The climate on college campuses since the terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7th has caught the attention of the powerbrokers in Washington, most notably, President Donald Trump.
The Trump administration has formed a task force to root out antisemitism on campuses across the country, and numerous other federal offices and interest groups — such as the American Jewish Committee — are mobilizing to join this effort. The result is that many of the most prominent universities are now in the crosshairs of an angry administration.
In response to the Trump administration’s attacks on higher education, nearly 500 college presidents and deans signed an open letter from the American Association of Colleges and Universities and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement.” The college leaders argue against “undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses.” They continue: “Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.”
