Antisemitism in Higher Education Focus of PA Senate Education Committee Hearing

Pennsylvania’s senate education committee held a hearing on antisemitism in higher education today.

Jewish students said that following October 7th, college administration responses to pro-Palestine protests did not always seem balanced.

Several Jewish organization leaders talked about the influence of social media and disinformation on expanding the protests… saying educating youth in media literacy is critical.

The student testifiers were asked how many protestors were aware or educated on what they were protesting.

Opinions varied.


“I think some people just want to be a part of something and some might not understand what they're a part of and what that movement is doing to other to another group of people.” said Mackenzie Borine, student at Pennsylvania State University

“I think you really have to know what's going on, have to be the the moral corruptness to be able to stand and cheer when a woman is being raped on a screen right in front of you,” said Benjamin Messafi, a University of Pennsylvania student. He was part of counter protests that showed footage of the October 7th attack on a large projector screen opposite pro-Palestine groups.

"I think that the average person who does not understand the conflict would not sit up there and clap. And I heard a lot of clapping and it was very loud,” said Messafi.

There was a push in the Senate earlier this summer to link higher education funding to college policies towards antisemitism. That did not pass in this year’s state budget.