NYT Editorial Board Criticizes University Leaders for Failing to Enforce Rules During Anti-Israel Protests, Endangering Students and Protesters

The New York Times editorial board has criticised American university leaders for failing to enforce rules during recent anti-Israel protests, leaving Jewish students and protesters feeling harassed and directly endangered. The board claimed that some Jewish students have experienced systematic harassment, while protesters have also been in danger due to the involvement of both the police and external agitators. The editorial argued that university administrators have failed to enforce student codes of conduct, despite these being intended to relieve tension between free speech and academic freedom, and to ensure compliance with the law. The board acknowledged that universities have previously been criticised for attempting to restrict speech, but argued that it should be accepted that no student, faculty member, administrator or university staff member should be threatened or intimidated, and that school policies should reflect this. The editorial board warned that the failure to rein in student expression has led to opportunities for cynical politicians to crusade against academic freedom, and some scholars reporting a chilling effect on their work due to conservative ideas being silenced on campus by other faculty and students. In conclusion, the board called for the protection of free speech on American campuses, while enforcing clear guardrails on conduct to restore order. The Times’ executive editor Joe Kahn also spoke out against serving one side during elections, highlighting the importance of covering all issues relevant to Americans, regardless of whether they favour one candidate over another. Kahn’s comments came after former New York Police Department Commissioner Raymond Kelly criticised the Democratic National Convention’s preparations for further anti-Israel protests during the summer.