Several major law firms have published a letter warning the country's top universities that they will take episodes of antisemitism on campus into serious consideration in their hiring processes. The letter criticizes the recent protests and harassment against Jews on university campuses, as well as anti-Israeli statements by some of the leaders of these institutions. They also call on universities to encourage and promote the "free exchange of ideas, even on issues with emotional charge."
Some of the largest law firms in the country have a message for the deans of law schools who have tolerated Antisemitic activities conducted by their students:
If you want your graduates to get good jobs in our law firms, stop producing Antisemites. pic.twitter.com/JBrmJdslPa
— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) November 2, 2023
A warning to university authorities
In the letter, some of the country's most recognized law firms sent a strong message to academic leaders, mentioning the recent cases of antisemitism on college campuses:
Over the last several weeks, we have been alarmed at reports of anti-Semitics harassment, vandalism and assaults on college campuses, including rallies calling for the death of Jews and the elimination of the State of Israel. Such anti-Semitic activities would not be tolerated at any of our firms. We also would not tolerate outside groups engaging in acts of harassment and threats of violence, as has also been occurring on many of your campuses.
We look to you to ensure your students who hope to join our firms after graduation are prepared to be an active part of workplace communities that have zero tolerance policies for any form of discrimination or harassment, much less the kind that has been taking place on some law school campuses.
One of the signatories has already withdrawn offers to Harvard and Columbia students
This is not a trivial threat. One of the signatories of the letter, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, has already withdrawn job offers to Harvard and Columbia students following these universities' statements blaming Israel for Hamas' massacre of more than 1,400 people, including children and babies.
The signatories demand that university authorities provide a respectful education and the ability to discuss ideas without falling into hatred. "It is imperative that you provide your students with the tools and guidance to engage in the free exchange of ideas, even on emotionally charged issues, in a manner that affirms the values we all hold dear and rejects unreservedly that which is antithetical to those values," the letter states.
