Bill Ackman says college response to antisemitism is ‘pathetic’

“It’s pathetic that we need to rely on law firms and corporations to police antisemitism on campus,” Ackman wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 

Ackman has been a vocal critic of college campuses since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. He’s been especially upset with his alma mater, Harvard, after student groups published a letter blaming Israel for Hamas’ terrorist attacks, which he claims the university failed to promptly denounce. Amid the controversy, Ackman called for the names of the student groups and their members to be released so companies could avoid hiring them.

More than two dozen law firms, including some of the biggest names in Big Law like Cravath, Swaine & Moore and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, sent the letter to nearly 15 law schools. In the letter, the firms expressed concern about Jewish students being harassed and “rallies calling for the death of Jews and the elimination of the State of Israel.” 

“Anti-Semitic activities would not be tolerated at any of our firms,” the letter stated. “We also would not tolerate outside groups engaging in acts of harassment and threats of violence, as has also been occurring on many of your campuses.”

The law firms that signed the letter said they wanted to ensure the law school students they hired wouldn’t have discriminatory views. 

“We look to you to ensure your students who hope to join our firms after graduation are prepared to be an active part of workplace communities that have zero tolerance policies for any form of discrimination or harassment, much less the kind that has been taking place on some law…