University of Michigan crossed a dangerous line with Jewish students - opinion

The Jerusalem Post views the events at the University of Michigan's commencement ceremony as a deeply troubling illustration of a pervasive issue facing Jewish students on American campuses. Professor Derek Peterson's decision to praise student activists during his address, in the context of ongoing campus protests and their impact on Jewish students, was perceived not as a nuanced statement on free expression, but as a direct validation of hostility and intimidation experienced by the Jewish community.

The university's subsequent handling of the situation, from scrubbing and then restoring the commencement video to the internal debates and external pressures, highlights what the Post sees as a failure of leadership. The article points to the issuance of letters and statements by faculty groups, such as the American Association of University Professors, defending Peterson's remarks, as further evidence of a skewed perspective that prioritizes certain forms of activism over the safety and well-being of Jewish students.

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make good trouble

This incident, the Post argues, exemplifies a broader pattern across American higher education where the targeting of Jewish students is met with a different standard than that applied to other minority groups. The piece draws a stark contrast, suggesting that similar praise for activists targeting Black, Latino, or Asian students would elicit widespread condemnation. The article concludes that the University of Michigan's actions, and those of other institutions, have crossed a dangerous line, creating an environment where Jewish students feel unprotected and their experiences of discrimination are minimized or ignored, a stark departure from the principles of equality and safety that educational institutions should uphold.

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measured and principled