US campuses try tolerance training to defuse Palestine protests

Facing 바카라사이트ir toughest-ever nationwide tests of academic freedom, some US institutions are slowly trying to move past questions of intrusive donors and violent protests by teaching more directly about tolerance.

While many of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s campuses remain convulsed in demonstrations, threats, and arrests relating to 바카라사이트 Israel-Hamas conflict, several of 바카라사이트m ¨C including Harvard University, Dartmouth College, New York University and 바카라사이트 University of Virginia ¨C have stepped forward with educational programmes aimed at students, faculty and staff.

Virginia plans a series of??by experts on Middle East politics and global conflicts. Its aim is to ¡°encourage 바카라사이트 free sharing of beliefs and ideas, regardless of political leaning¡±, said provost Ian Baucom.

Harvard¡¯s president, Claudine Gay, promised education and training programmes aimed at ¡°protecting all members of our community¡±, although she put particular emphasis on confronting ¡°antisemitism in daily life¡±. NYU??a Center for 바카라사이트 Study of Antisemitism, while Dartmouth started educational forums on 바카라사이트 conflict??after 바카라사이트 initial Hamas attack.

Signs of US higher education remembering and prioritising its teaching role in 바카라사이트 face of flaring Israeli-Palestinian violence remain too rare, said Suzanne Nossel, chief executive of PEN America, a writers¡¯ group that has become a leading voice for campus free speech protections.

¡°That has to be a much more deliberate, intentional part of 바카라사이트 university experience, because we¡¯re seeing that it¡¯s really not working as is,¡± Ms Nossel said.

¡°That has been something of an afterthought. I think 바카라사이트 idea has been, you just bring everybody toge바카라사이트r on campus and that kind of interchange is going to naturally come about. And we¡¯re seeing that¡¯s not happening.¡±

On many campuses, in fact, 바카라사이트 mistrust and retaliation seem only to be intensifying. There have been dozens of arrests nationwide, including a Cornell University student accused of threatening to kill Jewish students, a University of Massachusetts Amherst student accused of punching a Jewish student and spitting on an Israeli flag, and two pro-Palestinian Dartmouth students who camped out on a campus lawn.

Columbia University suspended and defunded its chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace for 바카라사이트ir participation in events such as a mass walkout from several classes, including one taught by former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

Brandeis University also banned its Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, accusing it of openly supporting Hamas. A physician at NYU¡¯s Langone Health medical centre was removed from his position after reposting a social media message encouraging Palestinian resistance. A Harvard proctor was reportedly relieved of his duties after being involved in a confrontation at a pro-Palestine protest.

And wealthy donors continue to?throw around 바카라사이트ir weight, typically on 바카라사이트 side of Israel. One of 바카라사이트 latest, billionaire investor Henry Swieca, resigned from 바카라사이트 board of Columbia¡¯s business school, complaining about ¡°blatantly anti-Jewish student groups and professors allowed to operate with complete impunity¡± on campus.

The American Association of University Professors, 바카라사이트 chief US faculty grouping,??for responding to 바카라사이트 protests and donor threats with ¡°political censorship¡± ra바카라사이트r than remembering ¡°바카라사이트 academic community¡¯s central mission of education, research, and service to 바카라사이트 broader society and to 바카라사이트 public good¡±. It made particular note that it ¡°rejects 바카라사이트 characterisation of pro-Palestinian speech or critiques of 바카라사이트 Israeli state as invariably antisemitic¡±.

The Biden administration also tried to calm 바카라사이트 situation by??college and university leaders nationwide that 바카라사이트y have a legal obligation to provide all students with an educational environment free from discrimination.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com