Latest news with #Anti-Zionist
Spectator
6 days ago
- Politics
- Spectator
With many despairing academics packing it in, who will solve the problem of the universities?
Whatever happened to universities, beacons of the liberal enlightenment? Well, according to both these authors, they are in deep trouble. Cary Nelson is a distinguished literature academic who for six years was president of the American Association of University Professors, set up in 1915 by John Dewey to advance standards of excellence and academic freedom. His book Hate Speech and Academic Freedom: The Anti-Semitic Assault on Basic Principles, published last year, has now been supplemented by this powerful thesis published by the Jewish Quarterly. Even before the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, he argues, campus anti-Semitism was rife across the West. Following the attacks, 56 per cent of Jewish students in the US said they felt they were in personal danger on campus; 13 per cent of students at large said that the Jews deserved any physical attacks they experienced; and 10 per cent called for their genocide. Expressing such views anywhere in a democratic country is reprehensible, but the fact that this is openly tolerated at universities is profoundly troubling. 'Gaza Solidarity Encampments' originated at New York's Columbia University in April last year, setting a pattern for 150 similar encampments at US colleges and universities. Anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic slogans blared out from first light, anti-Israel posters and flyers were displayed and the functioning of university life was generally disrupted. Within weeks, 36 similar encampments had been established in the UK, including at Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford, Warwick and University College, London. Nelson rightly champions the qualities that have underpinned universities at their best: 'Truth, reason, argument, inquiry, collegiality and freedom of thought.'
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Antisemitism investigation at U of M, other schools by Education Department
The Brief The Education Department launched an antisemitism investigation at five universities, including the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. The probe comes months after pro-Palestinian protests on campus led to several arrests. The university said it plans to cooperate with the investigation. The Education Department on Monday announced it had launched an investigation into "widespread antisemitic harassment" at five universities, including the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities. MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Trump administration is investigating antisemitism claims at five universities, including the University of Minnesota. The backstory The investigation comes months after pro-Palestinian protests on campus led to several arrests. Campus unrest spread throughout the country after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel left 1,200 people dead, including many civilians. The militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, which ignited the Israel-Hamas war. What they're saying While Jewish organizations welcome the investigation, others are skeptical and see it as an attack on pro-Palestinian viewpoints. "Anti-Zionist and or antisemitic activities lies with the faculty," said Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. "That will be a challenge to face." "Our campus is flooded with pro-Hamas propaganda and rhetoric that's antisemitic," said Stephanie Iskhakov, assistant executive director of Chabad University of Minnesota. "Pro-Hamas propaganda and rhetoric is antisemitic. Calling for the destruction of the land of Israel is antisemitic. Our campus has no shortage of either of those things." But some see the investigation as a method of quieting pro-Palestinian voices on campus. "I think it's quite ridiculous, to be honest," said Kyle Feldhake, a graduate student who was arrested during demonstrations in October. "If there are legitimate concerns about antisemitism – if they're transparent about that – you know, great. If they're going to use it to masquerade pro-Palestinian repression – that's really horrific." Other universities involved The other universities under investigation are: Columbia University, Northwestern University, Portland State University and the University of California, Berkeley. What's next The Justice Department on Monday announced it had created a task force to combat antisemitism, and will focus first on rooting it out of colleges and universities. Dig deeper In a statement, the University of Minnesota said, in part: "We are confident in our approach to combating hate and bias on our campus and will fully cooperate with this investigation. The university continues to stand firmly against antisemitism." The Source Education Department; Justice Department; Steve Hunegs; Stephanie Iskhakov; Kyle Feldhake
