Campus Antisemitism
Jordyn Wright, a second-year science student, labeled the motion as anti-Semitic and discriminatory. It was also criticized by the McGill administration, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the Anti-Defamation League and hundreds of McGill students.
“It is unacceptable that federal funds could be used to implement an academic boycott that directly contravenes the purposes for which these funds have been granted. Area studies programs whose directors or affiliated faculty engage in such behavior should be ineligible to receive or renew Title VI funding.”
The clip, published on Twitter, shows CSCC student Malek Mustafa, who has an anti-Israel history, cut down the flag from the display.
The vote occurred months after students voted overwhelmingly in favor of a referendum, calling on the school to separate itself from companies that conduct business with Israel.
She called the push to oust her from the Student Society of McGill University’s legislative council and board of directors as “anti-Semitic.”
Most students also had no idea how many people actually lived in Israel. Only 17 percent of the students gave the correct answer, while others made guesses that ranged from 100,000 to 150 million.
Following the vote, supporters were recorded chanting the slogan, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which calls for the destruction of Israel between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea.
The agreement with the U.S. Education Department was signed after an investigation following a conference hosted by the Middle East Studies program that featured an anti-Semitic Palestinian rapper and anti-Semitic posters in the university library.
“This is not something that’s new to campus. So, this may feel very threatening and very real and a moment of panic, but this is deeply embedded in the culture and history of SU,” says Professor Genevieve García de Müeller.
“On this campus, we do not tolerate anti-Semitism, hate speech or discrimination of any kind,” said university president Elizabeth Bradley.
The graduate student union said it has reached out to Hillel and the student who received the response “to request a meeting to discuss how to remedy harm and how to mitigate future harm towards Jewish students on campus.”
“It’s very positive and encouraging because the issues that are raised are very serious; they’re pervasive and widespread,” said attorney Neal Sher, who filed the complaint on behalf of a former NYU student.
