Colleges Required to Block Antisemitic Events Under New Bill Using IHRA Definition

This bill, the "Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act," amends the Higher Education Act of 1965. Its core function is straightforward: it prohibits colleges and universities that receive federal funding from authorizing, facilitating, funding, or supporting any campus event promoting antisemitism. The legislation mandates the use of the working definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) on May 26, 2016, including its contemporary examples, to determine what constitutes such promotion.

Drawing the Line: The IHRA Definition Takes Center Stage

The key operational part of this bill lies in its reliance on the IHRA's working definition of antisemitism. This isn't just a dictionary definition; it's a specific framework, adopted internationally, that includes various examples of antisemitic behavior and rhetoric. Critically, some of these examples relate to discourse around the State of Israel, such as "Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation" or "Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis." By mandating this specific definition (found in Section 2), the bill sets a distinct standard that university administrators must apply when evaluating campus events.

Campus Crossroads: Navigating Speech and Safety

The practical effect on campus could be significant. University officials would be legally obligated under Section 2 to scrutinize events – from guest speakers to student group activities – through the lens of the IHRA definition. Terms like "facilitate" or "support" are not explicitly defined in this amendment, leaving room for interpretation. This raises questions about how broadly administrators might apply these prohibitions. For instance, a student group organizing a panel discussion on Middle East politics might find their event under review if viewpoints expressed align with IHRA examples of antisemitism related to criticism of Israel. This creates a potential tension between the bill's aim to protect Jewish students from antisemitic environments and the principles of free speech and open academic inquiry on controversial topics.

The Bottom Line: New Rules for Campus Events

Ultimately, this legislation ties federal higher education rules directly to a specific definition of antisemitism for the purpose of regulating campus events. Colleges and universities covered by the Higher Education Act would need to integrate the IHRA definition into their event approval processes. This could mean new guidelines for student organizations, potentially impacting the range of discussions and speakers allowed on campus, particularly those involving criticism of Israeli government policies, depending on how administrators interpret and apply the IHRA standard as mandated by this act.