A new directive issued to Florida's state universities has sparked significant controversy, as all 12 public higher learning institutions are now required to review their course materials for any indications of antisemitism or anti-Israel bias. This move, driven by the escalating tensions related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, has raised concerns about academic freedom and potential First Amendment violations.
Ray Rodrigues, chancellor of the State University System of Florida, communicated the directive to university presidents in an email last Friday. According to the Orlando Sentinel, which obtained the email, the directive mandates a thorough review of courses that cover topics such as Israel, Palestine, and Zionism. Faculty members are responsible for conducting the reviews, with universities required to report any instances of antisemitism or anti-Israel bias to the state university system.
The review process is part of a two-pronged approach that includes the creation of faculty committees to oversee the evaluations. The goal is to ensure that course materials do not cross a "defined line," although Rodrigues did not specify how antisemitism or anti-Israel bias should be identified or assessed.
This directive follows a controversy at Florida International University (FIU), where an online quiz in a terrorism course included questions that were perceived as anti-Israel. The quiz asked questions such as "When Israelis practice terrorism, they often refer to it as (blank)," and provided options like "proactive attacks" and "self-defense." Jewish students expressed outrage, prompting calls for better oversight of academic content.
Shlomi Dinar, dean of FIU's Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs, responded via X (formerly Twitter) by stating that the questions were automatically generated from a test bank and were not selected by the faculty member.
"Moving forward, I am taking steps to ensure that across all departments in the college, instructors carefully review all course materials and assignments, including test bank questions, to ensure the highest academic standards are maintained in our classes," Dinar said in the post.
The directive requires universities to complete their reviews before the start of the fall semester. Courses flagged for review will include those related to terrorism, Middle Eastern studies, religion, and government, with a particular focus on keywords such as Israel, Palestine, Zionism, and Judaism. However, the directive has raised alarm among faculty members and free speech advocates, who fear it could lead to self-censorship and undermine academic freedom.
Another criticism of the new policy is the lack of clarity. Rodrigues' email did not specify what actions would be taken if antisemitism or anti-Israel bias is found or how these issues should be defined. The directive, which coincides with Gov. Ron DeSantis' broader efforts to combat what he views as dangerous ideologies, is the first of its kind in the state and has heightened tensions around the issue of free speech on campus.
In response to the growing controversy, DeSantis has taken additional steps to protect Jewish students, including waiving application fees for out-of-state Jewish students who fear antisemitic persecution at their current institutions. The governor has also pushed for the deactivation of certain pro-Palestinian student groups, further fueling debates about free speech and academic freedom in Florida's higher education system.