Professor Ron Hassner is the Chancellor's Professor of Political Science and the Helen Diller Family Chair in Israel Studies at UC Berkeley, where he also serves as faculty director of the Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies, which advances scholarship and public discourse on Israel and Jewish law. He has received multiple distinguished teaching awards at Berkeley and nationally, and under his leadership, the Helen Diller Institute has grown to become the largest Israel studies institute in the country. In the aftermath of October 7th, Professor Hassner became a prominent national voice against antisemitism on campus, most notably through his widely covered two-week "sleep-in" protest to demand better protection for Jewish students.

Universities pride themselves on being places where arguments are tested with evidence, but that promise gets fragile when intimidation starts replacing debate. When students can no longer move, speak, or learn freely, what role should faculty play in intervening?

For Professor Ron Hassner, the key lies in defending the conditions that make scholarship possible, not turning professors into political activists. As tensions and anti-Semitic incidents on campus escalated after the October 7th attacks, he staged a highly visible protest, sleeping in his campus office, keeping his light on, and urging students to choose a peaceful route through Strawberry Creek rather than force their way through a blocked Sather Gate. Through constant dialogue, communal gatherings, and clear demands for campus policy changes, Professor Hassner demonstrates how faculty can confront antisemitism while protecting academic freedom, student safety, and the university's integrity.

In this episode of the Lights On podcast, host Sarah Livingston is joined by Professor Ron Hassner, Chancellor's Professor of Political Science and the Helen Diller Family Chair in Israel Studies at UC Berkeley, to discuss fighting antisemitism in academia. They explore his office sleep-in, faculty responsibility, and protecting academic integrity. Professor Hassner also shares advice on peaceful protest and supporting Jewish students.