The U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing Thursday on antisemitism on college campuses, an event that comes shortly after President Donald Trump announced he would cut $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University over that very issue.
Allegations of antisemitism and and pro-violent activity on college campuses exploded in 2023 after the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israeli civilians kicked off the war in Gaza. Since Trump’s announcement, Columbia University has made several administrative changes to appease the president, suggesting the funding revocation could be undone or stopped before it becomes official.
The incident highlights the polarizing nature of Israel’s war in Gaza and the spike in antisemitism in the U.S. since it began, a problem that has been difficult to tackle. Jewish students reported sharing their concerns with school officials and the Department of Education to no avail.
Israel has faced criticism for the civilian casualties and humanitarian problems with its military effort to kill Hamas leaders and infrastructure, much of which is entangled with and hidden underneath civilian buildings like hospitals.
The on-campus protests, however, often went beyond anti-war protests and verged into chants, signs and demonstrations supporting Hamas, officially designated a terrorist group by the State Department, as well as calls for violence against Jews. In some cases, campus buildings were closed down as Jewish students were locked in or out.
The Anti-Defamation League reports that antisemitic occurrences on campuses skyrocketed after the Oct. 7 attack, with over a thousand incidents around the country.
Those issues will almost certainly be discussed at the Thursday Senate HELP Committee hearing, where expert witness are expected to testify.
