OPINION:
Higher education is no longer defined by liberal bias or even liberal indoctrination. Sadly, these schools are now almost fully under the control of leftists who are hellbent on the radicalization of the campuses they oversee.
Three presidents of elite institutions of higher learning testified last week before the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Each of them stumbled when asked by Rep. Elise Stefanik, New York Republican, if calling for the genocide of Jewish people violates their school’s rules or codes conduct.
University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, a “legal scholar,” responded that it is a “context-dependent decision.”
In what context is calling for the killing of people based on their religious beliefs acceptable? She and the other presidents were given several opportunities to clarify their answer but failed miserably to do so.
The bipartisan outrage to their remarks came quickly, including condemnation from the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Magill resigned on Saturday after a semester filled with problems that began with a Palestine Writes Literature Festival on campus. Donors, including one threatening to pull a $100 million commitment, fueled the backlash.
Welcome to the movement. At Young America’s Foundation, we’ve been warning for years about the radicalization of college campuses. We’ve suggested that donors stop giving to their alma mater if the school is using their funds to teach students to hate America and our shared values.
While the resignation of the former Penn president was a success, the situation with Harvard President Claudine Gay is not. I fear this is more indicative of the culture on most campuses.
Harvard University’s highest governing board released a statement on Tuesday: “As members of the Harvard Corporation, we today reaffirm our support for President Gay’s continued leadership of Harvard University. Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing.”
Actions speak louder than words.
In the recent congressional hearing, Ms. Stefanik asked Ms. Gay, “Can you not say here that it is against the code of conduct at Harvard?”
Ms. Gay’s response was at best evasive: “We embrace a commitment to free expression even of views that are objectionable, offensive, hateful — it’s when that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying, harassment, intimidation.”
Does anyone think that the president of Harvard or the others would have been unclear if they were asked if it was OK if someone said they were going to “kill the gays” or “murder the Muslims”? All moral people would say those statements are wrong.
So why was it so hard to say the same thing about violent statements against Jewish students?
The answer is clear. The radicals are interested only in pursuing their agenda via victim classes. They justify actions against White students by noting the perceived victimization of ethnic minorities. They do the same against male students because of the victimization of women.
The latter becomes confusing as they also call those who do not stand with transgender athletes transphobic, even if they raise concerns about the inherent unfair advantages of those individuals in sports. Evidently, one victim class can trump another.
In the case of the “Free Palestine” movement, they label Israel as “colonizers” and “oppressors.” This is ironic, since women are treated poorly under Hamas rule, with few rights, restrictions on travel, and limits on association. Hamas also treats gays, lesbians and transgender people poorly.
Over 700 members of the Harvard faculty sent a letter saying that they urge “in the strongest possible terms to defend the independence of the university and to resist political pressures that are at odds with Harvard’s commitment to academic freedom, including calls for the removal of President Claudine Gay. The critical work of defending a culture of free inquiry in our diverse community cannot proceed if we let its shape be dictated by outside forces.”
What a bunch of hypocritical nonsense. These are some of the same people who are eager to ban conservative voices from their campuses. Often, they claim that a conservative defending the rights of women in sports, or speaking about the sanctity of life, or even about the benefits of market-based capitalism over government-driven socialism is somehow threatening to members of the student body. They write editorials claiming conservative speakers are a threat to their security while remaining silent about the plight of Jewish students barricaded in a library while protesters call for them to be murdered.
Colleges and universities are no longer places of higher education. They are hubs of radical activism.
Donors must stop giving to institutions that seek to counter their values.
Governors and state lawmakers must pull funding for institutions that do not protect free speech, provide diversity of thought, and ensure the safety of students.
We must undo the radicalization of our college campuses.
• Scott Walker is president of Young America’s Foundation and served as the 45th governor of Wisconsin.
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