Columbia University administrators have defended the controversial chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as permissible political speech. While on an abstract level, they are correct in defending free speech, the issue arises when considering if such bigoted chants would be tolerated for other groups, such as white supremacists demanding South Africa be returned to white apartheid control. The question is whether the same standards are applied to all minorities or if there is a double standard in place at universities.
It is important for universities to apply a single standard of free speech, harassment, and tolerance for dissenting views, as upheld by the Supreme Court. There should be neutrality in deciding what speech is acceptable and what is not, without favoring any particular group based on ideologies such as DEI and intersectionality. The issue lies in universities protecting certain minorities over others, leading to a double standard in how offensive speech is treated.
The current situation sees Jews being treated as second-class citizens under DEI and intersectionality, resulting in discrimination in various aspects such as speech, admissions, hiring, and other decisions. To address this issue, these bigoted bureaucracies must be dismantled and replaced with neutral principles that protect all groups equally. Universities must make a choice between permitting all forms of bigotry based on the First Amendment or implementing symmetrical neutral rules to protect all minorities.
As long as these ideologies continue to hold sway at universities and other institutions, discrimination against Jews and other minorities will persist. It is essential to challenge and dismantle these powerful bureaucracies to restore true equality and meritocracy within institutions. Many universities are hesitant to confront these ideologies, but it is necessary for the future of America’s great universities to be preserved by ensuring fair treatment of all minorities.
Alan Dershowitz, a professor emeritus at Harvard Law School, and Andrew Stein, a former New York City Council president, emphasize the need for universities to address the issue of discriminatory treatment of minorities in speech and other areas. They call for the dismantling of bigoted bureaucracies and the implementation of neutral principles to protect all groups equally, rather than favoring certain minorities over others. By doing so, universities can uphold the principles of free speech and equality for all, ensuring a fair and inclusive environment for all students and faculty.
