Elite Universities Grapple with Antisemitism Amid Calls for Clearer Policies

Jewish families reconsider college choices as ambiguity persists over what constitutes a call for genocide and how it should be punished.

Following a congressional hearing where presidents of elite universities failed to outright condemn calls for genocide of Jews as a violation of school rules, there has been widespread outrage and calls for clear disciplinary action against such behavior.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Stanford University have issued statements asserting that calls for genocide clearly violate their respective codes of conduct, but ambiguity remains about what constitutes a call for genocide and how it should be punished.
Jewish and pro-Israel groups are grappling with how to respond to popular pro-Palestinian chants that many Jews find threatening, and there is no consensus on whether such chants should be classified as calls for genocide or how students should be disciplined for using them.
Amid growing concerns about antisemitism on campuses, some Jewish families are reconsidering their college choices, prioritizing safety over prestige and removing top-tier institutions from their lists.
Universities are facing pressure to take stronger action against antisemitism, with some establishing antisemitism advisory groups or task forces, and the University of Pennsylvania's president resigning amid backlash.