The spike in antisemitism on American college campuses following Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre shocks and horrifies. What explains such ignorance and hatred among so many students?
A new investigative report by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), a nonprofit research organization, has followed the money and points to a “massive influx of foreign, concealed donations to American institutions of higher learning, much of it from authoritarian regimes with notable support from Middle Eastern sources.” This funding “reflects or supports heightened levels of intolerance towards Jews, open inquiry, and free expression,” the authors write.
The researchers found that:
● “Over 200 American colleges and universities illegally withheld information on approximately $13 billion in undocumented contributions from foreign governments, many of which are authoritarian.”
● “In institutions receiving such undocumented money…students reported greater exposure to antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric.”
● “In institutions receiving such undocumented money… higher levels of antisemitic incidents were reported on their campuses.”
● “From 2015-2020, colleges and universities that accepted money from Middle Eastern donors, had, on average, 300% more antisemitic incidents than those institutions that did not.”
Harvard’s motto, Veritas, is Latin for truth. Yale’s motto, Lux et Veritas (Latin) or Urim v’ Thummim in Hebrew, is translated light and truth. It’s worth asking why American colleges and universities with mottos such as these have kept students, parents, and the American government in the dark when it comes to foreign donors.
Notably, the NCRI report, citing 2019 Department of Education investigative data, indicates that Qatar provided the highest level of undocumented funding to U.S. colleges and universities from 2014-2019. Qatar is currently providing safe haven to leaders of Hamas – the U.S. designated terrorist organization that perpetrated the worst single day attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
Is this really a regime we want shaping how American young people are educated?
It’s also worth asking what such donors expect in return for their ostensible generosity.
There may be multiple explanations for the disturbing spike in antisemitism on many college campuses. But the burden of proof is on anyone who suggests that billions of dollars in under-the-table funding from countries such as Qatar isn’t part of the equation.
Some institutions of higher education appear to have engaged in a Faustian bargain, surrendering principle and the welfare of our kids for cash. This tragic trade may help explain the explosion of hatred and antisemitism on U.S. campuses we are now witnessing.
Until the next post,
Antonette