Administrators at the University of Michigan are developing plans to address growing antisemitism on campus and to educate students about Jewish history.
First to come is the launch of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute on the Ann Arbor campus to focus on antisemitism. It will be geared to collaborate with departments across the university.
The second effort involves the school’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion improving religious inclusion and fostering a greater understanding of multiple faiths on campus.
“We are bringing together leading U of M expertise and diverse perspectives toward a safer and more inclusive world, and even more, a brighter world of peace,” said university president Santa J. Ono during a meeting of the school’s board of regents.
According to Michigan Hillel, about 14% of students who attend the school are Jewish. The nearby Detroit metropolitan area has the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the United States, many of whom attend U of M.
Laurie McCauley, the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, stated that “antisemitism is antithetical to everything we stand for as a campus and community, and we are committed to ensuring that we are a place where all students can live in peace and safety, and where they can learn and grow and thrive.”
