Weekly Briefing: What college leaders are saying, and not saying, about the Israel-Hamas war

Criticism for speaking out or staying silent shows just how difficult it is for administrators to wade into political waters. ADVERTISEMENT [Weekly Briefing Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. What do college leaders say when it comes to hot-button issues? A small but growing number of college leaders have released statements about the Israel-Hamas war. The statements have denounced “violence, hate, and prejudice in all forms,” offered support to the campus community, and encouraged “mutual respect.” Most college administrators haven’t said anything. Some who did issue statements were accused of not grasping the severity of the conflicts. And those who said nothing have been accused of being neutral toward unnecessary violence. Then there’s the social-media backlash over statements issued by student groups that support the Palestinians in the conflict. Some of those statements have blamed the Israeli government for the violence. Israel’s supporters have asked colleges to denounce such statements. In recent years, colleges have been quick to take a stance on controversial issues like abortion and systemic racism. For example, after protests over the murder of George Floyd Jr., many college leaders [denounced structural racism]( and announced plans to improve diversity on their campuses. Similarly, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade — leaving decisions about abortion legislation to individual states — some college leaders were [swift to issue statements]( criticizing the court’s ruling. The violence that began with Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on Saturday — which followed decades of strife — has prompted more-neutral responses from a few college leaders. They discussed the complicated conflict and encouraged people on their campuses to support one another and respect different opinions. At some institutions, however, the debates have become more combative. Take Harvard University, where on Saturday more than 30 student organizations [released a statement]( saying Israel was responsible for the violence and calling out Israeli officials for the conditions faced by Palestinians for years. That statement quickly drew a backlash from alumni, faculty members, other campus groups, and some federal lawmakers. On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, Republican of New York, [posted on the social-media platform X]( a call for Harvard to denounce the student groups. The university later [released a statement]( signed by Claudine Gay, Harvard’s president, and other administrators and deans. Gay didn’t directly answer the student organizations, and instead took a neutral stance on the war. After more criticism, she [released an additional response]( to the student groups’ statement. “Let me also state, on this matter as on others, that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group — not even 30 student groups — speaks for Harvard University or its leadership,” Gay wrote. “We will all be well served in such a difficult moment by rhetoric that aims to illuminate and not inflame.” By Tuesday night, at least five student groups had withdrawn their signatures from the statement after their members were doxxed, or intimidated by the release of their personal information online, The Harvard Crimson [reported](. Harvard’s continuing controversy, and the criticism for speaking out or staying silent faced by college leaders everywhere, shows just how difficult it is for colleges to enter the political fray. In the past year, some institutions have formally adopted aspects of the [Kalven Report]( a 1967 document written by a University of Chicago faculty committee stating that institutions should remain mostly neutral on political and social debates. The report states that if a college wants to align with its academic purpose, it should encourage the “widest diversity of views.” But not all colleges agree. [Read our Maggie Hicks’s full story here](. For more on college presidents’ statements, [read this story by our Calli McMurray](. ADVERTISEMENT NEWSLETTER [Sign Up for the Teaching Newsletter]( Find insights to improve teaching and learning across your campus. Delivered on Thursdays. To read this newsletter as soon as it sends, [sign up]( to receive it in your email inbox. Lagniappe - Read. A pharmaceutical company stalled its tuberculosis vaccine in hopes of making more money. [Here’s how]( the development was stalled. (ProPublica) - Listen. The podcast Heavyweight is [back for Season 8](. The first episode focuses on the host Jonathan Goldstein’s reconnection with his childhood best friend. (Spotify) —Fernanda SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. Chronicle Top Reads ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES [Diversity Statements Are Being Banned. Here’s What Might Replace Them.]( By Adrienne Lu [STORY IMAGE]( Academic disparities between student groups are hurting colleges’ overall retention efforts. Advocates are pushing for a way forward. THE REVIEW | OPINION [The Public Is Giving Up on Higher Ed]( By Michael D. Smith [STORY IMAGE]( Our current system isn’t working for society. Digital alternatives can change that. ATTACK ADS [Pro-Palestinian Student Groups’ Use of This Image Is Drawing Outrage. 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