Kathy Hochul Fails to Hold Antisemitism at NY Colleges Accountable

Gov. Kathy Hochul continues to demonstrate a lack of resolve in tackling the persistent antisemitism on campuses.

The most recent incident: Anti-Israel activists at Barnard College sent a staff member to the hospital.

A group of masked individuals wearing keffiyehs invaded the school’s Millman Hall on Wednesday, reminiscent of last year’s disturbing occupation of Columbia’s Hamilton Hall.

They played drums, disrupted classes, and physically assaulted the staff member.

The next day, the governor backed out of a City College event, fearing it would be interrupted by antisemites.

That’ll teach them . . . to see weakness.

Why do antisemitic individuals create such turmoil? Because Hochul allows it.

While she may express strong opposition, she fails to hold anyone truly accountable.

Consider the report she commissioned from left-leaning former judge Jonathan Lippman, aimed at addressing longstanding antisemitic sentiments in the CUNY system.

Lippman delivered his findings last year, recommending minor adjustments like enhancing the school’s complaint system and providing better training for diversity officials.

It’s no surprise that antisemitism continues to flourish at CUNY — and not just from students: CUNY had intended to offer a blatantly anti-Israel course portraying Israel as an apartheid state committing genocide.

The governor did order the school to pause its recruitment for that course’s professor — but she hasn’t taken action against those in leadership who greenlit it, like CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodriguez and Board Chairman William Thompson.

It’s irrelevant whether they were simply negligent: Anyone who allows such hatred to persist should not hold a position in any university system, especially not in New York’s public colleges.

Indeed, Hochul should have dismissed Rodriguez long ago for the antisemitism he allowed even prior to October 7.

As CUNY professor Jeffrey Lax asserts, CUNY’s leaders have been “determined to replace Jews” with antisemites, including the hiring of a vehemently anti-Israel “chief diversity officer” who previously led the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement as director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Minnesota.

CUNY’s upper management “actively work to promote” antisemitism, Lax contends.

Meanwhile, Hochul merely addresses symptoms, not the root causes: Improve that complaint system!

She won’t even consider banning the masks worn by these troublemakers to conceal their identities and escape consequences.

Hochul remains a chronic fence-sitter, whether it’s regarding the state’s misguided criminal-justice policies, the left’s clamor for Mayor Eric Adams’ resignation, or the rampant antisemitism on campus: What minimal actions might she take?

Yes, compromise and moderation are admirable under the right circumstances — but not when radical antisemites are on the loose.