• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics

1

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 

2

Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'

3

Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics
CommentaryColleges and Universities

Right, wrong, and a moment for clarity: Why universities must adopt a zero-tolerance policy

By
Gil Mandelzis
Gil Mandelzis
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Gil Mandelzis
Gil Mandelzis
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 3, 2024, 8:21 PM ET
New York Police Department officers were at Columbia University in force this week amid chaotic protests.
New York Police Department officers were at Columbia University in force this week amid chaotic protests. Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

The situation unfolding at Columbia University and at campuses across the country should not come as a surprise. This did not happen overnight.

Universities have for a long-time tolerated antisemitism compared to other forms of discrimination. The demonstrations of the past three weeks are merely the latest example of what happens in the void of leadership between firmly taking a stance and trying to placate both sides. Tensions rise. Words escalate to actions. Threats turn to violence.

There is right and wrong. Protesting in a passionate and lawful way is a beautiful exercise in freedom of speech. Supporting Palestinians fight for independence is a view. Calling for the divestment of your university from Israel is a view.

Terrorizing, intimidating, and calling for antisemitic action toward Jews and the annihilation of Israel is not a view. It is not freedom of speech. It is not a demonstration. It is wrong. And it is dangerous.

This is what happens when antisemitic behavior and rhetoric is left unchecked, if not encouraged for a long time. Inaction, tolerance, and equivocation leave space for hate, intimidation, and terror. Universities must take a very clear stance and demonstrate a zero-tolerance policy for antisemitism just as there should be zero tolerance for racism, Islamophobia, discrimination based on sexual orientation, or any other form of bigotry. There is no other option.

Protestors have infringed on and threatened law-abiding students’ rights to safety—basic rights that Columbia president Minouche Shafik and all university leaders are duty-bound to provide. In-person classes were cancelled. Many students—feeling unsafe amid aggressive and noisy protests and facing threats and harassment—have left campus and this intolerable atmosphere just when students should be studying for exams and preparing to walk at graduation.

No one has the right to disrupt campus operations materially, nor to threaten or intimidate students, nor to damage and destroy property—not students, nor faculty, and certainly not outsiders to the universities. Would similar expressions against the Black or LGBTQ communities (or any other minority) be tolerated?

There is nothing complicated about what’s been going on at Columbia, UCLA, and college campuses nationwide. The right to protest does not equal the right to cause chaos—sentiment shared by President Joe Biden in his address to the nation last night, calling this a “moment for clarity…Violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is.”

Shafik’s recent testimony before Congress was a strong example of leadership, outshining that of her Harvard, Penn, and MIT presidential peers. She was unequivocal that calls for genocide of Jews would violate Columbia’s student conduct codes. I applaud Columbia for announcing in February its new Interim University Policy for Safe Demonstrations. But is it working?

For a while, it felt like Opposite Day at Columbia: putting the bystanders “in jail” for their own protection and allowing the offenders to run free on campus while university leaders accommodate their transgressions. At campuses across the country, police have been called and arrests have been made, but what is the end result?

Strong words from university leadership will not end the chants for the killing of Jews or curb the harassment that’s driven students and faculty from campus fearing for their safety. University presidents: Your Jewish students and faculty need you to lead. To act. Unequivocally. To take a very clear stance and demonstrate a zero-tolerance policy for hate, intimidation, and terror. And to enforce those policies, consistently.

These escalations have become dangerous and disruptive to public safety and to order. But it had to get to this point. This is a moment of reckoning. It’s time to get back to basics and do what is right: protect the safety of students and faculty; preserve the spaces we hold for education and discourse; make clear the principles of freedom of speech; establish expectations for what actions are not tolerated and enforce them consistently.

Understand that the only way to do that is to draw a line in the sand and set very clear guidelines about behavior that is racist, violent, and unlawful. Update policies and codes of conduct to add antisemitism specifically. Congress is reviewing legislation that would expand the definition of antisemitism—this is a good place to start. Require every student and faculty member to sign that they acknowledge what is free speech, what is passionate protest, and what is unacceptable behavior that crosses a line and carries consequences.

Allowing these protests at college campuses is not about free speech—and there should be no question as to whether to put a stop to them. There is right and wrong, and the distinction here is very clear.

Enough, is enough.

Gil Mandelzis, a native Israeli, is founder and CEO of Capitolis, a financial technology company with offices in New York, Tel Aviv, and London. He believes that everyone matters.

More must-read commentary:

  • Never complain, but do explain: How to handle job tasks in the hiring process, whether Gen Z is involved or not
  • Outdated laws prevent gig economy workers from getting benefits. This pilot program shows the path forward
  • I couldn’t make a living wage when I was released from prison. Now I run a successful business
  • I host the world’s largest cybersecurity conference. Here’s what is top of mind for security experts right now

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.

Join us at the Fortune Workplace Innovation Summit May 19–20, 2026, in Atlanta. The next era of workplace innovation is here—and the old playbook is being rewritten. At this exclusive, high-energy event, the world’s most innovative leaders will convene to explore how AI, humanity, and strategy converge to redefine, again, the future of work. Register now.
About the Author
By Gil Mandelzis
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Commentary

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Commentary

brigham
CommentaryRailroads
The U.S. freight network is broken by design. One merger could start fixing it
By Brigham A. McCownMay 21, 2026
35 minutes ago
Elon Musk sits with his fists together, looking up.
Commentaryspace
SpaceX will be worth trillions, but the space station that made it possible is worth even more — if we don’t squander it
By Tejpaul BhatiaMay 20, 2026
14 hours ago
trader
CommentarySoftware
The 50-year-old law that governed every software company just broke. Here’s what replaces it
By Martin Casado and Abhishek NagarajMay 20, 2026
23 hours ago
FJ Campbell, MD, is chief medical officer at Ardent Health.
CommentaryHealth
A doctor shortage is coming. AI could be the only realistic fix
By FJ CampbellMay 20, 2026
1 day ago
trump
CommentaryCongress
Milken-Harris Poll: 80% of Americans want AI workforce programs now — and Washington hasn’t delivered
By Karen Kornbluh and Libby RodneyMay 20, 2026
1 day ago
‘Change the World’ idealism is dying in Silicon Valley. We’ll miss it when it’s gone
CommentarySilicon Valley
‘Change the World’ idealism is dying in Silicon Valley. We’ll miss it when it’s gone
By Jonathan WeberMay 19, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
Workplace Culture
Bolt CEO says he let go of his entire HR team for creating problems that didn’t exist: ‘Those problems disappeared when I let them go’ 
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
2 days ago
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
Success
Despite a $500 million net worth, Shaq just finished his fourth degree. He warns graduates: 'Your character will take you further than your resume'
By Preston ForeMay 20, 2026
20 hours ago
Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics
Future of Work
Meet a 21-year-old community college student who's going to China as the first American woman welder in the trades Olympics
By Mike Householder and The Associated PressMay 17, 2026
4 days ago
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
Politics
The Bezos family just donated $100 million to help achieve one of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s top campaign promises
By Jake AngeloMay 12, 2026
9 days ago
Dr. Bernice King on why companies that walked back DEI were never truly committed: 'If you retreat that quick…that reveals who you really are'
Workplace Culture
Dr. Bernice King on why companies that walked back DEI were never truly committed: 'If you retreat that quick…that reveals who you really are'
By Preston ForeMay 19, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 20, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 20, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 20, 2026
22 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.