As the Israel-Palestine conflict intensifies, the support and hatred for both sides intensify as well. Much anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish sentiment is being called upon for the respective marches for support for the conflicting sides. Much of this can already be seen on social media sites (especially Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook) as well as new outlets that favor one side over the other. Such hatred for the opposing side can be attributed to ignorance and possible lack of education on the topic as well as the conflict, as there is far too much nuance to side yourself on either side that destroys civilian lives, but even more, it is severely detrimental to blame an entire group of people for the actions of those few in power (from either side).This is why the U.S. (and the educational world) is astounded by the severe lack of understanding from some of the most educationally prestigious institutions in the world. America’s Ivy League is a system of universities of great renown that house the most intelligent and gifted students who will lead the world and change it for the better. Knowing this, many wonder why these institutions are making the headlines on account of antisemitism from their student populations. 

Cornell was recently forced to close on account of such claims, as a student was recently charged with posting death threats aimed towards Jewish students on campus. UPenn invited Roger Waters of Pink Floyd to speak at a ‘‘Palestine Writes Literature Festival’’. To most that doesn’t seem too bad, but a recent concert of his displayed him in a Nazi-style uniform (actually inspired by ‘‘The Wall’’, but still horrible timing and context for it) and placing the Star of David on pigs, which then calls for concern. Harvard students were found harassing a Jewish student during an anti-Israel protest. Even in Columbia were swastikas found throughout the campus.

No matter what side you may be on, the unjustified hate for either group of people should be intolerable, especially on such highly accredited and notable campuses as these. The donors to these institutions seem to think so as well, many of them cutting off monetary support because of stances as slight as not taking any stance, as to the donors, this ‘‘supports violence’’. While that is a statement to be argued upon, this doesn’t stop the funds from being cut from these institutions. Although these institutions are already wealthy enough, if the funds are cut off permanently, this could be a problem years later. Alumni relations, job opportunities, campus life, and other such factors are more likely to be detrimentally affected by such a course of events rather than monetary subsistence. 

Even more important is the risk of such happenings spreading to smaller, state-level institutions. If funding was cut off from smaller schools as a result of a domino effect, shutdowns, and layoffs could be prominent in the coming years, leaving many students to be forced to choose from a smaller pool of highly selective institutions that most would not be eligible to attend. Hopefully, it doesn’t occur, but with even the Ivies being subject to criticism for the actions of students in response to the conflict, much can happen to those with far less power and influence.