This call to “stand up” for higher education is a coded call for resistance against the Trump administration’s demands. Most of these demands pertain to protecting Jewish students, including a Department of Education investigation of antisemitism at Princeton. Why is President Eisgruber pushing back so hard, and so publicly, against demands to protect Jews?
The idea that this is defense of academic freedom or American strength rings false. When protesters waved the Hezbollah flag on campus in April 2024, why didn’t President Eisgruber “stand up” to them as strongly as he is pushing back against the Trump administration now? Hezbollah has a lot of American blood on its hands, and it isn’t known as a staunch defender of academic freedom.
Why so obligingly tolerant of America’s enemies then? Why so eager to resist the American government now?
I do not believe Princeton University should be resisting the Department of Education’s investigation of antisemitism. Rather, I think Princeton should negotiate with the Trump administration to find a way forward. Until Princeton University accepts the entirely reasonable requirement to protect its Jews and takes concrete steps in that regard, it will get no further support from me.
This call to “stand up” for higher education is a coded call for resistance against the Trump administration’s demands. Most of these demands pertain to protecting Jewish students, including a Department of Education investigation of antisemitism at Princeton. Why is President Eisgruber pushing back so hard, and so publicly, against demands to protect Jews?
The idea that this is defense of academic freedom or American strength rings false. When protesters waved the Hezbollah flag on campus in April 2024, why didn’t President Eisgruber “stand up” to them as strongly as he is pushing back against the Trump administration now? Hezbollah has a lot of American blood on its hands, and it isn’t known as a staunch defender of academic freedom.
Why so obligingly tolerant of America’s enemies then? Why so eager to resist the American government now?
I do not believe Princeton University should be resisting the Department of Education’s investigation of antisemitism. Rather, I think Princeton should negotiate with the Trump administration to find a way forward. Until Princeton University accepts the entirely reasonable requirement to protect its Jews and takes concrete steps in that regard, it will get no further support from me.