Anti-Israel student group vows to disrupt MIT until Jewish state is eliminated

With the⁢ spring semester weeks away, ⁣MIT’s Coalition Against Apartheid vows ‘even stronger and even bigger’ ‌action

Jewish ‍students at the⁢ Massachusetts ‌Institute of Technology are set to return ⁤to the classroom next month, where they will be greeted by ‍an anti-Israel⁢ student group⁣ that is threatening to shut down “business as ‌usual at MIT” until ​the Jewish state ⁤is no⁢ more.

The ⁣group, MIT Coalition ‍Against Apartheid, ⁢made its threat in a December Instagram post. ⁤”When we return next semester,” the group said, “we will be‌ even stronger and even bigger to make sure that​ there‍ is ⁤no business as‌ usual at MIT until Palestine is​ free! From the river to ⁣the ‍sea.” While it’s unclear‍ exactly how the group plans to ⁤escalate its advocacy against the Jewish state, its members ⁢are already in hot water ‌with⁢ the ⁤university over demonstrations that violated school policy and left Jewish students fearful.

In early November, for example, Coalition Against​ Apartheid organized ‍an infamous protest in​ which members occupied MIT Lobby ⁤7, a campus hub located inside of the school’s main entrance that⁤ leads to classrooms and faculty offices. The group moved forward with the protest despite a school policy prohibiting demonstrations in ‍Lobby 7 and other areas of campus where‍ protesters would disrupt classes. The protest included calls ⁣for “Intifada” ⁢and saw participants occupy the lobby from 7:30‍ a.m. until 9 p.m. MIT leaders used an emergency ​notification system to tell students to avoid the area, and the school’s Jewish attendees said the protest made them “feel MIT‍ is not safe for Jews.”

Coalition Against Apartheid’s pledge to take⁣ “even⁤ stronger and even bigger” action will test MIT’s resolve as the school faces criticism ​over its response to campus anti-Semitism. MIT president Sally Kornbluth faced calls to resign after her participation in ‌a disastrous⁢ December congressional hearing, during⁤ which she argued ​ that “calling for ⁣the⁢ genocide of‍ Jews” may not violate the ‌school’s code of conduct. Days‍ later, House Republicans launched an investigation into⁤ MIT and other elite universities.

While Kornbluth has since pledged to reassess the ‌school’s policies on “harassment, bullying, intimidation and ⁣discrimination,”‌ her administration has gone easy on Coalition Against Apartheid members in the ⁣past.

During the ⁣group’s Lobby 7 protest, MIT staff delivered slips ⁣of paper informing participants they would ‍be suspended if they did ‍not leave the area. “With⁤ the⁣ current disruption of institute ‍activities, a line‌ has‍ been crossed,” the​ message read. But ⁢protesters refused⁤ to leave,​ staying in the lobby from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

After the ordeal, Kornbluth watered down her​ disciplinary threat. Students involved‌ in the protest received a “non-academic suspension,” allowing them to continue attending class. A⁣ harsher ⁤punishment, Kornbluth said in​ a statement, could have led to‌ the deportation of foreign‌ students, prompting the president to back down.

While​ Kornbluth’s statement did not include names of any Coalition Against Apartheid foreign members,‌ at least one of the group’s leaders‌ does not hail from the United States.​ That student,⁢ electrical engineering and computer science major Mohamed Mohamed, hails from west London, where ‍his ⁢mother ‌and‍ father emigrated from Somalia and Sudan, respectively.‍ Mohamed is frequently​ featured⁢ in the group’s ‌Instagram videos—in one⁣ recent post,⁢ he vowed to defy MIT policies, saying, “We won’t stop, and they can’t suspend the movement.”

In addition ‍to ⁢Mohamed, Coalition Against Apartheid is led by⁢ MIT senior Safiyyah Ogundipe, a chemical engineering student from Virginia. Ogundipe, ​who served as the group’s ​president as recently ⁣as November, was present at the Lobby 7 protest and dismissed⁢ the school’s demand to disperse, ⁢calling it ‌”something⁤ that was causing anxiety ​amongst some of⁣ our students.” Ogundipe during an interview with the ‌ Chronicle of Higher Education also​ pledged to fight back against MIT leaders.

“I’m not⁢ gonna be run off⁤ of my own campus,” she said.

A third Coalition Against Apartheid⁣ member, undergraduate ⁣student and⁣ former Microsoft intern Alejandro⁤ Tañón Díaz, echoed Ogundipe’s rhetoric, ‍saying ⁢in an ‍Instagram post he and other‌ group members will come back “bigger and stronger⁢ … ⁤until⁢ apartheid falls.” Another​ member, graduate student Susanna Chen, argued in a Jan. 7 interview that Israel will ⁤not be defeated until activists are ​”willing to put their neck out and really take the risk … to actually ‍fight meaningfully against ​the​ U.S. war machine.”

Mohamed, Ogundipe, Díaz, and Chen did not respond to requests for comment. MIT spokeswoman Sarah McDonnell emphasized Kornbluth’s “continuing efforts to combat anti-Semitism on campus and ​review student disciplinary ‍processes.”

“MIT and President Sally Kornbluth reject anti-Semitism and other ⁤forms‍ of hate,” McDonnell said.

Members of MIT’s Jewish community, however, are ‍not convinced. In a Jan.‌ 11 letter to school leadership, the MIT Jewish​ Alumni ​Alliance ⁢criticized ​Kornbluth’s ⁤actions ​to address ⁣anti-Semitism, characterizing them as hollow and⁣ uninspiring.

“Unless MIT ⁢is willing to step ​up and address these misguided and blatantly anti-Semitic behaviors and beliefs, Jewish students will⁢ continue to face intimidation from outside and inside the classroom,” the group wrote. “Our genocide unfolded in the wake of world-class German universities⁣ of MIT’s caliber turning their backs on us. Our conscience⁤ will not allow us to remain silent if we see MIT follow a similar path.”

‌In what ways has the ⁤MIT Coalition Against Apartheid disrupted campus activities ⁤and disregarded school policies,⁣ and what ‌impact has this had on the university community?

The pseudonym “Emma Smith,” has remained anonymous. Smith, however, is‌ an active participant in the group’s activities and has been involved in planning protests and spreading anti-Israel⁢ propaganda on ‍social media platforms.

As the spring semester approaches, the MIT Coalition Against Apartheid’s threats‌ of intensified action raise concerns‍ among Jewish ⁢students and the university community as a whole. The group’s history of ⁣disrupting campus ⁢activities⁢ and disregarding school⁢ policies has already created an atmosphere ⁢of fear ⁣and unease. Jewish students have expressed⁤ their concerns about ⁢their safety and the hostile environment they face on campus.

The ‍occupation of Lobby 7 was a clear violation of⁢ school policies, yet the group faced ⁤minimal consequences. ⁣MIT’s lenient‌ response to their actions has raised ⁣questions ‍about the university’s commitment to addressing anti-Semitism and ‍ensuring the safety and well-being of all⁣ students.

MIT President Sally‌ Kornbluth’s questionable remarks during a congressional hearing only added to the controversy surrounding the university’s handling of the situation. ⁤Her argument that calling ​for ⁣the⁢ genocide of Jews​ may ‍not violate the school’s code of conduct is deeply troubling and has rightfully led to ⁣calls for her resignation.

In light of these issues,​ it is crucial ‌for MIT to take a strong stance against the Coalition Against Apartheid and any form of anti-Semitism on campus.⁢ The university must ‍prioritize the safety and‌ well-being of ‌its students and actively work ‍towards fostering an ‌inclusive and tolerant environment for all.

MIT’s response to the Coalition Against Apartheid’s threats⁢ and actions will be a defining ​moment for the university. It is imperative that MIT implements strict disciplinary measures ‍and enforces its policies to deter further⁣ disruption and protect ‌the rights of all students.

Moreover, the university should take this⁢ opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue‌ and ⁤education surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Open ⁣discussions that‌ promote understanding,⁣ respect, and empathy can help bridge divides and promote peaceful coexistence.

Jewish students should not have to choose between their identity and their education. MIT must ensure that Jewish students can pursue their studies without fear of discrimination, harassment, or intimidation.

In conclusion, as the spring semester approaches, the MIT Coalition Against Apartheid’s threats⁢ of intensified action raise concerns ⁢about​ the safety⁣ and well-being of‌ Jewish students. MIT’s response to this challenge⁢ will be a crucial test of⁢ its commitment to combating anti-Semitism and fostering an inclusive campus⁢ environment. The ⁤university must take decisive actions‍ to protect the rights of all ​students and promote dialogue ‌and‍ understanding. ‍It is imperative ‍that MIT ‌reassesses its policies and demonstrates a strong dedication to‌ addressing these issues and creating‍ a campus where ⁣all students can thrive.