Campus Antisemitism
Among the topics discussed at the annual CAMERA on Campus conference were workshops on writing news articles for university and local media, hosting events on campus and how to boost a pro-advocacy presence on social media.
“I will not be a part of an organization that supports those who wish to destroy us,” said Professor Yedidyah Langsam, chairman of Brooklyn’s College’s Computer and Information Science Department.
“Our goal is to be on every campus,” says program co-founder Brian Blehar—“to arm the kids with the facts” and with the ability to defend themselves.
“Israel is a rainbow nation. Every person can be themselves,” said Miguel, a student at Gonzaga University in Washington, D.C.
“No faculty member, no teacher, no staff should have that kind of conduct,” said Alyza Lewin, president of the Brandeis Center. “It should be unacceptable.”
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) asked President Jonathan Holloway to send a clear message so that Jewish and pro-Israel students at the university are not made to feel unwelcome or singled out.
“What’s coming out of official university channels—through faculty emails, official departmental statements and departmentally sponsored events like this one—is wholly inappropriate and incredibly dangerous for our students,” said Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, director of the AMCHA Initiative.
Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh will work to strengthen connections to Israel and facilitate Jewish social activism.
Jeffrey Lax says a recent resolution seeks to put an end to American financial support to Israel, which is tantamount to divestment.
It alleges a hostile environment for Jews through its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program, violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.
The “Harvard Israel Initiative,” which has already garnered 905 signatures and counting, asserts Israel’s “right to self-defense” and the “right of the Jewish people to self-determination.”
The letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona cited hate-crime statistics from a 2019 FBI report indicating that Jew-hatred makes up for 63 percent of all religious-biased hate crimes in the United States.
