[New York, New York – January 27, 2025] — As President Donald J. Trump begins his second term as the 47th President of the United States, his administration is poised to enact sweeping reforms aimed at combating the alarming rise of racism and extremism on U.S. college campuses. Protect Our Campus (POC) applauds the president’s firm commitment to holding educational institutions accountable for fostering safe, inclusive, and intellectually honest environments.
In his recent declarations, Trump has pledged to strip accreditation and federal funding from institutions that fail to eliminate antisemitic propaganda and protect Jewish students. His declaration that “we will not subsidize the creation of terrorist sympathizers on American soil” signals a decisive shift in federal oversight of higher education.
Campus Extremism: A Pervasive Threat
Protect Our Campus has documented a disturbing trend: faculty members abusing their roles to radicalize students, glorify extremist ideologies, and foster environments hostile to students. These actions threaten the very foundation of academic integrity and inclusivity.
Among the most egregious examples are four professors whose rhetoric and actions epitomize this alarming trend:
- Anne Norton (University of Pennsylvania): Norton has openly justified terrorism as “legitimate resistance,” dismissing evidence of war crimes and promoting narratives that normalize violence and foster division.
- Joseph Massad (Columbia University): A known apologist for Hamas, Massad has glorified terrorism, engaged in Holocaust revisionism, and perpetuated antisemitic rhetoric that creates a hostile learning environment
- Huda Fakhreddine (University of Pennsylvania): Fakhreddine has celebrated Hamas’s violent actions and participated in pro-Hamas rallies, eroding the principles of respect and inclusivity.
- Marc Lamont Hill (CUNY Graduate Center): Hill’s history of glorifying terrorists, promoting antisemitic rhetoric, and supporting inflammatory slogans like “from the river to the sea” raises serious concerns about his influence on students.
These individuals are emblematic of the broader problem within academia, where extremist ideologies masquerade as intellectual discourse, radicalizing impressionable students and normalizing hate.
Recent Incidents Highlighting the Crisis
Over the past several months, universities across the nation have become flashpoints for extremism. At Columbia University, a newspaper titled The Columbia Intifada was distributed, featuring inflammatory content glorifying violence against Jewish people. At the University of Rochester, “wanted” posters targeting Jewish faculty were plastered across campus, with the individuals selected specifically for their Jewish identity. These acts reflect a troubling escalation of hostility in academic environments.
Physical violence has also been a growing concern. At DePaul University, two Jewish students were assaulted by masked attackers after visibly expressing support for Israel. Similar violence erupted at UCLA, where confrontations at a pro-Hamas encampment resulted in multiple assaults. These incidents illustrate the alarming normalization of hatred and violence on campuses, posing a direct threat to the safety of students and faculty alike.
Proposed Federal Actions
The Trump administration has begun implementing measures to address rising concerns about extremism and antisemitism on college campuses. On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.” This order mandates enhanced screening and removal of foreign nationals who support designated terrorist organizations or are deemed threats to national security. This includes foreign students who have expressed support for extremist groups during campus protests, making deportation a concrete and immediate action under the administration’s policy framework.
Additionally, the administration has signaled intentions to reassess Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, which critics argue may inadvertently foster division, and to introduce stricter accountability measures for universities that fail to address hate speech and protect vulnerable student populations.
These initiatives aim to create safer, more inclusive academic environments while ensuring that campuses prioritize intellectual growth and reject extremism.
POC’s Role in This Movement
Protect Our Campus remains dedicated to supporting transparency and accountability in higher education. By exposing harmful behaviors and advocating for inclusivity, POC aims to ensure that campuses remain places where all students can learn and thrive. Protect Our Campus invites individuals and communities to join the effort to foster respectful, safe, and intellectually vibrant educational spaces.