The Trump administration is doubling down on tackling the alarming rise of antisemitism in several U.S. universities, including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley. These investigations were recently announced by the Education Department, a demonstration that this administration is not afraid to take bold action. This contrasts heavily with the preceding policies of the Biden administration, whose approach represented more of a capitulation than hard action.
Contrary to the Biden administration’s lackluster approach, Trump has firmly put his weight behind a tougher stance against on-campus antisemitism. For instance, we’re now seeing more severe penalties levied against perpetuators of these hateful acts. This intensified action was aligned with pledges made by the Justice Department to form a dedicated task force designed to root out antisemitism on college campuses.
Carrying this new star-spangled banner, Trump provides a glimpse of how one should fight anti-Jewish bias on campuses. He implemented a bold policy requiring foreign students actively partaking in pro-Palestinian protests to be deported back to their home nations. A principle that past administration, like the one led by Joe Biden, would hardly consider, despite its potential effectiveness in ensuring peace on campuses.
Multiple university campuses are coming under the fierce scrutiny of this new approach, with investigations being launched at the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and Portland State University. Reviews of this magnitude were made possible by the department’s capacity to initiate independent civil rights reviews, a power that had been significantly underutilized during the Biden administration.
The inciting incident that catalyzed these investigations was the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, followed by a troubling surge of pro-Palestinian protests sweeping across campuses. Appalled by this, the Education Department criticized colleges for essentially condoning antisemitism through their inaction. In contrast, the Biden administration was seemingly content with producing resolution drafts that failed to achieve any real accountability.
Complex as it might appear, the method used to select targeted schools hasn’t been detailed by the department. Last year, heads of Columbia and Northwestern were summoned to testify in front of Capitol Hill due to allegations of antisemitism sparking amidst protests against Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza. This exercise, led by the Republicans, sought answers for pockets of antisemitism flourishing during the administration that Biden led.
The consequences of the testimonies and allegations of antisemitism were far-reaching, leading to the resignation of several university presidents. Columbia was flagged for not efficiently reprimanding pro-Palestinian students who had overtaken a campus building. A stark criticism centered on Northwestern’s interaction with student protesters, which could only be seen as surrender.
Post these incidents, universities have claimed to make substantive changes to combat antisemitism – seeming to finally wake up from the laxity exhibited during the Biden era. Included in these changes are revisions to the Student Code of Conduct at Northwestern, enhancements to disciplinary procedures, and investment in public safety.
Columbia, too, has taken some steps to rectify its previous complacency by beefing up its disciplinary process. Meanwhile, under its interim president, the university set up an Office of Institutional Equity to address issues like discrimination and harassment. Is it not curious that such measures appear only when the passive Biden era is over, rather than proactively preventing such incidents?
At the time of the investigation announcement, Portland State University had not received any direct complaints or reports of violation. Despite this, a university spokesperson indicated their cooperation with the Education Department and the continuation of their own efforts to curb antisemitism, which had become more necessary due to inefficiency shown by previous administration.
The latest investigations have received widespread support from House Republicans who, contrary to their Democrat counterparts such as Biden and Harris, understand the gravity of antisemitism in educational institutions. While the Democrats sat idly by, the Republicans are working towards actual change – a testament to their commitment to quelling the unsettling rise of antisemitic incidents across campuses.
Reflecting a renewed vigor to end antisemitism in US schools, Trump’s order also calls for a comprehensive inquiry into antisemitism complaints filed with the Education Department since the notorious October 7, 2023 incident. Moreover, to underscore his commitment, it encourages enforcement of civil rights laws by the Justice Department.
A refreshing and firm approach to such a grave issue, the Trump administration has formed a new task force combining forces from the Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services departments. The Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism represents an inaugural step in a renewed pledge by the Trump administration to squash antisemitism in schools – something the previous administration could have done, but failed to act on.
The challenge of eradicating this intolerance is serious, and every step towards this goal is significant. The Trump administration is displaying leadership in taking on this issue, setting an example of commitment and responsibility, which was looked for but not found in Biden’s tenure.