The Calm Before the Storm

Summer will be shorter than ever for those charged with planning for the start of the new academic year. Though student (and faculty) protests may have abated for now, fall and the start of the new academic year is but weeks away. The challenge faced by nearly every institution is how to prepare for a potential escalation in the campus activism that disrupted and confused so many campuses and their leaders.

With Israel and Hamas still engaged in extensive warfare and a spectrum of pro-Palestinian forces advocating for humanitarian relief at one end and calling for the destruction of Israel at the other end (with that end seeming to persistently expand), we can only assume that protest leaders, emboldened by professional agitators, are deeply engaged in their own planning for further ways to disrupt campuses across the world. What forms might this next generation of activism and disruption take? Who knows, but I have little doubt that it will be even more destructive.

So, with no time to spare, campus leaders must immediately review all policies and practices pertinent to these concerns. Augmented staffing to protect campus communities, facilities and infrastructure is essential. Messaging about campus positions must be clear, consistent and persistent and needs to be disseminated yesterday (see, for example, https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/temporary-standards-procedures/ ).

Here’s my list of initiatives college and university presidents should consider:

1. First and foremost is a review of all relevant policies which address campus protests and related forms of activism. Ambiguous language must be clarified. Rules regarding time, space and manner for protests must be explicitly stated. Policy clarification must make clear institutional rules regarding noise, encampments, and other forms of disruptions. Values statements are lovely and appreciated, but ‘cut to the chase’ guidelines that articulate what explicitly is permitted, what is prohibited and what the consequences will be is essential.
2. A key accompaniment to bright line policies is detailed clarity on who has responsibility for what. If space must be reserved for permitted protests, who makes that decision and who else must sign off. Thus, equally clear protocols for enabling and enforcing campus policies must also be immediately developed.
3. Know your boundaries, state them explicitly and make sure trustees, presidential cabinets and faculty leadership are all aligned with them. Note that I did not say that all must agree with them. Gather all the perspectives you need to now, but this is a presidential decision to be made subject to unwavering support from the board. If encampments will be prohibited and subject to immediate removal, say so and prepare to do so. If violators will be immediately subject to arrest, say so and do so. That is not to say that campuses can’t or shouldn’t have more lenient policies and procedures. If that’s the preference, just know where your unique boundary for intervention will be. Ambiguity breeds confusion and disruption.
4. Speech policies are tricky and often the cause of deep divides. Personally, I have no room for “from the river to the sea”. That expression is an unveiled call for the elimination of Israel. It is a call for violence and is unambiguously antisemitic. That’s my opinion. Criticism of Zionism or of Israel’s incursion into Gaza may be fair game as may be calls for divestment. My opinion doesn’t matter…what is your position?
5. If you have a campus police force, are they staffed up appropriately? Will you have parts of the campus secured 24x7 come fall? Are alignments with other adjacent law enforcement agencies established and prepared to react and respond? If you lack campus police, what can your security division offer and where will you need support from others? Are you prepared for disruption at opening convocations, at athletic contests, with campus speakers or other events? Are utilities infrastructures secure? Libraries? President’s offices? What are the most vulnerable aspects of your campus? Pay attention to all social media messages.
6. Now is the time time to sit down with the leadership of your Jewish community, including students, faculty and administrators to ensure their safety and the security of campus events and activities especially including the several religious holidays that take place in the fall. Do the same with your Muslim community and with others who may be affected by various forms of activism.
7. When you feel like you’ve taken every possible precaution, presume that you haven’t. Bring in someone or some agency with appropriate skills and wisdom to review all you’ve done and help you see gaps in your plans. Be public about those plans, invite commentary but be clear where decisions and policies are not negotiable.
8. Having taken all defensive steps, now you can turn to developing opportunities for campus engagement and bridge building. Consider persistent opportunities for community dialogue under safe and secure conditions. Conversations in residence halls, between students from recognized clubs and organizations and in classes can all be helpful. Avoid false equivalence in programmatic sessions (To me, Hamas is the clear genocidal organization…as expressed explicitly? in their charter. I have my own concerns with Israel’s approach to Gaza, but do not support labeling a necessary incursion as genocidal). What opportunities might you have for civil discussions during your orientation?
9. Don’t forget alumni, parents, local communities and others who will be affected by activism, policies and behaviors. Communicate reasonably often, with brevity but with clarity.
10. Prepare for the unexpected. Despite all the precautions outlined above, many will experience circumstances wholly unexpected. Be clear about the president’s immediate consultation team, be prepared to convene them at moment’s notice and make the necessary decisions.

Even as I type these suggestions, I find myself overwhelmingly conflicted. Campus activism is a cherished part of higher education and I seek not to eliminate it. But, current models which demonize Jews for being Jews, deny Israel’s right to exist and leverage misinformation to advance a terrorist organization like Hamas are illegitimate from my perspective.

Be prepared!

Larry