Higher Education
Jonathan Small | October 18, 2024
OU, OSU not immune to campus radicalism
Jonathan Small
The nationwide rash of campus radicalism, particularly anti-Semitism, has been disturbing. Even more disturbing is the fact that it is appearing in Oklahoma.
Eyal Yakoby, an incoming Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) student who self-describes as being “dedicated to combating Jew-Hate and anti-Americanism,” highlighted an email distributed to students at Oklahoma State University that touted Students for Justice in Palestine (SPJ) events.
“The official diversity committee at Oklahoma State University’s psychology department sent an email soliciting students to participate in the ‘Week of Rage’ sponsored by SJP,” Yakoby wrote. “The first event is on Oct. 7th to celebrate the massacre. This is systemic antisemitism.”
The OSU email stated that the senders “wanted to share some information regarding the upcoming Week of Rage hosted by the OSU Students for Justice in Palestine (OSU SJP). Since it’s been a year of genocide in Palestine, the students are continuing their commitment to the liberation of the Palestinian people and the end of the Zionist regime through a week of action from October 7th to 11th” [bolded in original].
Hamas terrorists killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and kidnapped several hundred more. Israel has responded by targeting Hamas terrorists in Palestine, drawing criticism from some groups for the associated death toll.
That some elements at OSU now want to smear Jewish individuals and those who generally support Israel shows a college education doesn’t automatically equate to intelligence.
Things are no better at OU.
In an Oct. 4 email, OU Senior Vice Provost Mark Morvant informed OU deans, chairs, and directors that in light of “planned expressive activity next week” associated with Students for Justice in Palestine, “flexibility in attendance and assignments should be provided for students that express a concern for their safety on campus or have been adversely impacted by the planned expressive activities.”
The email also stated that faculty “concerned for their safety on campus” could make a short-term pivot to online instruction.
“Celebrating a massacre is wrong on every level. I call on all leaders to condemn this spectacle.” —Gov. Kevin Stitt
Students who support Hamas have the free speech right to express those views, peacefully. But the fact that students and staff apparently fear for their physical safety suggests these events may go well beyond speech.
To his credit, Gov. Kevin Stitt spoke out, writing on X, “Celebrating a massacre is wrong on every level. We can have policy discussions without giving legitimacy to terrorists. As governor of this state, I call on all leaders to condemn this spectacle & stand with our Jewish & Israeli friends as they mourn this painful anniversary.”
It would go a long way if high-level officials at OU and OSU also used their free-speech rights to forcefully condemn anti-Semitism and its offshoots.
Campus craziness may be worse in other states. That doesn’t mean Oklahoma officials should simply shrug when such nonsense appears here.
Jonathan Small
President
Jonathan Small, C.P.A., serves as President and joined the staff in December of 2010. Previously, Jonathan served as a budget analyst for the Oklahoma Office of State Finance, as a fiscal policy analyst and research analyst for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and as director of government affairs for the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Small’s work includes co-authoring “Economics 101” with Dr. Arthur Laffer and Dr. Wayne Winegarden, and his policy expertise has been referenced by The Oklahoman, the Tulsa World, National Review, the L.A. Times, The Hill, the Wall Street Journal and the Huffington Post. His weekly column “Free Market Friday” is published by the Journal Record and syndicated in 27 markets. A recipient of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s prestigious Private Sector Member of the Year award, Small is nationally recognized for his work to promote free markets, limited government and innovative public policy reforms. Jonathan holds a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a Certified Public Accountant.