Thank you Jeremy. The argument you often hear for controversial speakers like Naftali Bennett on campus is to have a debate about their issues. Well, then have a debate. Get one or more faculty experts on a panel to challenge the speaker's arguments. If speakers don't want an honest debate when they appear on campus, don't waste everyone's time.
I completely agree that there would be a lot more to be gained from events with speakers with differing viewpoints, demonstrating to students and the broader community how to engage respectfully across difference. That tends not to be the format and people end up drawn to events featuring those with whom they already agree - much like our media environment today unfortunately.
If one has any doubts about offensive slogans by the protestors, see this student piece in the Daily Princetonian. https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2025/04/princeton-opinion-column-outside-agitators-zachary-marschall. However, it focuses primarily on the far-right blogger who filed charges against Princeton in the first place. But if it is true, as Jeremy suggests, that Bennett makes a habit of his little comment about giving pagers to the protestors, his invitation to other universities should be withdrawn. That is not free speech, it is incitement, and is an outrage.
Well I don't disagree entirely with everything you say. But...! I too was at Princeton (albeit as a Graduate Student); and my firstborn was born while I was at Princeton. And my father of course taught there. So I have a special feeling about and toward Princeton - and the town itself.
But of course the Princeton University of today is not the same Princeton University of 40 years ago. In a number of ways
I would say you're more than a little harsh on Naftali Bennett. He's semi-proven himself in his short time as Prime Minister. And not everything is Policy or tough talk. It how one conducts oneself and listens to other and so forth. And even if you're not totally besmitten with him: the question is always who most likely is going to be the next Prime Minister of Israel (unless of course, it's Netanyahu!)
But that's not really the issue here. He came to talk and express his views. He should be allowed to talk and express his views.
As for the protesting students: When the call to Bennett (born in Israel) that he should "go back to Europe: Well that's rabid antisemitism. People are free to protest outside an event (In my view, even foreigners with Students with Green cards.) But when people interrupt an event and set off a fire alarm; that's criminal behaviour and should be treated as such. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fimkzh2NgCg
Did not know you were a Princeton alum too. We must have overlapped. I'm glad you don't disagree with everything I say!! I think we've established we agree on more than we disagree on! I am hopeful that the head of the next coalition in Israel will be someone willing to take the deal the Saudis and the rest of the Arab League are offering - normalization provided Israel works with Arab countries to build a viable and successful Palestine. I'm not convinced that Bennett would be willing to do that - and I just can't conceive of missing this opportunity post-Netanyahu and this nightmare coalition.
Of course, we agree that nearly everyone should be allowed to speak in academic environments. Obviously Bennett should be allowed to speak and should be given the ability to complete his talk without disruption and interruption. I also think that same freedom should be given to pro-Palestinian speakers. And - I'd go further - the Jewish community should allow a diverse range of speakers in its institutions (from JCCs to synagogues to Hillels). As someone who's been barred from speaking in more than a few of such venues, I am definitely a believer in making space for views you don't like.
Finally, I'll make it clear - if it wasn't clear enough that the behavior of some of the protesters at Bennett's speech was beyond the pale and should be addressed appropriately by the university and law enforcement.
Good medicine if it doesn't kill you, as they say. The turmoil of the last year, the criticism of universities for being too tolerant of anti-Semitism, and the threats of the Trump Administration have had at least 2 major benefits: (1) they are acting themselves to bring more ideological balance to their tolerance of free speech, and to act against anti-Semitism, and (2) beginning with Harvard's refusal to cave into Trump this week, they may start banding together to defend their institutional and academic freedom, foregoing the government funding on which they had become all too dependent, and returning to their original missions of education and independence.
I agree. Jeremy elucidates the truths of what is happening. Biden policy did try to address the nuances. Trump, as Jeremy writes, uses anti-semitism to leverage his agenda of forcing universities to his will, break their backs and weaken academic freedom. How unfortunate more people don't stand back and listen with their hearts to the truth.
But I am still unclear and am struggling with the other issue Trump uses to fire up his base. That Is, the half-truths that universities are institutions and communities of the liberal left. This is where the whole menu of "woke" culture, including DEI, affirmative action, critical race theory, are used to stir up anger against universities and gives Trump support to threaten them with cutting federal funding for research. Born with Jewish values, I am proud to be "woke". And thank God, As a freshman I had my mind opened as a student at one of these liberal institutions. (UC Santa Barbara)
I'm upset, of course, of Trump's abuse of power in everything he targets, but there are some truths to the criticisms of the universities. The episode of NYTimes The Daily that followed the interview with the president of Princeton featured the activist Christopher Rufo, who is the strategist helping Trump. He had some valid points.
Thank you Jeremy. The argument you often hear for controversial speakers like Naftali Bennett on campus is to have a debate about their issues. Well, then have a debate. Get one or more faculty experts on a panel to challenge the speaker's arguments. If speakers don't want an honest debate when they appear on campus, don't waste everyone's time.
I completely agree that there would be a lot more to be gained from events with speakers with differing viewpoints, demonstrating to students and the broader community how to engage respectfully across difference. That tends not to be the format and people end up drawn to events featuring those with whom they already agree - much like our media environment today unfortunately.
If one has any doubts about offensive slogans by the protestors, see this student piece in the Daily Princetonian. https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2025/04/princeton-opinion-column-outside-agitators-zachary-marschall. However, it focuses primarily on the far-right blogger who filed charges against Princeton in the first place. But if it is true, as Jeremy suggests, that Bennett makes a habit of his little comment about giving pagers to the protestors, his invitation to other universities should be withdrawn. That is not free speech, it is incitement, and is an outrage.
as always, terrific analysis
Shades of wisdom by Jeremy.
Free Speech must not be curtailed, or lessened. Trump and Netanyahu represent an unholy alliance.
See https://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2025/04/08/every-american-should-watch-this-video/ ("Every American Should Watch This Video")
Well I don't disagree entirely with everything you say. But...! I too was at Princeton (albeit as a Graduate Student); and my firstborn was born while I was at Princeton. And my father of course taught there. So I have a special feeling about and toward Princeton - and the town itself.
But of course the Princeton University of today is not the same Princeton University of 40 years ago. In a number of ways
I would say you're more than a little harsh on Naftali Bennett. He's semi-proven himself in his short time as Prime Minister. And not everything is Policy or tough talk. It how one conducts oneself and listens to other and so forth. And even if you're not totally besmitten with him: the question is always who most likely is going to be the next Prime Minister of Israel (unless of course, it's Netanyahu!)
But that's not really the issue here. He came to talk and express his views. He should be allowed to talk and express his views.
As for the protesting students: When the call to Bennett (born in Israel) that he should "go back to Europe: Well that's rabid antisemitism. People are free to protest outside an event (In my view, even foreigners with Students with Green cards.) But when people interrupt an event and set off a fire alarm; that's criminal behaviour and should be treated as such. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fimkzh2NgCg
Chag Sameach!
Did not know you were a Princeton alum too. We must have overlapped. I'm glad you don't disagree with everything I say!! I think we've established we agree on more than we disagree on! I am hopeful that the head of the next coalition in Israel will be someone willing to take the deal the Saudis and the rest of the Arab League are offering - normalization provided Israel works with Arab countries to build a viable and successful Palestine. I'm not convinced that Bennett would be willing to do that - and I just can't conceive of missing this opportunity post-Netanyahu and this nightmare coalition.
Of course, we agree that nearly everyone should be allowed to speak in academic environments. Obviously Bennett should be allowed to speak and should be given the ability to complete his talk without disruption and interruption. I also think that same freedom should be given to pro-Palestinian speakers. And - I'd go further - the Jewish community should allow a diverse range of speakers in its institutions (from JCCs to synagogues to Hillels). As someone who's been barred from speaking in more than a few of such venues, I am definitely a believer in making space for views you don't like.
Finally, I'll make it clear - if it wasn't clear enough that the behavior of some of the protesters at Bennett's speech was beyond the pale and should be addressed appropriately by the university and law enforcement.
Good medicine if it doesn't kill you, as they say. The turmoil of the last year, the criticism of universities for being too tolerant of anti-Semitism, and the threats of the Trump Administration have had at least 2 major benefits: (1) they are acting themselves to bring more ideological balance to their tolerance of free speech, and to act against anti-Semitism, and (2) beginning with Harvard's refusal to cave into Trump this week, they may start banding together to defend their institutional and academic freedom, foregoing the government funding on which they had become all too dependent, and returning to their original missions of education and independence.
I agree. Jeremy elucidates the truths of what is happening. Biden policy did try to address the nuances. Trump, as Jeremy writes, uses anti-semitism to leverage his agenda of forcing universities to his will, break their backs and weaken academic freedom. How unfortunate more people don't stand back and listen with their hearts to the truth.
But I am still unclear and am struggling with the other issue Trump uses to fire up his base. That Is, the half-truths that universities are institutions and communities of the liberal left. This is where the whole menu of "woke" culture, including DEI, affirmative action, critical race theory, are used to stir up anger against universities and gives Trump support to threaten them with cutting federal funding for research. Born with Jewish values, I am proud to be "woke". And thank God, As a freshman I had my mind opened as a student at one of these liberal institutions. (UC Santa Barbara)
I'm upset, of course, of Trump's abuse of power in everything he targets, but there are some truths to the criticisms of the universities. The episode of NYTimes The Daily that followed the interview with the president of Princeton featured the activist Christopher Rufo, who is the strategist helping Trump. He had some valid points.