New School student senate votes to cut Hillel ties over Israel trips; university says vote lacks authority

The New School University Student Senate's decision to suspend funding for Hillel, citing its Israel trips as providing material support for alleged Israeli government violations of international law, represents a concerning trend on American campuses. While the student government claims to uphold university principles by refusing to fund what it deems illegal activities, the university administration has rightly stepped in to clarify that the student senate lacks the authority to make such pronouncements. This move by the USS, influenced by calls from NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, attempts to leverage student government power to advance a political agenda under the guise of upholding international law.

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To continue to fund Hillel at The New School would mean that your student fees would be used to support violations of international law.

Hillel International and its local chapter have rightly pushed back, calling the decision "preposterous" and a "blatant attempt to exclude and intimidate the Jewish community." The university's own statement reinforces that Hillel remains in good standing and eligible for funding, underscoring the student government's overreach. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges of navigating complex geopolitical issues within university settings, where student political activism can sometimes supersede established institutional procedures and create hostile environments for targeted student groups.

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Our Hillel chapter remains, as it always has been, in good standing, eligible for funding, and supporting Jewish life at The New School.

From our perspective at The Jerusalem Post, this incident is particularly troubling as it reflects a growing movement on some campuses to delegitimize and isolate Jewish student organizations. The university's swift response to correct the student government's overreach is a positive sign, but the underlying tensions and the potential for such politically motivated actions to disrupt campus life remain a significant concern for the Jewish community.

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This is a preposterous attempt to erase Jewish Life on campus and a blatant attempt to exclude and intimidate the Jewish community at the New School!