Jewish students worried about antisemitism at schools like Harvard, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania are being encouraged to check out the Sunshine State.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rolled out the welcome mat for Jewish students seeking a friendlier campus climate, announcing that the state universities will waive a number of transfer-application requirements to make the switch easier.
“This week, Jewish students across the country are returning to campuses that have condoned antisemitism,” Mr. DeSantis said Tuesday in his State of the State address. “Over the coming months, they will have a tough decision to make — pack up and leave or stay and endure continued hatred. And if they do decide to come to Florida, we will welcome them with open arms.”
The Florida College System and State University System of Florida are waiving minimum credit-hour requirements and extending application deadlines for prospective students “who have a well-founded fear of antisemitic persecution at their current postsecondary institution,” the governor’s office said.
In his emergency order, SUSF Chancellor Ray Rodrigues went further, saying the waivers applied to students facing “antisemitism or other religious discrimination.”
The order also said universities may use their discretion in waiving application fees and out-of-state tuition requirements in cases of financial hardship.
Today, I am directing Florida’s Colleges and Universities to make it easier for Jewish students to transfer to a Florida higher education institution.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 9, 2024
While leaders of “elite” universities enable antisemitism, we will protect Jewish students and welcome them to Florida.
The Republican governor has taken a strong stand supporting Jewish residents in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. He added what he calls “surging law enforcement” at anti-Israel rallies and provided emergency evacuation flights for Floridians stranded in Israel after the massacre.
The state university system in collaboration with Mr. DeSantis also banned Students for Justice in Palestine chapters, prompting two free-speech lawsuits.
Inquiries to Florida universities from out-of-state students have increased as U.S. antisemitic incidents have soared by 360% since the Oct. 7 attack, with many of the episodes taking place on college campuses, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Concerns about campus antisemitism soared after the Dec. 5 House hearing at which three university presidents said that whether calling for “genocide of Jews” violated their conduct codes would depend on the context.
Two of the presidents — Harvard’s Claudine Gay and Penn’s Liz Magill — have since resigned. Both remain on the faculty.
“With leaders of so-called elite universities enabling antisemitic activities, rather than protecting their students from threats and harassment, it is understandable that many Jewish students are looking for alternatives and looking to Florida,” said Mr. DeSantis.
“Throughout my tenure as governor, we have implemented measures to safeguard our Jewish communities from hatred in the K-20 school system,” he said, “and with this announcement, we want to again make it clear that Jewish students are welcome to live and learn in Florida where they will be respected and not persecuted due to their faith.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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