Anti-Semitism On College Campuses Is Not Last Year’s Problem, It Is Happening Now

 On October 7, 2023, the world watched in horror as Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and slaughtered 1,200 innocent men, women, and children. Hundreds of victims, including babies as young as nine months old, were taken hostage and subjected to abuse and torture at the hands of their captors.

It should have been a time for unity—to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters against terrorism and hate. Instead, a lack of leadership allowed violence and anti-Semitic demonstrations to take hold over the nation. This was most evident at colleges and universities, where Jewish students were harassed and physically attacked. 

University officials failed to protect their students, let alone condemn these hateful acts. Some are refusing to take action against the violent demonstrators who overtook their campuses. According to public documents, Columbia University has not disciplined 18 of the 22 students who were arrested for occupying Hamilton Hall.

Failed leadership on anti-Semitism is not only occurring at colleges and universities, but within the Biden-Harris administration.

Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Department of Education (DeptEd) must hold universities accountable for failing to address discrimination against students on campuses. Since October 7, the Biden-Harris administration has refused to penalize universities for violating Title VI and failing to address harassment and attacks against their Jewish students. In fact, there are 162 cases involving religious discrimination at colleges that have yet to be resolved by DeptEd.

It is the Senate’s obligation to examine the failures of universities and the Biden-Harris administration to protect Jewish students from discrimination. As the ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, I have repeatedly called on HELP Chair Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to hold a bipartisan hearing on this issue. Other Democrat senators have called for a hearing in the Committee. Unfortunately, Chair Sanders has refused.

There are also bills before the HELP Committee to address anti-Semitism and discrimination against students. I am currently leading the Protecting Students on Campus Act, bipartisan legislation that ensures students know how to file civil rights complaints if they experience discrimination on college campuses. There is also the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which passed the House of Representatives last May by an overwhelming margin of 320 – 91.

These bills can make a difference, but Democrat leadership in the Senate has refused to consider them.

To be clear, the Senate has had plenty of time. For months, the Senate Majority Leader has wasted valuable floor time calling political show votes, and ramming through radical, hyper-partisan Biden-Harris nominees. If Democrat leaders wanted to address anti-Semitism, they could have done it.

This lack of action should not surprise anyone. The Democrat Party has spent months trying to appease and pander to Hamas sympathizers in fear that they will not vote for the party ticket in November. Instead of condemning the anti-Semitic demonstrations at the Democrat Party convention, President Biden said these protestors “have a point.” A protest where the Hamas flag is proudly flown and demonstrators unapologetically support the terror attacks on October 7 should receive nothing but outrage and condemnation. Democrats’ legitimization of anti-Semitism in its ranks endangers Jewish students who continue to experience threats on their campuses.

The lack of leadership from the Senate Majority is unacceptable. Anti-Semitism on college campuses is not last year’s problem, it is happening now. Currently, police and federal law enforcement are probing a second anti-Semitic assault at the University of Pittsburgh. At the University of Michigan, at least three Jewish students have been attacked, including two outside of a Jewish fraternity house.

Jewish students and their families need real assurance that their schools and the Department of Education will protect them from discrimination and harm. Senate Republicans from top to bottom are committed to this. Senate Democrat leadership should be as well.

The Senate has five legislative weeks left this calendar year. We should use this time to pass the Protecting Students on Campus Act and address the rampant anti-Semitism on our campuses. The time for action is now.