viewpoints » S end letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com DETROIT JEWISH NEWS theJEWISHNEWS.com guest column Arthur M. Horwitz Publisher / Executive Editor ahorwitz@renmedia.us Campus Anti-Semitism: Be Informed And Fight Back F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us W | Editorial ith many of us sending our chil- dren off to college soon, we must all be aware of a painful truth: Some of our kids will face anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses. Last month, AMCHA Initiative, a group that Susan B. documents campus anti-Semi- Tuchman tism, released a study showing “an alarming spike in campus anti-Semitism” in the first half of 2016. There were almost 100 more anti-Semitic, Israel-bashing incidents during the first six months of 2016 as compared to the first six months of 2015. These findings are alarming, but rather than overwhelm us, they should inspire us to action. The community should demand that college officials finally recognize that campus anti-Semitism is a serious problem they must effectively address, in the same forceful way they respond — as they should — when African American, women and gay students are targeted. We see college officials displaying an unacceptable double standard, vigorously responding when other groups are attacked, yet tolerating and even ignoring racism against Jewish students. For example, last year, fraternity mem- bers at the University of Oklahoma were caught on videotape chanting the “n” word and referring to lynching. The uni- versity president wasted no time in expelling two fraternity leaders, disciplining more than 20 other stu- dents and shutting down the entire fraternity — even though not every- one had been involved — because the racist chanting created a hostile learning environment for others. Contrast that response with how the University of Michigan respond- ed when an anti-Israel campus group spon- sored a divestment resolution in 2014, and the group’s supporters harassed and intimi- dated the resolution’s opponents. Students were reportedly cursed at, threatened and called “kike” and “dirty Jew” simply because they exercised their right to challenge an organized effort to harm the Jewish state. One student described the campus environ- ment as “frightening,” with some afraid to go to class because they felt unsafe. Despite the hostile environment for Jewish students, officials failed to take any remedial steps, not even publicly condemn- ing ugly, hateful conduct that made some feel unwelcome and unsafe. The administration failed to protect Jewish students again last year. When the same group constructed a huge anti- Israel display in the center of the campus, a Jewish student approached them and respectfully expressed concern about the timing and appropriateness of the display. Two terrorist attacks had occurred in Israel that very day, killing, among others, Ezra Schwartz, a Jewish American doing a “gap year” in Israel. Instead of showing under- standing, the anti-Israel group retaliated against the Jewish student, falsely accusing him of ethics violations and calling for his removal from student government. The administration said and did nothing to protect the Jewish student and his legal right to challenge anti-Israel conduct, send- ing the message to him and every other Jewish student that they could be targeted by Israel-bashers and could not count on the administration to intervene. These troubling examples are not unique to the University of Michigan. They must motivate all of us to demand that college leaders finally take the harassment of Jewish students as seriously as they take the harassment of other targeted groups. We must not tolerate the exercise of a double standard anymore. University leaders must start making it crystal clear that Jewish and pro-Israel students have the same right to a safe and welcoming learning environment as everyone else and that anyone who vio- lates this right will be held accountable. * Susan B. Tuchman is director of the Center for Law and Justice at Zionist Organization of America. community view Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@thejewishnews.com Arts & Life Editor: Lynne Konstantin lkonstantin@renmedia.us Senior Copy Editor: David Sachs dsachs@renmedia.us Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us Contributing Writers: Ruthan Brodsky, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Don Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Shelli Liebman Dorfman, Adam Finkel, Ryan Fishman, Stacy Gittleman, Judy Greenwald, Ronelle Grier, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Harry Kirsbaum, Barbara Lewis, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, Robin Schwartz, Steve Stein | Creative Services Corporate Creative Director: Deborah Schultz dschultz@renmedia.us | Advertising Sales Sales Director: Keith Farber kfarber@renmedia.us Account Executives : Kathryn Andros, Wendy Flusty, Andrea Gusho, Annette Kizy, Paige Lustig Sales Manager Assistants : Joelle Harder, Karen Marzolf | Business Offices Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner Collections Analyst: Hazel Bender | Production By FARAGO & ASSOCIATES Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Amy Pollard, Pam Sherevan, Michelle Sheridan, Susan Walker | Detroit Jewish News Chairman: Michael H. Steinhardt President/Publisher: Arthur M. Horwitz ahorwitz@renmedia.us Chief Operating Officer: F. Kevin Browett kbrowett@renmedia.us Controller: Craig R. Phipps Corporate Creative Director: Deborah Schultz dschultz@renmedia.us | Fulfillment circulationdesk@thejewishnews.com Customer Service Manager: Zena Davis What Every Parent And Student Should Know Before Returning To School T he return of the school year always brings about both nerves and excitement. Memorizing sched- ules, buying books, meeting roommates and unpacking boxes, it is an adventure- some time for both students and their parents. As Michigan parents get ready to send their kids off to school in the com- ing weeks, I can’t help but remember my daughter Emily. Emily was a 19-year- old sophomore at Kalamazoo College studying psychology and theater. One night in January, she called me complaining of a slight headache. I suggested she take some Motrin Alicia Stillman | Departments and let me know how she felt in the morning. That next morning, I received a phone call from the hospital and, by the time I met her there, she’d slipped into a coma. Emily had contracted meningo- Emily Stillman coccal disease and was going into surgery. and utter devastation her parents are feel- Emily had been vaccinated for meningi- ing from this loss. That is why I strive to tis, but had never been vaccinated against make Emily’s legacy known — to prevent meningitis B — at the time, the meningitis others from having to experience the pain B vaccine was not even available in the of losing a child. United States — and was not protected. For many young people starting col- Meningitis B took her life on Feb. 2, 2013. lege, it’s the first time they have ever lived These memories flooded back last away from home and shared a room. month when news broke about the Sharing becomes a way of life on cam- death of a 21-year-old Central Michigan pus, whether it’s notes from class, a water University student who contracted bacte- bottle, midnight snacks or simply living rial meningitis. I understand the anguish space. 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