January 08, 2024
Colleges Under Siege Over Israel, Hamas and Antisemitism, Look to PR Giants for Help
Some of the nation’s top universities are scrambling to hire heavyweight communications firms as their campuses become consumed by cultural and political proxy fights stemming from the Israel-Hamas war.
Among the schools that have turned to firms for help in recent months: New York University, Harvard University, Columbia University, The Cooper Union and the University of California. Those academic institutions sought help from trained PR or communications professionals in navigating student protests, unrest from donors or government inquiries borne from how the schools have handled the conflict in the Middle East, according to six people familiar with the arrangements.
Among the schools that have turned to firms for help in recent months: New York University, Harvard University, Columbia University, The Cooper Union and the University of California. Those academic institutions sought help from trained PR or communications professionals in navigating student protests, unrest from donors or government inquiries borne from how the schools have handled the conflict in the Middle East, according to six people familiar with the arrangements.