74 | MAY 18 • 2023 

P

rofessor David Dulio, 
director of Oakland 
University’s Center for 
Civic Engagement, has been 
hosting “office hours”— timely 
conversations in front of the 
relaxing lower-level fireplace in 
the Oakland Center about dif-
ferent topics that are of public 
concern with experts. 
In March, Dulio sat down 
with Dr. Derek Hastings, an 
associate professor in OU’s 
department of history, and Dr. 
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, president 
of the beautiful, ever-expanding 
university in Rochester Hills. 
Despite the pleasant setting, 
the topic was uncomfortable, 
but one that needs to be talked 
about urgently. It is something 
college students are dealing with 
now more than ever before, 
both publicly and privately — 
antisemitism. 
Antisemitism is defined as 
hostility toward Jews as a reli-
gious, ethnic or racial group. 

The resurgence of hatred for 
the Jewish people and antise-
mitic acts have become more 
prevalent across the country, 
but more specifically on college 
campuses, Pescovitz stated. 
She followed up with some 
astounding statistics: 43% of 
Jewish students on college cam-
puses across the nation have 
experienced and reported an 
act of antisemitism in the last 
year alone, and 24% have been 
blamed for something that has 
occurred in Israel. 
We can talk about the histo-
ry and politics of all forms of 
hate, including antisemitism 
— where it stemmed from, how 
it unfolded and what makes it 
continue — for an eternity, but 
the bottom line is that any form 
of hate is unjustifiable. 
Both experts agreed that, 
today, social media is largely 
responsible for perpetuating 
falsities and desensitizing peo-
ple to what is blatant racism, 

antisemitism and discrimina-
tion. Pescovitz prepared a sheet 
with some facts from the Anti-
Defamation League, which she 
found to be a great resource. 
According to the ADL, 85% 
of Americans believe one of 
the following statements about 
Jewish people to be true, which 
is a 24% increase in the last four 
years. She lists off the tropes. 
“Jews have too much power, 
loyalty and greed. Jews killed 
Jesus. They perform blood 
rituals. The Holocaust did not 
happen. Criticism of Israel.
” 
Pescovitz, who is proudly 
Jewish, is the first to jump in 
and say that higher learning at 
the college level should play a 
critical role in halting antisem-
itism in its tracks. Through 
educating students, she hopes 
this will have a rippling effect 
of stopping antisemitism across 
the country, along with all other 
forms of hate, which is a priori-
ty on OU’s campus. 

Dr. Hastings mentions that 
higher ed is necessary not only 
to gain information, but also 
for teaching students critical 
thinking skills to be able to 
sort through and understand 
all the information that comes 
at them. The experts said they 
personally have experienced 
antisemitism on this local cam-
pus, both in the classroom and 
even directly through email. 
I am fortunate enough to 
never have experienced this at 
the college level, but my cousin 
and I had pennies thrown at 
us in high school and that was 
over a decade ago when there 
was not an antisemitism resur-
gence. I cannot imagine what it 
would be like for me to be faced 
with that today, and I hope I 
never have to be. 
Despite that incident in 
high school and the fact that 
antisemitism is undoubtedly on 
the rise on college campuses, 
I still wear my Star of David 
necklace to school and feel 
proud to be the vice president 
of Oakland University’s Jewish 
Student Organization. That 
is not to say I am not aware, 
though — with school shoot-
ings also gaining speed at an 
alarming rate, I am constantly 
thinking about being targeted. 
It is a sad truth that students 
everywhere are dealing with, 
Jewish or not. We must use 
education, awareness and action 
to combat this growing problem 
and keep everyone safe every-
where — dispel the falsities, 
take care of yourself and each 
other, and spread kindness! @

Amy Goldberg earned an associate 

degree from Oakland Community 

College in American Sign Language 

interpreting. She is currently a student 

at Oakland University working on her 

bachelor’s degree in health sciences, 

majoring in health and wellness. She 

is proud to hold the position of vice 

president on Oakland University’s 

Jewish Student Organization board as 

well as working at her family’s bagel 

delicatessen.

Antisemitism is 
Sweeping the Nation

Amy Goldberg } jewish@edu writer

Amy Goldberg, Dr. 
Derek Hastings, 
President Ora 
Hirsch Pescovitz, 
and Professor 
David Dulio

for college students by college students
May 18, 2023/ 27 Iyar 5783

College campuses are being hit especially hard.

