Stanford is the latest elite university to be slammed for its lack of ‘moral resolve’ in its response to Hamas’ attack on Israel

More than 1,400 people have so far put their names to an open letter sent to interim President Richard Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez. The list includes Menlo Ventures partner Shawn Carolan and tech luminaries from Latin America, including David Velez and Marcos Galperin.

“As students, graduates, faculty and staff of the university, we have proudly represented Stanford across the globe as an inclusive institution that fosters community, excellence and leadership,” the letter read. “Your failure in this case has shaken our belief in Stanford leadership’s moral resolve and capacity to adhere to these values and guide its community in their light during our darkest hours.”

College campuses across the US have been torn by divisions over free speech, academic freedom and claims of antisemitism since the Oct. 7 assault on Israel and its response in Gaza. The letter to Stanford cited several incidents on campus, such as messages of “hatred and antisemitism” displayed on banners and in chalk writing, and the removal of posters with the images of people who were abducted during the attack. 

At the University of Pennsylvania, a group of donors and alumni have demanded that the school’s leadership quit. At Harvard, billionaire donors have pulled their support, while Harvard Business School alumni Mitt Romney and hedge fund manager Seth Klarman led an open letter accusing the school of ignoring the safety of Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Investor Leon Cooperman has said he’ll no longer give to Columbia University because of anti-Israel protests. 

The Stanford letter called on Saller and Martinez to unequivocally condemn antisemitism and the Hamas attack, and to take concrete actions to ensure the safety of Jewish and Israeli students,…