Colleges Created Task Forces to Address Reports of Antisemitism and Islamophobia. What Have They Done?

As colleges have faced scrutiny over their handling of reported antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus this past academic year, many of them have turned to a familiar, often-faulted tactic: the task force. Task forces tend to bring together people across a campus to closely examine contentious issues, from enrollment and strategic planning to racial equity and sexual-assault prevention. The groups’ presence can be time-limited or indefinite. Critics often call out such efforts as window dressing — making it look like an institution is taking action when the recommendations are mostly vague and just go up on a shelf. So what’s coming out of this latest round of task forces?