Group demands UC action against anti-Semitism on campuses
More than a dozen Jewish alumni and others citing an escalation of anti-Semitic acts across University of California campuses presented the regents with nearly 700 signatures Wednesday urging them to adopt the U.S. State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism.
Just one speaker, a Jewish woman, echoed pro-Palestinian groups that say defining anti-Semitism would repress criticism of Israel on campuses. But those calling for UC to adopt the definition said it would help clarify the difference between legitimate protest of Israeli policies and outright anti-Semitism.
“We are urging you to address anti-Semitism with the same vigor as you do all other forms of bigotry,” said Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, a UC Santa Cruz lecturer who co-founded Amcha, a coalition of Jewish groups that collected 683 signatures. Its name is Hebrew for “your people,” and the group says it exists to combat anti-Semitism in higher education.
No students addressed the regents on the issue. Clashes over Israel and anti-Semitism are increasingly common at UC and campuses across the country as calls for universities to boycott, sanction and divest from Israel have grown in popularity. The animosity also made its way to regents meetings in recent years, when anti-Israel activist Sadia Saifuddin and pro-Israel activist Avi Oved were selected as student regents. Saifuddin is about to complete her year on the board, and Oved, who has served as the non-voting student regent-designate, will take her place this summer.
The regents have no official definition of anti-Semitism, but do have a policy protecting free speech. Regents Chairman Bruce Varner and UC President Janet Napolitano have condemned bigotry.
http://www.sfgate.com/education/article/Group-demands-UC-action-as-anti-Semitsm-escalates-6276974.php
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