Antisemitism and Free Speech on Campus

Graeme Wood
The Atlantic

Excerpt: The protesters on university campuses have an image problem: They look like they are having way too much fun. In tone, the demonstrations do not match the subject matter, which they allege is genocide, the least fun of all human activities. For 20-year-olds, some activities that would be miserable to a normal person—screaming hysterically, being arrested, living in ragged encampments—are in fact an exhilarating way to spend one’s time, and certainly preferable to studying for exams.

Fun does not discredit a cause, but a protester who enjoys himself has a harder time demonstrating his commitment than one willing to suffer. This weekend I spoke with one of the latter. David Chmielewski, a Princeton English major from Torrington, Connecticut, along with 11 other Princeton community members, spent 10 days on a hunger strike to call for the university to divest from Israel.

Elisabeth H. Daugherty, Brett Tomlinson, Julie Bonette, and Carlett Spike
Princeton Alumni Weekly

The pro-Palestinian encampment was gone from Cannon Green by Thursday morning. Protesters had slowly begun clearing it on Tuesday, May 14, after signs appeared around the area reading, “This space is CLOSED in preparation for University events,” and workers began installing lighting for Class Day.

Elisabeth H. Daugherty, Brett Tomlinson, Julie Bonette, Carlett Spike
Princeton Alumni Weekly

Excerpt: The pro-Palestinian protesters at Princeton slowly began cleaning up their encampment on Cannon Green Tuesday morning. Signs had been put up around the area reading, “This space is CLOSED in preparation for University events,” and workers began installing lighting for Class Day.

A video posted on Instagram by the protesters seemed to show a Public Safety official telling them Tuesday morning to leave. Urvi, a spokesperson for the protesters who is a first-year Ph.D. student and has asked to be identified only by her first name, would say only that they stand by their demands. Princeton Israel Divest Now (PIAD) published a statement on social media at 1 p.m. and said they were considering their next steps.

Isabel Keane
New York Post

Excerpt: An anti-Israel protester at Princeton University sounded off about how she was “starving” during a self-imposed hunger strike and accused the prestigious university of purposefully “physically weakening” students.

Aaron Sibarium
The Free Beacon

Excerpt: Yale University spent more than a year investigating a Jewish professor for six words of an op-ed he published in a pro-Israel newspaper, raising questions about the school’s approach to anti-Semitism and free speech as the campus continues to cope with the fallout of the Israel-Hamas war.

Abigail Anthony
National Review

Excerpt: Princeton University president Christopher Eisgruber sent an email today to all undergraduates recognizing that it has been nearly two weeks since a sit-in began on campus. He notes the particularly fraught situation, stating, “Never have I seen our campus more riven with passionate disagreements, disagreements that encompass the war in Gaza as well as issues about Princeton itself.” Eisgruber confirmed that “my colleagues and I are now in direct conversation with the protestors,” adding, “We can consider their concerns through appropriate processes that respect the interests of multiple parties and viewpoints, but we cannot allow any group to circumvent those processes or exert special leverage.”  Although Eisgruber and administrators are now speaking with the protesters, his email does not offer a particularly positive description of them. . . . The university’s stance is clear: The administration is willing to consider — even implement — demands raised by students who occupy buildings.