
Moving Forward
Even those embracing neutrality are initiating measures to support ethnic and religious inclusivity. Schools like the University of Pennsylvania have launched Offices of Religious and Ethnic Inclusion to address complaints of racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia more effectively.
The Big Picture
The conversation on institutional neutrality highlights ongoing debates over universities’ roles in global political conflicts. These policies aim for impartiality, but as certain advocates argue, neutrality itself can sometimes unintentionally endorse bias.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.