NJ Spotlight News spoke with Kristen Shahverdian of PEN America about the rising debates over academic freedom on college campuses.

The interview comes as backlash continues over last week’s scathing Congressional hearing on antisemitism, where university presidents from three Ivy League schools came under fire after they appeared to evade questions about campus policy. Some saw it as them being soft on antisemitism, while others say the content of the hearing was misleading and that it served as a trap for administrators.

Shahverdian, a program manager on free expression and education at the national free speech advocacy group, said free speech on college campuses across the country is under threat, especially toward those holding events and organizing activism around Palestinian rights.

The school presidents “absolutely could’ve condemned antisemitism and explained the complexity of the issue and what they’re facing on campuses and what they’re going to be doing,” Shahverdian said.

“Right now, we’re in a political climate where there certainly have been politicians and legislation that has been forth in the last year that has curtailed academic freedom on campuses,” she added.