Latest news with #Jew-hating
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
In Iraq, being a Jew made me a target. Now I feel unsafe at home.
In Iraq, being a Jew made me a target. Now I feel unsafe at home. | Opinion The threats I confronted and precautions I took as a soldier in Iraq are now a new reality in America. It is no secret that hatred for Jews is on the rise. Show Caption Hide Caption Nathan Fielder slams Paramount+ for cutting antisemitism episode Nathan Fielder didn't hold back on 'The Rehearsal,' using his HBO platform to call out Paramount+ for removing a controversial episode of 'Nathan for You'. unbranded - Entertainment The horrific attack June 1 in Boulder, Colorado, against predominantly Jews marching to raise awareness for the hostages held in Gaza is yet another sad example that there is no safe place to be a Jew. The irony is that as an American Jew deployed as an Army officer to Iraq, I understood the risks of my service. I knew that if I were captured by al-Qaida and my religion became known, I would assuredly be publicly and brutally tortured and killed. For this reason, I was careful who I shared this information with while in combat. Even the military dog tags that I wore for casualty identification omitted my religious preference. All of these precautions made sense given I was in a war zone fighting a vicious terrorist organization that would kill me simply for being Jewish. When I left the Army, I strongly believed that America was a haven from this type of intolerance and extremism. I grew up in a predominantly Jewish suburb of Chicago, openly wore my Judaism and went to synagogue without any fear of harm. Sadly, the surprise attacks by Hamas against Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, and the war that has ensued provided a false narrative justifying the targeting and killing of Jews wherever they live and without any regard to their connection to Israel. Shockingly, the threats I confronted and precautions I took as a soldier in Iraq are now a new reality in America. It is no secret that hatred for Jews is on the rise. The Anti-Defamation League reported that in the three months following the Israel-Hamas war, antisemitic incidents in the United States skyrocketed by 361%. Due to this increase, 56% of American Jews say they have altered their behavior and the way they live their lives out of fear, according to the American Jewish Committee. Opinion: Imagine surviving the Holocaust only to be attacked in America. It happened in Colorado. My family had close calls with Jew-hating gunmen. The global intifada is in America. There are countless stories behind these troubling figures. Even my own family has had several close encounters with Jew-hating gunmen. On July 4, 2022, my family was moments away from the Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Illinois, when the far-right Nazi sympathizer Robert Crimo III opened fire on the large Jewish gathering, where five of the seven people killed were Jewish or members of Jewish families. And just on May 22, my wife attended the event at the Capital Jewish Museum where police say far-left gunman Elias Rodriguez fatally shot two attendees presumably because he believed they were Jewish. According to court document filed by the FBI, he said he killed 'for Palestine ... for Gaza.' Jews understand the message. We are targets – in our homes and at schools, synagogues and even parades. Opinion: 2 Israeli Embassy staff were killed. It's not about 'free Palestine.' The Palestinian intifada is patently a terrorists' playbook. There have been two previous intifadas, in 1987 and 2000 – both were grotesque in that they targeted passenger buses, children, cafes and clubs in Israel to strike fear among the population. The latest Palestinian intifada is now globalized, but the concept is identical to its predecessors. All Jews are fair game – killing under the guise of Palestinian liberation and justice. These domestic extremists are cut from the same cloth as Hamas terrorists – whom they openly praise. In fact, they have embraced the same ideology that killed my wife's first cousin, Dani Levi, during the surprise attack on Kibbutz Be'eri on Oct. 7, 2023. Dani served as an emergency room doctor providing lifesaving care to injured Israelis until Hamas attacked his clinic. Jews cannot fight this battle alone. We all must take a stand against antisemitism. What can be done to address the harmful rhetoric and violence directed against Jews? First, American Jews must continue to live as Jews. For example: Openly wear the Magen David necklace, attend Jewish events, vocally advocate for truth and, most important, do not fear their identity. Jews must make it a point that we are here to stay and even adopt the U.S. Army's motto: 'This We'll Defend.' Second, the world runs on alliances. American Jews can't fight this battle alone. Just as the Jews marched shoulder-to-shoulder with marginalized people during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement for equal rights, so too will the Jews need the help of non-Jews to advocate and call out antisemitism, however it manifests. Last, Jews must continue to speak truth to power whether to our own government or regarding the Israeli government's policies. Like any group, Jews are not a monolith. It's important that we express diversity of thought on Israel, Gaza and the future of peace in the region. All people deserve empathy, and we should do so with a dose of humility – understanding that the issues at play are complex and that people are suffering, including Palestinians. However, where there is no nuance and room for compromise is in calls for global violence against Jews, or to free Palestine from all Jews. This is rank terrorism and a call for genocide against the Jewish people living in Israel. America is free, but we should never tolerate the intolerable. Steven Katz was an active-duty Army officer from 2003-09. He served two combat tours in Iraq in ground combat leadership positions, receiving the Bronze Star medal. He also served as defense and intelligence adviser to Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colorado. He is co-director of the Celiz Antisemitism Taskforce for the Jewish War Veterans of America (JWV).
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EPA Administrator Zeldin 'heartbroken' after shooting of Israel embassy staffer he met just two weeks ago
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin had just met with one of the slain Israeli Embassy staffers earlier in May, posting to social media Thursday he was "heartbroken" over her shooting by a "Jew-hating radical." Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, two staffers of the Embassy of Israel to the United States who were engaged to be married, were shot and killed as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., Wednesday night. Zeldin posted to X Thursday afternoon that he had met Milgrim, who was an American employee of the embassy, two weeks ago in his office. Fatal Shooting Of Israeli Embassy Workers In Dc Sparks Outrage From Trump, Israeli President "I just met Sarah two weeks ago in my office at EPA HQ," Zeldin posted. "She struck me as a young woman filled with life and positivity. "Heartbroken to learn she was one of two tragically murdered last night by a Jew-hating radical screaming 'Free Palestine,'" he continued. "May Sarah and Yaron rest in peace." Read On The Fox News App Two Israeli Diplomats Shot, Killed During Event At Capital Jewish Museum In Washington, Dc Zeldin shared a smiling photo of himself and Milgrim from the day they met. Milgrim and Lischinsky were killed as they left the museum's event focused on finding humanitarian solutions for Gaza. Fbi Investigating Killing Of Israeli Embassy Employees As Possible Hate Crime Lischinsky was born in Israel and grew up in Germany. His father is Jewish, and his mother is Christian. Authorities took Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old man from Chicago, into custody. Upon being taken into custody, Rodriguez began shouting: "Free, free Palestine." The FBI is investigating the incident as "an act of terror."Original article source: EPA Administrator Zeldin 'heartbroken' after shooting of Israel embassy staffer he met just two weeks ago
New York Post
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Don't trust the rhetoric: reject antisemitism in NYC mayor's race
The surest way to trigger the collapse of New York City is to elect an antisemitic mayor. Throughout history, rising antisemitism is a bellwether of societal ruin: When attacks on Jews are tolerated or encouraged, the dissolution of everyone's rights and the abandonment of basic freedoms follow. See the Spanish Inquisition, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union for examples. Advertisement It could happen here. Electing a Jew-hating mayor who turns a blind eye to antisemitic crime will drive out huge numbers of city residents, including some of its wealthiest, erode the real estate market, hollow out cultural institutions and lead to moral implosion. Everyone who can leave, Jews and non-Jews alike, will flee. Being Jewish in NYC is already getting uncomfortable. Advertisement We've seen swastikas scrawled on walls and desks in some city public schools, students elsewhere casually referring to math high performers as 'the Jew table,' a Queens community garden posting a ban on Zionists, a 13-year-old Jewish boy slapped in the face as he rides his bike through his neighborhood — such incidents are no longer shocking. Since the beginning of the year, 60% of the confirmed hate crimes in Gotham have targeted Jews, even though they make up just 10% of the city's population. All the top contenders for mayor claim to deplore antisemitism. Don't believe it. We need to scrutinize the candidates' records. Advertisement The most dangerous wolf in sheep's clothing: Zohrab Mandani, a state assemblyman currently polling second in the Democratic primary behind former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani is making the rounds to Jewish events. He's attended at least seven public and private meetings and meals with Jewish leaders in the last month. On Friday he posted an official campaign video proclaiming himself a defender of the Jewish people, promising an '800% increase' in city spending to 'combat antisemitism.' Advertisement 'In this election, we're seeing . . . the pain of Jewish New Yorkers being weaponized as a talking point,' he moaned. Don't fall for his new guise. Mamdani has backed the odious Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, calls Israel's actions against Gaza 'genocide' and recently refused to co-sponsor two Assembly resolutions to condemn the Holocaust and recognize the state of Israel. His campaign claims are just not credible. 'Mandani has been fanning the flames of antisemitism, and now he wants us to believe he's the firefighter,' warns David Greenfield of the Met Council, a major Jewish charity. The New York Times calls Mamdani's stance on Jews and Israel 'nuanced.' Nonsense: He's a morally bankrupt Jew-hater. Meanwhile, Cuomo is betting big on Jewish voters, relying on a track record of supporting Israel and promoting New York-Israel business ties, as well as signing an anti-BDS bill in 2016. But his outreach appears to be inch-deep: After leaving the governor's office in shame, Cuomo launched the group 'Never Again NOW!' at the tony Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton, promising a lecture series and a paid media campaign to combat anti-Jewish hate. Advertisement But nothing followed — and not even the website has been updated. Was it merely a convenient way for a disgraced former governor to reconnect with the donor class? Probably. Maybe Mayor Eric Adams' newly announced Office to Combat Antisemitism will produce real results. Adams, who is not competing in the June 24 primary, hopes to appear on November's general-election ballot as an independent candidate on two lines — including one called 'ENDAntiSemitism.' Advertisement It's outright pandering, but there's no question Adams has been a staunch ally of the Jewish community and a backer of Israel's military campaign against Hamas. Even so, almost all New York City's problems require a fix in Albany, antisemitism included — but the statewide Democratic Party has been AWOL. New York state saw more antisemitic incidents in 2024 than any other state, the Anti-Defamation League reported — in large part because attackers here face few criminal consequences. Advertisement Yet last week, Democratic lawmakers in Albany defeated a bill to defund colleges that permit 'terrorist organizations or activities' on campus. 'The radical left no longer is willing to stand up to anti-Israel terrorists and antisemites,' Senate Minority Leader Rob G. Ortt told me after the vote. The Democratic majority has also refused to ban public mask-wearing, keeping Jew-hating criminals from being identified and held accountable. Advertisement At least in Gotham, the mayoral wannabes have recognized antisemitism as a major issue. Now it's the voters' job to parse the candidates' promises and determine who's for real and who's the trombenik — that's Yiddish for faker. Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York and co-founder of the Committee to Save Our City.
The Advertiser
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Walk and chew gum': Greens won't abandon Gaza campaign
The federal Greens won't resile from their stance on social issues such as Israel's attacks on Gaza, new federal leader Larissa Waters says, as environment groups urge a greater focus on protecting nature. Strong action on climate change and social justice policies will be priorities for the minor party as it enters a new phase following the shock defeat of Adam Bandt at the federal election. The former party leader was evicted from his lower house seat of Melbourne, alongside fellow MPs Stephen Bates and Max Chandler-Mather, after the Greens suffered a swing away from them in the inner cities. The party faced attacks from Labor, who criticised it of obstructing social housing legislation in the Senate, and the coalition, who accused the Greens of being a "Jew-hating, anti-Semitic party" for their criticism of Israel. Senator Waters, a former environmental lawyer, said she wanted the Greens to have a role in rewriting environmental protection laws, which the government has promised to do this term. The Greens' commitments to nature has buoyed environmental groups after they were accused of straying from their roots and getting distracted by other progressive causes. "We think this is a welcome sign that the Greens are getting back to core business, which is protection of climate and the environment," Australian Conservation Foundation climate and energy program manager Gavan McFadzean told AAP. "In terms of their campaigns and their public work, ... it would be good for them to have a stronger focus on climate and environment this term." But Senator Waters, who won the top job uncontested at a party room meeting on Thursday, said the Greens could "walk and chew gum at the same time", maintaining their focus on social and environmental challenges. "We certainly don't resile from our strong stance on social justice issues," she told ABC Radio on Friday. "We will always call out atrocities, and we will always work to make sure that people's daily needs are met and that we're looking after the planet." Anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal earlier in the week said some of Mr Bandt's comments about the Jewish community were anti-Semitic and the Greens' weakened result in the election showed the Australian public voted against extremism. Just because the Greens had been outspoken about the actions of the Israeli regime did not mean the party were anti-Semitic, Senator Waters said. "There is no anti-Semitism that is acceptable anywhere. Likewise, there's no Islamophobia that's acceptable anywhere," she said. "We want peace in that region, and we want kids and women and everyone in that region to have self-determination." Despite losing three out of their four lower house seats, a swing to Labor in the Senate means the Greens now hold the balance of power in the upper house. As a result, the government can decide to work with them exclusively to pass legislation. But the Greens still run the risk of being dealt out of contentious issues such as environmental protections if the government decides it has a better prospect of getting the laws passed with the support of the coalition. "We are very keen to be able to rewrite those laws and actually protect nature and take action on the climate crisis that's wreaking so much havoc on this beautiful planet and on our lives," Senator Waters said. "The choice is there, really, for the government: do they want to do a proper job, or do they want to stick with with John Howard's laws from last century?" The Greens retained one lower house seat - Ryan, held by Elizabeth Watson-Brown - and 11 seats in the Senate, where they will hold the balance of power. The federal Greens won't resile from their stance on social issues such as Israel's attacks on Gaza, new federal leader Larissa Waters says, as environment groups urge a greater focus on protecting nature. Strong action on climate change and social justice policies will be priorities for the minor party as it enters a new phase following the shock defeat of Adam Bandt at the federal election. The former party leader was evicted from his lower house seat of Melbourne, alongside fellow MPs Stephen Bates and Max Chandler-Mather, after the Greens suffered a swing away from them in the inner cities. The party faced attacks from Labor, who criticised it of obstructing social housing legislation in the Senate, and the coalition, who accused the Greens of being a "Jew-hating, anti-Semitic party" for their criticism of Israel. Senator Waters, a former environmental lawyer, said she wanted the Greens to have a role in rewriting environmental protection laws, which the government has promised to do this term. The Greens' commitments to nature has buoyed environmental groups after they were accused of straying from their roots and getting distracted by other progressive causes. "We think this is a welcome sign that the Greens are getting back to core business, which is protection of climate and the environment," Australian Conservation Foundation climate and energy program manager Gavan McFadzean told AAP. "In terms of their campaigns and their public work, ... it would be good for them to have a stronger focus on climate and environment this term." But Senator Waters, who won the top job uncontested at a party room meeting on Thursday, said the Greens could "walk and chew gum at the same time", maintaining their focus on social and environmental challenges. "We certainly don't resile from our strong stance on social justice issues," she told ABC Radio on Friday. "We will always call out atrocities, and we will always work to make sure that people's daily needs are met and that we're looking after the planet." Anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal earlier in the week said some of Mr Bandt's comments about the Jewish community were anti-Semitic and the Greens' weakened result in the election showed the Australian public voted against extremism. Just because the Greens had been outspoken about the actions of the Israeli regime did not mean the party were anti-Semitic, Senator Waters said. "There is no anti-Semitism that is acceptable anywhere. Likewise, there's no Islamophobia that's acceptable anywhere," she said. "We want peace in that region, and we want kids and women and everyone in that region to have self-determination." Despite losing three out of their four lower house seats, a swing to Labor in the Senate means the Greens now hold the balance of power in the upper house. As a result, the government can decide to work with them exclusively to pass legislation. But the Greens still run the risk of being dealt out of contentious issues such as environmental protections if the government decides it has a better prospect of getting the laws passed with the support of the coalition. "We are very keen to be able to rewrite those laws and actually protect nature and take action on the climate crisis that's wreaking so much havoc on this beautiful planet and on our lives," Senator Waters said. "The choice is there, really, for the government: do they want to do a proper job, or do they want to stick with with John Howard's laws from last century?" The Greens retained one lower house seat - Ryan, held by Elizabeth Watson-Brown - and 11 seats in the Senate, where they will hold the balance of power. The federal Greens won't resile from their stance on social issues such as Israel's attacks on Gaza, new federal leader Larissa Waters says, as environment groups urge a greater focus on protecting nature. Strong action on climate change and social justice policies will be priorities for the minor party as it enters a new phase following the shock defeat of Adam Bandt at the federal election. The former party leader was evicted from his lower house seat of Melbourne, alongside fellow MPs Stephen Bates and Max Chandler-Mather, after the Greens suffered a swing away from them in the inner cities. The party faced attacks from Labor, who criticised it of obstructing social housing legislation in the Senate, and the coalition, who accused the Greens of being a "Jew-hating, anti-Semitic party" for their criticism of Israel. Senator Waters, a former environmental lawyer, said she wanted the Greens to have a role in rewriting environmental protection laws, which the government has promised to do this term. The Greens' commitments to nature has buoyed environmental groups after they were accused of straying from their roots and getting distracted by other progressive causes. "We think this is a welcome sign that the Greens are getting back to core business, which is protection of climate and the environment," Australian Conservation Foundation climate and energy program manager Gavan McFadzean told AAP. "In terms of their campaigns and their public work, ... it would be good for them to have a stronger focus on climate and environment this term." But Senator Waters, who won the top job uncontested at a party room meeting on Thursday, said the Greens could "walk and chew gum at the same time", maintaining their focus on social and environmental challenges. "We certainly don't resile from our strong stance on social justice issues," she told ABC Radio on Friday. "We will always call out atrocities, and we will always work to make sure that people's daily needs are met and that we're looking after the planet." Anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal earlier in the week said some of Mr Bandt's comments about the Jewish community were anti-Semitic and the Greens' weakened result in the election showed the Australian public voted against extremism. Just because the Greens had been outspoken about the actions of the Israeli regime did not mean the party were anti-Semitic, Senator Waters said. "There is no anti-Semitism that is acceptable anywhere. Likewise, there's no Islamophobia that's acceptable anywhere," she said. "We want peace in that region, and we want kids and women and everyone in that region to have self-determination." Despite losing three out of their four lower house seats, a swing to Labor in the Senate means the Greens now hold the balance of power in the upper house. As a result, the government can decide to work with them exclusively to pass legislation. But the Greens still run the risk of being dealt out of contentious issues such as environmental protections if the government decides it has a better prospect of getting the laws passed with the support of the coalition. "We are very keen to be able to rewrite those laws and actually protect nature and take action on the climate crisis that's wreaking so much havoc on this beautiful planet and on our lives," Senator Waters said. "The choice is there, really, for the government: do they want to do a proper job, or do they want to stick with with John Howard's laws from last century?" The Greens retained one lower house seat - Ryan, held by Elizabeth Watson-Brown - and 11 seats in the Senate, where they will hold the balance of power. The federal Greens won't resile from their stance on social issues such as Israel's attacks on Gaza, new federal leader Larissa Waters says, as environment groups urge a greater focus on protecting nature. Strong action on climate change and social justice policies will be priorities for the minor party as it enters a new phase following the shock defeat of Adam Bandt at the federal election. The former party leader was evicted from his lower house seat of Melbourne, alongside fellow MPs Stephen Bates and Max Chandler-Mather, after the Greens suffered a swing away from them in the inner cities. The party faced attacks from Labor, who criticised it of obstructing social housing legislation in the Senate, and the coalition, who accused the Greens of being a "Jew-hating, anti-Semitic party" for their criticism of Israel. Senator Waters, a former environmental lawyer, said she wanted the Greens to have a role in rewriting environmental protection laws, which the government has promised to do this term. The Greens' commitments to nature has buoyed environmental groups after they were accused of straying from their roots and getting distracted by other progressive causes. "We think this is a welcome sign that the Greens are getting back to core business, which is protection of climate and the environment," Australian Conservation Foundation climate and energy program manager Gavan McFadzean told AAP. "In terms of their campaigns and their public work, ... it would be good for them to have a stronger focus on climate and environment this term." But Senator Waters, who won the top job uncontested at a party room meeting on Thursday, said the Greens could "walk and chew gum at the same time", maintaining their focus on social and environmental challenges. "We certainly don't resile from our strong stance on social justice issues," she told ABC Radio on Friday. "We will always call out atrocities, and we will always work to make sure that people's daily needs are met and that we're looking after the planet." Anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal earlier in the week said some of Mr Bandt's comments about the Jewish community were anti-Semitic and the Greens' weakened result in the election showed the Australian public voted against extremism. Just because the Greens had been outspoken about the actions of the Israeli regime did not mean the party were anti-Semitic, Senator Waters said. "There is no anti-Semitism that is acceptable anywhere. Likewise, there's no Islamophobia that's acceptable anywhere," she said. "We want peace in that region, and we want kids and women and everyone in that region to have self-determination." Despite losing three out of their four lower house seats, a swing to Labor in the Senate means the Greens now hold the balance of power in the upper house. As a result, the government can decide to work with them exclusively to pass legislation. But the Greens still run the risk of being dealt out of contentious issues such as environmental protections if the government decides it has a better prospect of getting the laws passed with the support of the coalition. "We are very keen to be able to rewrite those laws and actually protect nature and take action on the climate crisis that's wreaking so much havoc on this beautiful planet and on our lives," Senator Waters said. "The choice is there, really, for the government: do they want to do a proper job, or do they want to stick with with John Howard's laws from last century?" The Greens retained one lower house seat - Ryan, held by Elizabeth Watson-Brown - and 11 seats in the Senate, where they will hold the balance of power.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana Moves to Take Back Public Universities for the Public
This past week, Indiana University announced that, due to newly enacted legislation making all Trustees of the University subject to appointment by the Governor of Indiana, they would cancel the upcoming alumni Trustee election. I was to be a candidate in that race. Perhaps counterintuitively, I support Governor Braun and this policy change, even though it means I won't get to run for Trustee. Hoosiers – by which I mean both Indiana taxpayers and people who care about IU – want the flagship academic institution in the State to be a place of deep learning, not shallow activism. They want it to be defined by the free exchange of ideas, not the heckler's veto. And they want it governed by responsible adults, not by the radical minority of ersatz Maoists who show up to faculty council meetings. Once the election was canceled, it took less than a day for one of my fellow former candidates, with the help of the ACLU, to file a lawsuit against Governor Mike Braun claiming that the recent changes are disallowed under the Indiana Constitution. The lawsuit should be immediately recognizable to Indiana basketball fans as whining to the refs (which we never do, of course). There is no argument – and the lawsuit doesn't even try to make one – that the Indiana Legislature doesn't have the authority to enact this change. This follows a drumbeat of opposition to IU President Pamela Whitten by campus progressives and radical faculty members. Last year, when students briefly tried to camp out in support of Hamas, Pres Whitten quickly moved to clarify University policies regarding public demonstrations and, when protesters broke the rules, she had the police clear the encampment. Her administration canceled an art exhibit by an antisemitic artist, suspended a faculty member for violating University rules in holding an anti-Israel event, and disregarded a faculty vote supporting graduate student worker efforts to unionize in violation of University policy. For this, the Bloomington Faculty Council passed a no confidence measure against her. The much touted no confidence vote passed with a whopping 93% of the vote. It's less impressive when you consider that only 30% of eligible faculty showed up to vote – the other 70% having better things to do than be screamed at by lunatics. Opponents of the Trustee election change believe that President Whitten orchestrated the legislative action to help her consolidate power at IU. Even if it is true that she was a driver behind the new policy, good for her! She's able to move the necessary levers to achieve a vision for IU where students are shaped rather than coddled and where liberty is ordered rather than anarchic. That's called being an effective CEO. You want Jew-hating anarchy? Go to Columbia. You can probably get it now. The primary accusation made by opponents of the policy change is that the Governor is attempting a partisan takeover of the Board of Trustees. That accusation is baseless and hypocritical. It's baseless because the Governor, who was sworn in in January, has no track record of trustee appointments for us to judge and because he already had the right to appoint a majority of the Board. He doesn't need to contrive a 'takeover.' It's hypocritical because the only people engaging in partisan politics are the opponents of the rule change who dislike Governor Braun and assume he's going to behave in the most cartoonishly villainous way imaginable. A secondary accusation made by opponents of the change is that a Board of Trustees entirely appointed by a single elected official is necessarily bad for the governance of the University. A number of other well-run major public universities – including in Oregon, Colorado, and Utah, not to mention THE Ohio State University – are run by boards 100% appointed by a governor. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni supports gubernatorial appointments. This is an entirely uncontroversial policy change unless you're worried someone might make you behave like you're at a school. Our old election system was hardly a model of democratic legitimacy. Last year, only about 2% of the 790,000 eligible alumni bothered to vote in the election for Trustee and the winner got some 3800 votes: that's about half of one percent of the total electorate. Clearly, alumni aren't clamoring for representation. I'm rooting for President Whitten and Governor Braun. Even if it means I don't get the chance to run for Trustee. Jonathan Greenberg is the CEO of an education advocacy non-profit who lives in Highland Park, Illinois. He is an Indiana native, a lifelong IU sports fan, and has two degrees from Indiana University.
