By Donald Gilpin
Leading universities have been on the firing line in recent weeks as they try to balance demands for freedom of speech with the need to condemn antisemitism and Islamophobia and to ensure students’ safety. In the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, Princeton, along with many universities across the country, has seen demonstrations, protests, forums, vigils, and other reactions, some pro-Israel, some pro-Palestinian.
Hearings in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month led to scathing criticism of University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, Harvard President Claudine Gay, and MIT President Sally Kornbluth. Magill resigned soon afterward.
Compared to Harvard and Penn and many other universities, Princeton has been relatively quiet, despite outspoken debate with strong feelings on both sides.
At a December 11 meeting of the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC), University President Christopher L. Eisgruber commented on the commitment of the University “to act forcefully in response to hypothetical calls for the genocide of Jews.” more