New York (QNN)- The administration of The New School has moved to override a student government decision targeting its campus Hillel chapter, escalating tensions over Israeli control and campus governance.
In an email sent to students, published by journalist Ryan Grim, the university said that Hillel will continue to receive funding and remain in good standing despite a recent vote by the University Student Senate (USS). The administration claimed that the senate does not have the authority to determine the official status or funding eligibility of registered student organizations.
“The USS does not have the authority to determine official status, funding eligibility, or recognition,” the email said, adding that the university will take steps to ensure the senate operates within its mandate.
The administration also sharply attacked the student body’s move. It accused the USS of targeting fellow students and attempting “to hold students responsible for the acts of governments,” calling the action misguided and outside the bounds of student governance. Hillel is responsible for programs that send students to serve in the Israeli military, which has been committing war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank.
The response comes just one day after the USS passed a landmark resolution declaring the Hillel chapter “not in good standing.” The vote aimed to block funding, co-sponsorships, and institutional support unless the chapter cuts ties with Hillel International and ends programs linked to Israel.
Student leaders based their decision on a detailed report by the Registered Student Organization Compliance Committee. The report stated that Hillel-affiliated programs have violated the university’s principles by supporting activities connected to the Israeli military during the genocide in Gaza.
According to the findings, programs such as “Hillel on Base,” “Onward Israel,” and the Volunteers for Israel initiative send students to provide logistical support on Israeli army bases. The report also cited partnerships with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at promoting pro-Israel narratives on campus.
The USS argued that these activities breach its Declaration of Principles, which requires all student organizations to adhere to international law. It described the violations as serious and repeated, and recommended cutting institutional support.
The university’s intervention now creates a direct conflict between student representatives and the administration.
