Who Is Sahar Tartak and Why Is Yale Daily News Buzzing About Her?

Sahar Tartak is currently making headlines after she was allegedly assaulted while covering an anti-Israel protest at Yale University. Tartak, a sophomore at Yale, is the editor-in-chief of the Yale Free Press, an independent student-run newspaper. She was reporting on a pro-Palestinian demonstration on campus when she was stabbed in the eye by a protestor wielding a Palestinian flag. Let’s take a look at Who Is Sahar Tartak and Why Is Yale Daily News Buzzing About Her.

The Incident

On sunday, April 21,Tartak was reporting on a protest in support of Palestinians on Yale’s campus. She was wearing a visible Jewish Star of David necklace and modest attire. As someone who identifies openly as Jewish, Tartak stood out among the crowd.

According to Tartak, as she was filming and taking notes, protestors began taunting her and her friend, who was also dressed in traditional Hasidic Jewish clothing. Eventually, a demonstrator wielding a Palestinian flag jabbed the flagpole into Tartak’s eye.

After the assault, organizers of the protest allegedly blockaded Tartak from chasing after her attacker. She claims they discouraged her from seeking justice, instead telling her to “think about what you really want to get out of this.”

Yale’s Response

Yale University has guidelines disallowing protestors from blocking access to campus buildings and entrances. Protestors who ignore requests to comply can be removed as trespassers.

The university released a statement saying that violence will not be tolerated on campus. Yale police are currently investigating Tartak’s assault.

However, Tartak herself has spoken out about Yale’s lack of action to rein in the weekend’s protests. She says officials did nothing to intervene when demonstrators obstructed access to buildings. The attack on Tartak was the latest incident in an escalating series of protests that have turned hostile towards Jewish students.

Who is Sahar Tartak?

Sahar Tartak is currently a sophomore at Yale University majoring in History. Prior to Yale, she attended Great Neck North High School in New York.

Tartak serves as editor-in-chief of the Yale Free Press, an independent student-run newspaper. She has contributed articles to various publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Free Beacon, and American Battlefield Trust.

Her writing often covers issues surrounding Israel and antisemitism. Tartak is affiliated with the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism, where she advocates for open dialogue and free speech.

Beyond journalism and activism, Tartak has also worked as an English Second Language tutor for the past four years.

The Aftermath

Soon after the attack, Tartak wrote her own first-person story of the assault and published it in the Yale Free Press. She criticizes Yale’s “inaction” in the piece, saying it allowed the incident to happen.

Her attack has sparked national discussions about the rise of antisemitic attitudes on college campuses. Tartak’s story has come to represent the escalating hostilities at Yale and the challenge of striking a balance between free speech and hate speech.

Tartak thinks Yale will act more forcefully against demonstrators who resort to violence and violate the civil rights of others as police look into what transpired. She keeps speaking up, offering her viewpoint as a reporter and a Jewish student who is being persecuted for who she is.

The way Tartak was treated has spurred discussion regarding Yale’s attitude toward Jewish journalists and students. Her attack brings up difficult issues around maintaining security and safety while upholding First Amendment rights. Tartak’s determination to provide truthful reporting and give voice to underrepresented people does not waver even as she recovers from her wounds. I sincerely hope you find this “Who Is Sahar Tartak and Why Is Yale Daily News Buzzing About Her?” article helpful.