Conservative Groups Wary of Proposed Antisemitism Monitors at Universities funded by Federal Government

Conservative and free speech advocacy groups have expressed caution over a new bipartisan initiative in Congress aimed at hiring antisemitism monitors for colleges and universities that receive federal funding. Gabriel Nadales, national director of Our America, stated that these proposed monitors are not novel as college bureaucrats have already implemented bias reporting systems which have been used to silence students accused of ‘wrongthink’. He further added that combating antisemitism is essential but speech monitors aren’t the answer. Nadales warned that Americans should fight bigotry without sacrificing free expression, and these proposals will be utilized to stifle honest voices and create more division among college students. The COLUMBIA Act introduced by Reps Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) And Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), comes in the wake of anti-Israel protests on several campuses across America, which have faced bipartisan criticism for instances of antisemitism being displayed on these premises causing Jewish students to fear for their safety. Under this new proposal, The Department of Education will be authorized by Lawler and Torres’ bill to impose a third-party antisemitism monitor on any college or university receiving federal funding with the institution responsible for covering the costs associated with such duties. However, conservative organizations like former Vice President Mike Pence’s Advancing American Freedom (AAF) and Mountain States Legal Foundation (MSLF) are skeptical of its efficacy as a long-term solution to antisemitism on campus. AAF Executive Director Paul Teller remarked that colleges do not need “six figure hall monitors” for something they already know, i.e., rampant anti-Semitism in woke campuses across the country. MSLF General Counsel William Trachman concurred with similar sentiments stating that American universities have lost their original values and are now cultivating a radical leftist culture on campus instead of promoting learning. He further added, “Having antisemitism ‘monitors’ in campuses might alleviate some incidents we’ve seen lately but it certainly won’t solve the larger problem.” Lawler’s spokesperson countered that critiquing genuine efforts to address rampant anti-Semitism on college campuses is easy, and implementing measures for its rectification is hard. The criticism has not deterred him from pursuing these endeavors actively in contrast.