So far during my time as an undergraduate at the University of Missouri, I have noticed a certain growing obsession with the state of Israel. The contexts for these expressions have been as ideologically diverse as conspiratorial slop such as “Israel did 9/11,” to outright blood libels such as accusing Israel of...
Hate Disguised as “Debate”: Why Myron Gaines’ Campus Tour Demands a Real Response
When influencer Myron Gaines visited Ohio University, his appearance was framed as an example of free speech in action: a controversial speaker engaging students in open dialogue. But what unfolded was not a debate. It was a calculated performance of misinformation and hate, one that highlights a deeper issue: universities are increasingly forced...
I’m an Iranian Student at Yale: Here Is the Problem With the University’s Discourse
On April 7, the Yale MacMillan Center hosted a panel titled, “The War on Iran: A Roundtable Discussion.” The speakers repeatedly made false claims about Iran’s modern history and politics. When these claims were challenged by Iranians in the audience, they were met with dismissal and mockery. This panel epitomizes...
The Antisemitism Question
“So what’s antisemitism on campus like?” It’s the question every Jewish college student has heard a million times, whether at synagogue, in passing, or at the Sabbath table. It’s the question we’ve rehearsed a set, nearly scripted answer to over the course of the past two years. “Yeah, here and...
‘Intifada’ is not just a slogan
On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, I woke up and walked to shacharit (morning prayers). The tensions on campus had mostly slowed down, so I was quite surprised when I walked onto Cross Campus and saw words painted in red paint in the snow. I moved closer to get a better...
Distant War, Disposable Lives
In the wake of recent U.S.-Israel airstrikes on the Islamic Regime in Iran (IRI) targeting the Ayatollah, my feeds on Chinese social media platforms are filled with screenshots of users offering “advice” to their Embassy in Beijing. Why do people thousands of miles away care enough to cheer, mock, or...
On Campus VR Experiment – Effects of Social Media
Last September, a virtual reality experiment was introduced on the Florida State University campus. Through VR headsets, students and faculty who consented to take part in the experience watched a short film showing the personal story of a Nova music festival survivor from October 7th, 2023. This music festival became...
A Firsthand Look at the Anti-Israel Bias in College Classrooms
I’ve begun to understand why college students are so anti-Israel, and most of the time, I don’t believe it’s their fault. The combination of having information taught in classes that is so deeply saturated with anti-Israel content and the sometimes blind trust my peers have toward the authority of...
