In recent weeks, I’ve written about the open antisemitism at elite educational institutions in America. In doing so, I failed to look at my own alma mater, Wellesley College, itself an elite women’s college. Foolishly, I assumed better from a college I deeply care about. I was wrong, very wrong.
What’s going on at Wellesley is deeply troubling, to say the least.
Resident advisers are juniors and seniors who live in the dorms in exchange for free housing and a stipend. They are college employees who are trusted to “collaborate to create a vital and engaged residential community. Resident Assistants aim to foster a spirit of generosity and civic engagement within their community.”
Last week, the Munger Hall RAs sent the following letter to their charges:
“Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians, characterized by the displacement of 600,000 individuals, the dissemination of genocidal rhetoric by the Israeli government, and the illegal occupation of native Palestinian lands, have left our hearts heavy. With all historical, political, and territorial aspects considered, Israel’s zionist government needs to be condemned. Furthermore, individuals who endorse the forced removal of Palestinians should be recognized as supporters of colonization. Munger Hall stands in strong condemnation of Israel’s actions and those who have supported their actions against Palestinians. We firmly believe that there should be no space, no consideration, and no support for Zionism within the Wellesley College community.”
The RA was not fired, as she should have been. The college president instead sent out the following statement:
“It recently came to my attention that a small number of student residence hall leaders from one dormitory sent a letter to their housemates in their capacity as resident assistants that expressed views on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Our Student Life team met with these students and talked about their role and responsibility to support all students. They have since sent an apology to all students in the residence hall. That these young leaders were able to learn from this episode gives me hope.”
One of these young leaders then reportedly went online to say she had a “gun to her head” when she issued her apology.
The following weekend, which was family weekend on campus, a student group held a “Die In” on behalf of the Palestinians.
“Gather in front of Alumnae Hall Auditorium to show your solidarity with Palestine, reject the administration’s efforts to silence students, support Munger Res Life, and call for putting an end to Wellesley College’s collaboration with the Zionist settler enemy.”
Then the student newspaper jumped on the bandwagon:
“The Wellesley News Editorial Board stands in solidarity with those around the world calling for a ceasefire, for the United States to cease its economic and military support for Israel and for an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine. We extend our support and sympathies to our fellow students and activists at Wellesley, in Boston and around the world who are being doxxed, receiving death threats and losing job opportunities because they dared to speak out against genocide. We mourn all of the innocent lives lost over the last few weeks. Most importantly, we stand with the Palestinian people and affirm their right to a free and unoccupied homeland.”
And the president issued a new statement:
“While we embrace freedom of expression for everyone in our community, which is critical to a liberal arts education and to a democracy, I want to be clear: Wellesley College condemns antisemitism, Islamophobia, and any other form of hate. No one at Wellesley should feel unsafe, and we will not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or bias of any kind on our campus. We also condemn the public targeting of our students online, and we are doing whatever we can to protect them from such targeting.”
What is going on at Wellesley is what is going on at campuses throughout the country. Those who believe that Israel has a right to exist are facing condemnation, isolation and acquiescence. It is very bad, to say the least. There was a ceasefire in force, until Hamas broke it, 1,400 times. Israel was the victim, not the aggressor. Israel was born out of the ashes of the Holocaust. Never again is now.
