The death of free speech in academia: Harvard and UPenn

Institutional Stupidity Concerning the Situation on Campus

While our primary focus is legal news, there are times when certain events compel us to address broader issues. Today, I feel the need to discuss a disturbing video involving the deans of three reputed universities in the United States and the complete failure of our Academia.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking more than 240 hostages. While the people of Israel were still in shock and did not have a moment to bury the deceased, another attack took place. This time, a few racist antisemites celebrating the murder of thousands decided it was the time to act and fulfill their Muslim Brotherhood goals and dreams. The letter read.

A letter was issued on Instagram by the Harvard Graduate Students for Palestine and the Palestine Solidarity Committee (P.S.C.), with signatures from more than thirty other campus organizations. The letter accused the Israeli regime of being entirely responsible for all unfolding violence. However, the letter was based on Kremlin propaganda and hijacked the narrative. It is believed that the Harvard Graduate School has been affected by Wokeism and mediocrity, which has led to its downfall and rabbit antisemitism.

On Tuesday, the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT were summoned before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce to answer for the rise of anti-semitism in their institutions. This is a clear indication of how elite higher education has fallen from grace, and how the abandonment of free speech has allowed radicalism and anti-semitism to thrive on campus. When free speech is suppressed, institutional stupidity takes its place.

The hearing was called after Jewish students were attacked by pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Harvard, and protesters were heard chanting for an “Intifada revolution” on UPenn’s campus over the weekend. As a result, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating both schools for Title VI discrimination violations.

During the hearing, Harvard president Claudine Gay testified that "Antisemitism is a symptom of ignorance, and the cure for ignorance is knowledge."o was dragged for initially failing to condemn Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel. “Harvard must model what it means to preserve free expression while combating prejudice.

In the video, students on these campuses are heard calling for harm to a specific religious group. As a member of the Jewish community, this deeply troubles me. It goes beyond a debate on international conflicts; it involves a call for violence against an entire group of people.

What is even more disheartening is the reluctance of these academic leaders to condemn such expressions as hate speech on their campuses. This isn't about debating different perspectives; it's about addressing the severe implications of incitement to violence.

It's essential for us to foster an environment where any form of discrimination or threat is unequivocally condemned, irrespective of the targeted group. No individual or community should endure such calls for harm.

Let's engage in conversations that promote understanding, tolerance, and respect for diverse opinions while firmly standing against hate speech and violence. Together, we can work towards creating a world where all voices are heard without fear.

Thank you for being part of this community and fostering a space where meaningful dialogue can occur.