Lawmakers and experts agree that antisemitism is a growing problem on college campuses, but remain divided on how to address it. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing Thursday to examine the issue, balancing academic freedom with protecting students and investigating foreign influences in higher education.
Since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, Jewish students have increasingly reported feeling unsafe on campuses. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents on college campuses surged by 500% between 2023 and 2024, totaling 1,200 reported cases. Many pro-Palestinian protests have included outright calls for violence and expressions of support for Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
One key issue raised at the hearing was the role of foreign funding in fueling campus antisemitism. Dr. Charles Asher Small, Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, testified that universities receiving money from Qatar experience “300% more instances of antisemitism” than those that do not. He linked foreign contributions to the funding of institutes, professors, and groups like Students for Justice in Palestine, calling for investigations by the Department of Education.
Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., pushed back against Small’s claims, arguing that targeting Qatar, which he called a “great ally” of the U.S., was unfair. He noted that China has also contributed over $3 billion to American universities, raising concerns about foreign influence beyond the Middle East. Small warned of a growing “red-green alliance,” which he described as a collaboration between radical Islamists and socialist organizations backed by Chinese funding.
The hearing also highlighted disagreements over legislative solutions. Kenneth Stern, Director at the Bard Center for the Study of Hate, opposed legally codifying the definition of antisemitism, warning that it could infringe on free speech. In contrast, Carly Gammill, Director of Legal Policy at Stand With Us Center for Combating Antisemitism, argued for passing an antisemitism awareness act to provide clearer protections for Jewish students.
Lawmakers further debated the future of the Department of Education’s role in combating antisemitism. Some supported increasing funding for the Office of Civil Rights to investigate incidents, while others backed the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle the department altogether. The hearing underscored the difficulty of balancing constitutional rights with efforts to combat rising antisemitism in higher education.
