In Pittsburgh, campus antisemitism report’s authors neglected to speak with Jewish students

The University of Pittsburgh faces criticism over an antisemitism report that did not include input from the school's estimated 1,400 Jewish students. The working group chair said the charge was not to provide data. The report has divided the campus, drawing criticism from the left and from within the Jewish community.

The University of Pittsburgh is facing criticism over an internal report on campus antisemitism that did not include input from the school's estimated 1,400 Jewish students. The report, published in July by a working group made up of Jews, has divided the campus. Critics from the left say its recommendations would limit speech, while some within the Jewish community say it did not adequately consult with students and faculty. The working group chair, Katherine Blee, said the group's charge was not to provide data, but to offer recommendations based on discussions among members. The university immediately agreed to act on the recommendations, which include strengthening Title VI compliance and providing clear guidance on free speech. The controversy comes three years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and a 2024 off-campus attack on two Jewish students. Some non-Jewish faculty have criticized the report for potentially threatening shared governance, while a progressive Jewish cohort has proposed an alternative set of recommendations. The article notes that the question of how to respond to campus antisemitism feels less settled than ever.