Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said anti-Semitism on campus originates from cultural Marxism that penetrates U.S. universities, indoctrinating students.
“This tragically is cultural Marxism that our universities are indoctrinating young people,” he told Fox News on April 21. “Cultural Marxism breaks the world into oppressors and victims. And they have defined Jews as oppressors. They have defined Palestinians as victims. And so for the cultural Marxists, once they make that definition, they support the violent evolution of the so-called victim against the so-called oppressor.
“This is the leftist ideology of our universities and the Democrat Party. Sadly, it’s a really ugly manifestation we’re seeing on the streets of New York and across the country and universities.”
His comments come at a time when anti-Semitism on U.S. campuses has been on the rise since the start of the Israel–Hamas conflict. Donors, alumni, and lawmakers have criticized universities for not sufficiently addressing anti-Israel activities. Some billionaire donors have cut ties with colleges.
During the hearing, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce accused Ms. Shafik of failing to protect Jewish students on campus. Ms. Shafik responded that the university faced a “moral crisis” because of anti-Semitism on campus. She told lawmakers that Columbia University had taken decisive measures against suspected perpetrators.
Columbia University Under Crisis
On April 18, more than 100 protesters were arrested on Columbia University’s campus after they set up an encampment on the school’s lawns to protest against Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip.The arrests were made after Ms. Shafik authorized the New York Police Department (NYPD) to clear the encampment from the South Lawn of the campus.
She said the university had issued a written warning to students participating in the encampment and offered to continue discussions if they agreed to disperse, but they rejected these efforts.
Despite mass suspensions and arrests, protesters resumed their demonstrations the next day.
“What we are witnessing in and around campus is terrible and tragic. The events of the last few days, especially last night, have made it clear that Columbia University’s Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students’ safety in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy,” Rabbi Elie Buechler wrote to students in Yavneh, the Orthodox student community.
“It deeply pains me to say that I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved.”
The situation led the White House to issue a statement on April 21 condemning anti-Israel protests.
Anti-Semitism Soared
On April 16, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported 8,873 incidents of anti-Semitism in the United States in 2023, marking a 140 percent increase. The figure represents the highest level recorded since the ADL began collecting data in 1979.“Anti-Semitism is nothing short of a national emergency, a five-alarm fire that is still raging across the country and in our local communities and campuses,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in an April 16 statement. “Jewish Americans are being targeted for who they are at school, at work, on the street, in Jewish institutions, and even at home.”
The Department of Education opened civil rights investigations into multiple schools and universities in mid-November 2023 following allegations of anti-Semitism or Islamophobia since the start of the Israel–Hamas war. Among the higher education institutions under investigation are four Ivy League schools: Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania.
