NYC Faculty Rally Against Trump Crackdown on Universities and International Students
Faculty across New York City are standing up against the Trump administration’s crackdown on universities and their international students.
And while the administration says its goal is to combat antisemitism on campuses, Jewish faculty in particular are pushing back against that narrative in different ways.
“I think it’s actually really powerful for students to know that faculty is doing something, that maybe their teacher is tired because they were at a rally or at a meeting, and is thinking about how to protect them,” said Teachers College professor EY Zipris. She is one of over 3400 Jewish academics who signed an open letter titled Not In Our Name.
The letter states: “We are united in denouncing, without equivocation, anyone who invokes our name – and cynical claims of antisemitism – to harass, expel, arrest, or deport members of our campus communities.”
Jonathan Feingold, a member of Concerned Jewish Faculty, helped write and circulate the letter in hopes of encouraging universities to stand up against the Trump administration.
“He is actually turning Jews into scapegoats,” said Feingold. “We can be united in standing up against an administration that is openly attempting to utilize Jewish identity and legitimate anxiety about antisemitism both to divide our communities and to distract us.”
Zipris is outspoken about her views on the Trump administration’s encroachment on college campuses, but for now, she doesn’t want her students to be.
“As a Jew and as a non-Zionist, I have nothing to hide about it, I’m not worried about my position,” she said. “I have said to my students, ‘I do not encourage them to participate because I don’t think we can guarantee their safety. There is a time when I will have to sit down and they’re going to have to stand up for me. This isn’t the time. They focus on graduating and staying safe. And I can stand up now.'”
Ari Goldman, another Jewish professor, co-teaches a course at Columbia Journalism School with Palestinian professor Gregory Khalil.
“I am a Zionist. I am a supporter of the state of Israel. But I am really appalled by the weaponization of antisemitism in this country,” he said.
As a journalist, he does not sign open letters or petitions, but he is also not afraid to speak out.
“I know many committed jews and I know many Zionists who are outraged by this,” he said.
“Over the years I’ve had many international students. I know that they’re afraid, I know that they’re wondering whether they’re going to make it through the year. Some of them have contingency plans in case they get arrested.”
On April 14, Harvard became the first university to announce that it would not comply with the Trump administration’s demands.
“I’m heartened to see Harvard push back and say they’re not going to cooperate,” said Goldman.
Lauren hails from Long Island, NY and got her first taste of journalism as a food writer at Washington University in St. Louis. She previously worked as a teacher and now covers education for City Newsroom.
