New Harvard task force co-chair criticized over pro-Palestine stance
4 Min Read
Derek Penslar, in an op-ed last month, called for "a better understanding of what is — and is not — antisemitic," landing him this severe backlash.
-
Students walk through Harvard Yard, April 27, 2022, on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass (AP)
Harvard University's antisemitism and anti-Islamophobia task force has become a center of criticism because of its chosen leadership.
Following the resignation of former Harvard president Claudine Gay after pressure from pro-Israeli lobbyists, the university formed two task forces to actively combat antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus and make the vicinity safer for Jewish, Muslim, and Arab students.
Interim President Alan Garber announced the two new "presidential task forces" on Friday — one intended to combat antisemitism and the other for Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias.
Derek Penslar, a professor of Jewish history, and Raffaella Sadun, professor of business administration, were named co-chairs of the task force.
Penslar is an active intellectual who has on certain occasions voiced his opinion on "Israel" and antisemitism, which placed him at the front of critical judgment and opposition from the public Harvard community.
Most notably, Penslar signed a collective letter last year stating that the occupation aims to deprive Palestinians of their equal rights and annihilate Palestinian territories gradually. He also discussed the danger of interrelating criticism of "Israel" with antisemitism, saying it endangers the Harvard community and creates major divisions among it.
Read more: Israeli lobby silences, persecutes Pro-Palestine Harvard students
Is it ever enough for Zionists?
When the fact circulated, pro-Israeli lobbyists denounced Penslar's co-leadership of the task force.
Former Treasury Secretary and current hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who had pressured Claudine Gay into resigning, took to X to condemn Harvard's decision to install Penslar as a co-chair of the task force, saying the university "continues on a path of darkness."
.@Harvard continues on the path of darkness. https://t.co/b2TWTHLfBs
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) January 19, 2024
He also endorsed Lawrence Summers, a former Harvard president, who said he no longer trusts Harvard to make decisions that will protect Jewish and Israeli students, in a detailed post on X.
He embraced Penslar as a scholar but claimed he was incompetent to lead the task force because of his previous statements.
After Friday’s new anti-Semitism task force announcement, I have lost confidence in the determination and ability of the Harvard Corporation and Harvard leadership to maintain Harvard as a place where Jews and Israelis can flourish.
— Lawrence H. Summers (@LHSummers) January 21, 2024
The previously touted advisory committee has…
Anti-defamation League CEO also took to X and slammed Harvard's conduct, claiming these are "lessons in how NOT to combat antisemitism."
Lessons in how NOT to combat antisemitism, Harvard edition. Start by naming a professor who libels the Jewish state and claims that “veins of hatred run through Jewish civilization” to your antisemitism task force. Absolutely inexcusable. This is why Harvard is failing, full…
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) January 21, 2024
Read more: Harvard student statement blaming "Israel" condemned by US politicians
On the other hand, a Harvard spokesperson came into Penslar's defense, saying he is committed to his community, approaches discourse on different controversial topics with an open mind and respect, and wants to work toward a safer experience for Jewish students on campus.
Penslar stated that he is committed to the task force and regards it as an opportunity to intellectualize the issue on campus, saying it is "an important opportunity to determine the nature and extent of antisemitism and more subtle forms of social exclusion that affect Jewish students at Harvard."
What to expect: Parallels between Gay and Penslar
Penslar might be seeing a parallel of what Claudine Gay had to endure throughout her resignation process, as both have been a target of attacks by the same people who hoard influence and power in the Harvard community.
In a piece for The New York Times, Gay wrote, “Trusted institutions of all types – from public health agencies to news organizations – will continue to fall victim to coordinated attempts to undermine their legitimacy and ruin their leaders’ credibility," nudging at how she was forced out of her career following antisemitic allegations.
Gay, who made history as the first Black person to be president of Harvard, said she was targeted because she believed "that a daughter of Haitian immigrants has something to offer to the nation's oldest university."
"They recycled tired racial stereotypes about Black talent and temperament. They pushed a false narrative of indifference and incompetence."
The campaign came after she was accused of being antisemitic, although Gay was simply stating the code of conduct of her organization and under what context condemnation and action would be taken.
