Part 6/9:
The Influence of Family and Campus Culture
Commenting on the background influences, Dershowitz suggests that the behavior of college students is shaped both by their upbringing and the campus environment. He expressed concern that at the start of college careers, students are often vulnerable to peer influence, particularly amid a backdrop of widespread anti-Semitism, which is sometimes under the guise of political critique, such as anti-Zionism.
He criticizes the silence or inaction of many university administrators in the face of rising campus hate crimes. The lack of clear condemnation and discipline only serve to normalize antisemitic acts, he argued, threatening the broader fabric of campus safety and inclusivity.