One Sunday morning, the brothers of a Jewish fraternity at U.C. Berkeley woke up to find the word “KIKE” written in large white letters on the porch of their fraternity house. The fraternity brothers were taken aback. Never before had they experienced such direct anti-Semitism.
A resident assistant at U.C. Santa Cruz came back to her hall after class to find a Star of David with an “X” through it on three of the white boards that hang over the student’s doors.
At San Jose State University, Jewish students attended a forum on Palestine, where two controversial Islamic speakers spewed anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric. The students left feeling afraid; there were no university police present.
At Cal State Sacramento, a letter to the editor by Holocaust denier Bradley Smith of the Committee for Open Debate on the Holocaust, was printed in the online version of the school’s newspaper, the State Hornet. The student editors did not understand what they had done. “Isn’t this free speech?” they asked.
At U.C. Berkeley, a professor reportedly told his class that he was “surprised that ‘Paradise Now’ [a recent film about Palestinians] won the Golden Globe award, because Hollywood is controlled by Jews.”
These are just a few examples of campus incidents this year: Anti-Israel statements made by professors, anti-Semitic comments made in dorms, and anti-Semitic slurs shouted at Jewish fraternities. The list goes on. Calls from college students and administration pour into the ADL offices daily. Students do not always know what to do.
Many organizations run programs and bring speakers to campuses that target Jewish students and teach about Israel and Jewish values and culture. Jewish students at American universities have many options set before them. If only they had the time to dabble in all of them.
The ADL is offering something new, something that will complement all the efforts by the other organizations. Our pilot program will equip students with the skills to effectively and proactively fight anti-Semitism and other bias incidents. Our programs focus on students, professors and campus law enforcement.
The workshops center on factual background and skill development. Through “Confronting Anti-Semitism” and “Israel Advocacy” workshops, students will learn the history of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, while developing the confidence to speak out. Programs for law enforcement include hate-crime training and anti-bias training, two of which have already taken place at San Francisco State University.
Nevertheless, our work is never done. Even with all the other Jewish organizations working just as hard on the campuses, we need your help. If you have children or grandchildren in college, talk to them about anti-Semitism. Encourage them to take action: to speak to professors who make anti-Israel comments and to join the proactive efforts made by ADL and other Jewish organizations.
Anti-Semitism on campuses is not “kids just being kids.” It is real and systemic. It is a battle that students and professors cannot combat on their own. They need our help.
What can you do? Are you a donor? Support your Jewish organizations. Most organizations in the area have a campus outreach. Are you an alumnus? Stay involved with your alumni association. See what’s happening on campus and what you can do. Do you know regents or administrators? Faculty or staff? Use your connections to talk about anti-Semitism.
There are many campuses in the Bay Area. Be cognizant of the speakers and programs at your local college. Attend events so that you know what is going on.
It is essential that we raise awareness of disturbing events on the campus. Do not shake your head and ignore it — tell someone. Call the ADL or a local Jewish organization. Inform the administration. We cannot let these incidents go under the radar. Awareness is our greatest weapon. Together we can work to combat anti-Semitism.
Marnina Cherkin is the assistant director of campus affairs for the S.F.-based Central Pacific office of the Anti-Defamation League.