The quiet corrosion of American universities has reached a critical point. It’s a story not of overt revolution, but of subtle capture – a systematic undermining of academic integrity within Middle Eastern studies departments. Having once been a student within one of these programs, the evidence is stark: these departments, in many cases, are no longer centers of learning, but breeding grounds for bias and, in some instances, radicalization.
For over two decades, a dangerous influence has been seeping into these institutions, growing bolder with each passing year due to a lack of accountability. This isn’t a theoretical concern; it’s a reality with identifiable figures, traceable funding, and concrete addresses. The consequences are visible in the increasingly hostile climate on campuses and the alarming perspectives adopted by students.
Consider Columbia University, where a prominent professor frames Israel solely as a colonial project while minimizing the brutality of Hamas. At Oberlin College, allegations surface against a former Iranian diplomat accused of covering up mass executions, yet he speaks of Hamas “resistance” with unsettling leniency. Princeton University hosts another former Iranian official accused of echoing Tehran’s propaganda, effectively legitimizing terrorist organizations under the guise of security studies.
When those shaping the curriculum openly align with authoritarian regimes, is it any wonder students emerge with skewed perceptions? They are taught to view America as the villain and sympathize with groups designated as terrorist organizations. This isn’t accidental; it’s the predictable outcome of a deliberate and insidious process.
The financial underpinnings of this influence are staggering. Saudi Arabia has channeled tens of millions into specific programs, establishing centers and funding chairs dedicated to Islamic and Middle Eastern studies. Qatar has become a major donor since 2001, directing billions through branch campuses and partnerships, effectively controlling the narrative surrounding the region.
This isn’t simple philanthropy. It’s a calculated investment in shaping perceptions, dictating research agendas, and influencing who is hired and what perspectives are amplified. The result is a faculty and student body increasingly radicalized, openly praising Hamas and excusing acts of terror, all while holding positions of authority over impressionable young minds.
The impact extends beyond the classroom. Students trained in these environments spearheaded recent campus encampments, where Jewish students faced harassment, intimidation, and outright antisemitism – blocked from campus spaces, subjected to hateful slurs, and told they have no right to exist. This isn’t a matter of free speech; it’s a hostile environment fueled by indoctrination.
The time for polite review and incremental policy changes is over. Until universities can definitively demonstrate that these programs are not serving as extensions of foreign regimes and incubators of antisemitism, a drastic measure is necessary. The burden should not fall on Jewish students to endure further hate while administrators deliberate.
Departments funded by Riyadh or Doha, led by those who defend Tehran’s proxies, and whose graduates actively participate in the harassment of Jewish students have forfeited their claim to trust. A complete audit is required – of every dollar, every visiting scholar, every syllabus, and every connection to foreign governments.
If a program can be rebuilt on transparent, domestic funding, staffed by individuals who unequivocally reject terrorism and antisemitism, it can be reopened under strict oversight. But if not, then the serious study of the Middle East must be relocated to disciplines that still understand the fundamental difference between scholarship and indoctrination – and between academic freedom and the open enablement of hatred.
Until then, these departments must be shut down.
