Jewish Students Accuse MIT of ‘Impotence’ Against Anti-Semitism

A view of the campus of Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Mass., on July 8, 2020. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Rising anti-Semitism at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the administration’s inability to manage it appropriately have created an “unsafe environment for Jewish and Israeli students on campus,” according to a letter signed by over 1,700 current and former students.

“Over the past five weeks since Hamas’s deadly act of terror against Israel on October 7th, MIT students have been subjected to an onslaught of anti-Semitic harassment and hate speech on campus from members and supporters of the Coalition Against Apartheid (CAA), an ASA-approved, MIT-funded anti-Israel group,” the Nov. 13 letter said.

ASA refers to the Association of Student Activities.

“Though we have met with the MIT administration numerous times in these weeks, we have seen no successful action taken to make Jewish and Israeli students on campus safer.”

“Each day has brought new anti-Semitic social media posts, emails sent to student dormspam, and posters glorifying the murder of over 1,400 innocent Israelis. … MIT’s impotence and failure to quell this hate group has emboldened them to behave more and more brazenly.”

The letter was addressed to MIT President Sally Kornbluth and members of the MIT Corporation.

The letter highlighted a full-day blockade and protest staged by the Coalition Against Apartheid (CAA) on Nov. 9 in Lobby 7, followed by larger protests on the steps of the lobby on Nov. 12, which the letter says is an example of how “inaction” from the MIT administration is contributing to an “unsafe environment for Jewish and Israeli students on campus.”

Unsanctioned Demonstration

The CAA went ahead with the Nov. 9 blockade while ignoring warnings from the MIT leadership that such an action was against the university’s policies and could result in disciplinary action. The protests resulted in Jewish students in nearby classes being disturbed by loud chants from the demonstrators, the letter said.

“To get to their classes or offices, many students were forced to squeeze through the intimidating protest, which included graphic signs such as ‘Sally you can’t hide’ splattered in red paint to look like blood, as well as posters intended to intimidate Jewish faculty by name.”

“In the evening, groups were chanting slogans outside Lobby 7, proclaiming that ‘resistance is justified,’ and calling for an intifada. Both ‘resistance’ and ‘intifada’ are calls to violence against Israeli and Jewish civilians.”

The CAA uses the term “resistance” of the Palestinian people against what they refer to as the “Israeli occupation.” Intifada were two Palestinian uprisings against Israel over the alleged occupation of territories in Palestine.

Rather than enforcing its policies, MIT instead asked students to avoid Lobby 7 where the demonstrations were being held. “MIT failed to de-escalate the situation, as it promised it would do,” the letter said.

“This is unacceptable. The administration’s feckless handling of campus safety issues has eroded our trust in their ability to ensure the well-being of Jewish and Israeli students and enforce their own rules on the CAA and others that promote anti-Semitism or violence.”

The letter asked MIT to announce “concrete actions” it will take to discipline students and to ensure the safety of Israeli communities on campus.

It demanded a ban on CAA and other groups that incite anti-Semitic hatred against Jews and a declaration from the MIT administration and Ms. Kornbluth that they would combat anti-Semitism.

“If MIT takes no action, it is a clear signal that Jews and Israelis are unwelcome here. It is a clear signal that the administration supports the normalization of anti-Semitism on campus.”

Holding MIT Accountable

Ms. Kornbluth said in her response letter that the university was finding it difficult to maintain a balance between “free expression, free inquiry, and open debate essential to the mission of the Institute and a sense of shared safety, mutual respect, and openness to one another.”

She also dismissed claims that Jewish students were prevented from attending classes due to the protests, saying these were “false rumors.”

She pointed out that the administration has taken initial action against student organizers who refused to disperse, barring them from all non-academic events and activities on campus. The university is also working to identify strategies against anti-Semitism, the letter stated.

The letter comes as the House Committee on Education and Workforce will host a hearing on “Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Anti-Semitism” on Dec. 5.

Ms. Kornbluth has been asked to testify before Congress on the issue of rising anti-Semitism at MIT during the hearing. The presidents of Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania will also testify.

“Over the past several weeks, we’ve seen countless examples of anti-Semitic demonstrations on college campuses,” said Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), chair of the committee. “Meanwhile, college administrators have largely stood by, allowing horrific rhetoric to fester and grow.”

In a statement to The Epoch Times, MIT said that Ms. Kornbluth “welcomes the opportunity to engage with the Committee Members.”

MIT had earlier threatened to suspend students protesting against Israel on campus as some of their actions violated the institution’s rules.

However, Ms. Kornbluth later said that the university would not proceed with such an action due to “serious concerns about collateral consequences for the students, such as visa issues.”

The Epoch Times reached out to MIT for comment.