Jessica Mendoza

Surveys from multiple universities have shown that in recent years, a greater percentage of faculty identify as liberal rather than conservative. And when it comes to public perception, polls say that Americans believe colleges generally lean left.

Surveys from multiple universities have shown that in recent years, a greater percentage of faculty identify as liberal rather than conservative. And when it comes to public perception, polls say that Americans believe colleges generally lean left.

Surveys from multiple universities have shown that in recent years, a greater percentage of faculty identify as liberal rather than conservative. And when it comes to public perception, polls say that Americans believe colleges generally lean left.

Fast forward to 2023. Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th. Israel struck back, and the war in Gaza began. In the U.S., protests erupted on college campuses over Israel's treatment of civilians in Gaza. These protests riled up a lot of conservatives who saw them as anti-Semitic in an attack on America's historic support of Israel and on Western values.

Fast forward to 2023. Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th. Israel struck back, and the war in Gaza began. In the U.S., protests erupted on college campuses over Israel's treatment of civilians in Gaza. These protests riled up a lot of conservatives who saw them as anti-Semitic in an attack on America's historic support of Israel and on Western values.

Fast forward to 2023. Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th. Israel struck back, and the war in Gaza began. In the U.S., protests erupted on college campuses over Israel's treatment of civilians in Gaza. These protests riled up a lot of conservatives who saw them as anti-Semitic in an attack on America's historic support of Israel and on Western values.

And so where does Trump come into all of this?

And so where does Trump come into all of this?

And so where does Trump come into all of this?

— The president didn't waste much time. Soon after taking office, his administration put together a group, the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. — The White House said the task force was specifically created to root out anti-Semitic harassment in schools and college campuses.

— The president didn't waste much time. Soon after taking office, his administration put together a group, the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. — The White House said the task force was specifically created to root out anti-Semitic harassment in schools and college campuses.

— The president didn't waste much time. Soon after taking office, his administration put together a group, the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. — The White House said the task force was specifically created to root out anti-Semitic harassment in schools and college campuses.

The group's members come from a range of backgrounds, from the acting general counsel of the Health and Human Services Department, to a former Fox News commentator, to a government official who spent much of his career in finance. Last month, the task force turned its attention to Columbia University.

The group's members come from a range of backgrounds, from the acting general counsel of the Health and Human Services Department, to a former Fox News commentator, to a government official who spent much of his career in finance. Last month, the task force turned its attention to Columbia University.

The group's members come from a range of backgrounds, from the acting general counsel of the Health and Human Services Department, to a former Fox News commentator, to a government official who spent much of his career in finance. Last month, the task force turned its attention to Columbia University.

The Trump administration froze $400 million in federal funding at the university and demanded a series of changes, things like banning masks and empowering campus police. Columbia agreed to the demands, though negotiations are ongoing.

The Trump administration froze $400 million in federal funding at the university and demanded a series of changes, things like banning masks and empowering campus police. Columbia agreed to the demands, though negotiations are ongoing.

The Trump administration froze $400 million in federal funding at the university and demanded a series of changes, things like banning masks and empowering campus police. Columbia agreed to the demands, though negotiations are ongoing.

Harvard received that list in early April. It included the request to review programs that, quote, fuel anti-Semitic harassment. But it also took on university culture more broadly. Like, the task force wanted Harvard to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, or DEI, or else lose federal funding. But the task force didn't specify what Harvard needed to do to actually meet those requests.

Harvard received that list in early April. It included the request to review programs that, quote, fuel anti-Semitic harassment. But it also took on university culture more broadly. Like, the task force wanted Harvard to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, or DEI, or else lose federal funding. But the task force didn't specify what Harvard needed to do to actually meet those requests.