Editor's Letter
jarc
www.jarc.org
Redressing Campus Hate
W
ith anti-Israel — and thus anti-Jewish — senti-
ment growing in the world, anti-Semitism and
its array of hostilities touch the lives of Jewish
students to varying degrees on U.S. campuses of higher educa-
tion. It's a real concern that students as well as their parents
would be wise to learn more about and be prepared to confront
knowledgeably and confidently.
The problem arises as traditional
anti-Semitism — such as threats,
physical assaults and vandalized prop-
erty — as well as anti-Israel beliefs and
anti-Zionism that morph into outright
anti-Semitism.
Both kinds of anti-Semitism have
caused Jewish students to feel harassed,
intimidated and even physically unsafe
on their campuses. Granted, the risk
Robert Sklar
seems lower in most places outside the
Editor
University of California system. Consider
these UC examples:
•At UC-Berkeley, a Jewish student holding an "Israel Wants
Peace" sign at a pro-Israel rally on campus was rammed from
behind by a filled shopping cart, injuring her.
•At UC-Irvine, a Holocaust memorial was destroyed.
Campus speakers condoned and even advocated terrorism
against Israeli Jews. And Jewish students have been threatened
and physically assaulted.
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) also has identi-
fied Jewish student concerns bubbling up at New York City's
Columbia University as well as at the University of North
Dakota in Grand Forks. Not even elementary and secondary
schools are immune.
But Jewish students on almost any campus, including here
in Michigan, may be buffeted by the tides of anti-Semitism
and its punishing waves, whether implied or
overt and whether in an organized way or as
individual targets. The Anti-Defamation League
(ADL) affirms that anti-Semitic incidents on
college campuses are rising — consistent with
the "sustained and troubling level" of such inci-
dents in the U.S.
In response, the Jewish community must keep
watch for anti-Jewish acts, understand what it
means to be Jewish and articulately defend Israel
as a sovereign, democratic Jewish state even
when not supporting all its government policies.
strictly a religious group not entitled to the law's safeguards.
The second key development came in September when U.S.
Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., and U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif.,
co-sponsored a bill that would amend Title VI to expressly pro-
hibit religious discrimination in the same way that discrimina-
tion based on race or national origin is forbidden. The bill, which
the ZOA helped draft, deserves passage if we're serious about
saving our students from a potential living hell. Tell your elected
officials on Capitol Hill you urge their support.
Long - Term Struggle
"Amending Title VI would prevent the OCR from retreating from
its new policy of protecting Jewish students:' Susan Tuchman,
director of the ZOA Center for Law and Justice, told me last week
in advance of her Wednesday, Dec. 8, appearance at Temple Beth
El in Bloomfield Township. She has led a concerted six-year cam-
paign to assure that Jewish students facing anti-Semitism and
Israel-bashing have access to sustainable relief.
Historically, the OCR viewed Jewish students as a religious
group and not also as an ethnic group entitled to Title VI
protection. In 2004, the OCR clarified its policy to state that
Title VI now also applied to religious groups that also share
ancestry or ethnic characteristics, such as Jews, Muslims and
Sikhs. Around this time, the ZOA filed a complaint under Title
VI on behalf of Jewish students at UC-Irvine. "They had faced
years of anti-Semitic harassment, intimidation and discrimina-
tion that, for the most part, went unaddressed by the univer-
sity despite repeated student complaints to administrators;'
Tuchman said.
Because of the then-newly clarified policy affording protec-
tion to Jewish students, the OCR, under Kenneth Marcus from
2003 to 2004, agreed to investigate the ZOA case — a landmark
move because it was the first case of anti-Semitism that the
OCR ever agreed to investigate under Title VI.
In 2005, Tuchman testified at a U.S.
Commission on Civil Rights hearing on the
matter of campus tolerance, respectfulness
and safety. As a result of the evidence, the
commission issued findings and recommenda-
tions relative to protecting Jewish students and
adopted a PR campaign to end campus anti-
Semitism.
Within months of the OCR opening the
probe, however, Marcus left; the agency soon
returned to the policy of denying Title VI pro-
tection to Jewish students, "perceiving Jews
simply as a religious group and not also an
ZOA legal advoc ate
Fighting Back
ethnic group that would be protected from
Susan Tuchman
With support from the ADL, the American
`racial and 'national origin' discrimination
Jewish Committee, B'nai B'rith International and other Jewish
under the law:' according to the ZOA.
groups, the ZOA has been in the forefront of helping secure the
learning environment for Jewish students by giving them equal
Lingering Problem
protection under the law.
The OCR eventually dismissed the ZOA complaint, concluding
The New York-based ZOA in particular helped bring two sig-
that many of the allegations fell outside the agency's purview.
nificant developments.
The ZOA appeal of this decision had been pending since 2008.
In October, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil
"The recent OCR policy statement to protect Jewish students
Rights (OCR) clarified that it will now protect Jewish students at
is good news:' Tuchman told the JN.
all public levels from anti-Semitic harassment and intimidation
Indeed, it is.
under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Up to this point, a
I applaud OCR's October ruling that extended such protec-
legal loophole didn't give Jewish students such protection. The
tion. The OCR at least should hear complaints from students
law protects against racial and ethnic discrimination based on
who fear for their safety just because they are Jewish. The
"race, color or national origin" and bars federal funding of insti-
office then can rule on the presence of actionable conduct, be
tutions found guilty. Until now, the OCR had considered Jews
it a threat, harassment or intimidation, in the wake of hateful
Editor's Letter on page 6
Bob Wakely with Jonah Erlich
For his Mitzvah project,
Jonah Erlich wanted to
combine two things he is
passionate about — JARC
and reading. Over the
summer, Jonah visited
JARC's Rosen RRR Program
twice a week to read aloud
and discuss Old Yeller.
Now Jonah is continuing
with his book club even
though his mitzvah hours
have been met!
Whether as a volunteer
or donor, your generous
support will benefit the
men, women and children
JARC serves by...
feaciptjr..
5arrivec.
HELP US REACH
OUR ANNUAL
FUNDRAISING
GOAL!
Go online to www.jarc.org
or call 248-538-6611 and
designate your donation to the
2010 HELP MEET OUR GOAL
FUND
You man rviake, a
cliffrievic,e/f
248.538.6611
re
www.jarc.org
December 2 • 2010
5