JUNE 3 • 2021 | 19

“WE RESPECT EVERY STUDENT’S 
RIGHT TO STAND UP FOR THEIR 
COMMUNITY AND STAND UP FOR 

THEIR BELIEFS AND VALUES.” 

— JORDAN ROBINSON

the Office of Cultural 
and Academic Transition 
(OCAT) to host quarterly 
events addressing human 
rights abuses in the respec-
tive timeframe and truly 
stand with the voices of the 
oppressed.” 

JEWISH STUDENT 
RESPONSE
The student who reached 
out to the JN and provided 
the text of the bill said that, 
as a Jew, they believe it’s 
their responsibility to say 
something when things like 
this come to fruition. 
“One of my favorite 
quotes by a rabbi that I 
think applies to this sit-
uation is, ‘I don’t speak 
because I have the power 
to speak. I speak because 
I don’t have the power to 
remain silent.’” 
Jordan Robinson, execu-
tive vice president of uni-
versity relations for MSU’s 
Jewish Student 
Union, said 
JSU is currently 
trying to work 
through the 
contents of the 
bill, explor-
ing different 
options and 
outcomes it could have. 
Robinson says he had no 
say in the bill but was in 
negotiations with the writ-
ers to try and see if a more 
collaborative bill could be 
done.
“Unfortunately, we were 
not able to settle on a deci-
sion,” Robinson said. “We 

respect every student’s 
right to stand up for their 
community and stand up 
for their beliefs and values. 
We just would’ve wished 
this could’ve been more of a 
collaborative effort to create 
more unity within ASMSU, 
rather than something 
much more complex.” 
With an increased level 
of Palestinian action in 
student government on 
campus, Robinson keeps 
an open mind on ways for-
ward. 
“Jewish Student Union 
welcomes every group on 
campus to express their 
thoughts and opinions in 
any capacity they choose, 
just as long as it’s a safe 
way that they’re doing it,” 
Robinson said. “It’s great 
they’re speaking out against 
issues, but we want to 
ensure we’re advocating for 
peace and ensuring we’re 
being a support system 
for all of our students on 
campus. We welcome any 
dialogue they want to have 
with the Jewish Student 
Union, and we welcome 
collaboration amongst all 
groups.”
Robinson, who also 
oversees the JSU represen-
tative to ASMSU, says JSU 
is currently in active talks 
with the ASMSU president 
to explore options with the 
bill and to “ensure all the 
Jewish student’s voices are 
being heard and that we are 
protecting the safety and 
security of the Jewish stu-
dents on campus.” 

Jordan 
Robinson

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