Latest news with #StandWithUs
Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Spread of antisemitism at UK universities is out of control
The insidious spread of anti-Jewish racism at our supposedly world-renowned universities has spiralled out of control since Hamas's October 7 atrocities. That it has become normalised and a source of social capital for some students brings shame upon our country. The student testimonies in StandWithUs UK's devastating new report offer a bleak insight into the experiences of Jewish students at the hands of their peers and even university staff, simply because of their faith of birth. The message they hear loud and clear — campuses should be a Jew-free space. Activists think they're being clever by rebranding their efforts as 'anti-Zionism' and not — honest, sir — antisemitism. We must be unequivocal: so-called anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Proponents of this regressive ideology must ask themselves why
Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Times
Abuse of Jewish students ‘out of control' at UK universities
Rising antisemitism at British universities has led to calls for a public inquiry as research highlights widespread abuse of Jewish students on campuses. Students describe being verbally abused and facing violent threats across the UK, and university officials are accused of failing to take action. One student at a leading British university watched a swastika being carved into a desk but after complaining to officials was told it was probably an 'ancient Hindu symbol'. A swastika was carved into a desk at King's College London An 'unprecedented volume' of accounts of abuse has been received by StandWithUs UK, an educational charity that supports Israel. Baroness Deech, the first independent adjudicator for higher education and a former principal at St Anne's College, Oxford, said the report 'offers a chilling insight into the high levels of discrimination and
Los Angeles Times
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Our CampUs United Launches Online Community to Combat Antisemitism on College Campuses
Amid the growing challenges Jewish students face on college campuses, two advocates – 23-year-old founder Yasmeen Ohebsion in partnership with human rights activist and business leader Mandana Dayani – have launched Los Angeles-based Our CampUs United, an innovative online platform designed to empower Jewish students with the knowledge, resources and tools necessary to take action against antisemitism, build community through joy and lead meaningful change on their campuses. Built for students, by students, Our CampUs United – an affiliate of the nonprofit organization StandWithUs – serves as a central hub for resource pages with step-by-step strategies, email templates and scenario-based guides to help students effectively navigate and overcome antisemitic incidents and infringements of their rights. The platform is the result of learning from actual student experiences and student recommendations for support they were severely lacking – ensuring its solutions are tailored to the real challenges students face every day. Our CampUs United brings together the next generation of leaders. Among its founding members are: Alyssa Wallack (USC), Amanda Silberstein (Cornell), Balzhana Lavine (Tulane), Ben Sherman (UT Austin), Eden Yadegar (Columbia), Einav Tsach (Maryland), Jasmine Beroukhim (UCLA), Noa Fey (Columbia), Shabbos Kestenbaum (Harvard) and Talia Khan (MIT). 'As a college student, I struggled to find the resources to stand up against antisemitism, and I knew I wasn't alone,' said Ohebsion. 'Every student should have free, accessible resources so they can go to class without fear or threat. That's why we created this platform – to ensure every Jewish student has the tools, knowledge and support they need at their fingertips. Powered by StandWithUs, we are building a world where Jewish students feel confident, connected and proud. Our Campus United has students' backs – because being Jewish isn't just about fighting rising hate, it's about building community, celebrating who we are and having fun while doing it.' The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has reported over 1,400 antisemitic incidents on college campuses, which is an all-time high. With antisemitism on the rise, students need real solutions. This initiative prioritizes education, empowerment and strategic advocacy, putting the power back in the hands of Jewish students nationwide. 'At a time when Jewish students are facing exclusionary practices, targeted violence and coordinated attacks, Our Campus United is stepping up to create a powerful, supportive community where students can access critical resources to combat hate and create opportunities to share the joy, love and compassion that are the foundation of Judaism,' said Dayani. With its launch, Our CampUs United is calling on Jewish students and allies to join the movement – to share their experiences, use the tools available and build a stronger, united front against antisemitism.
Los Angeles Times
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Santa Ana Unified reaches settlement with Jewish groups over ethnic studies
Three contentious ethnic studies classes will be shelved from instruction as part of a legal settlement reached between a coalition of Jewish groups and the Santa Ana Unified School District. The terms of the Feb. 19 agreement, which is set to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that secrecy and antisemitism defined the district's ethnic studies rollout, also requires that any future instruction on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict be taught in line with its own 'controversial issues' policies. 'We're very pleased with the settlement,' said Marci Miller, Brandeis Center's director of legal investigations. 'We believe it sends the right message that ethnic studies can be a vehicle for bringing antisemitism into a classroom. We're watching other districts and states closely, and we're hoping that they're watching as well.' The district first faced litigation in September 2023 over its ethnic studies curriculum. At that time, Jewish groups like the Brandeis Center, StandWithUs and the Anti-Defamation League alleged that the district's board of trustees approved ethnic studies course outlines and materials on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that were blatantly antisemitic. Court documents filed in support of the suit last year further alleged that a Santa Ana Ethnic Studies Steering Committee secretively met in violation of the state's open meeting laws and became a platform for antisemitism itself. Documents obtained from the district appeared to show a committee meeting's agenda item on ethnic studies in relation to the 'Jewish Question.' Text messages between senior district officials also discussed the merits of holding votes on ethnic studies courses on Jewish holidays like Passover to avoid protest from the public. According to a district spokesman, the school board still has to give the agreement final approval. 'At no time has the District supported the teaching of instructional content to students that reflects adversely on any group on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, or national origin as alleged in the lawsuit,' said Supt. Jerry Almendarez in a statement. 'The settlement of this lawsuit affirms that principle and resolves any misunderstanding that may have occurred.' As part of the agreement, if the district decides to bring Ethnic Studies World Histories, Ethnic Studies World Geography and Ethnic Studies: Perspectives, Identities and Social Justice, back to the board for approval, it has agreed to publish course outline drafts online at least a week before holding a public meeting. Groups like the ADL, Jewish Federation of Orange County and Southern Californians for Unbiased Education are to be invited to meetings for input. 'Through the settlement, we're bringing the process into compliance with the Brown Act and also with ethnic studies laws and California law in general,' Miller said. 'When created in the dark, without public input, we saw some pretty heinously antisemitic materials brought into the classes.' The district admits to no Brown Act violation in the settlement agreement. Local Arab American groups packed school board meetings in 2023 to call on the district to keep the lessons. Pro-Palestinian activists saw them as a rare, critical lens on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the classroom. Rashad Al-Dabbagh, executive director of the Arab American Civic Council, called the settlement 'deeply troubling,' especially in a city where Palestinian American activist Alex Odeh was slain in an unsolved office bombing nearly 40 years ago. 'By stopping these ethnic studies courses from being taught, the district is denying students the opportunity to learn about a historically vilified and marginalized people — one that is actively facing genocide in Gaza,' he said. 'Our schools should foster critical thinking, not censorship.' Shira Klein, chair of history at Chapman University and an antisemitism expert, independently reviewed two of the classes in question and didn't find them to be antisemitic. The scholar described the settlement as part of a 'lawfare' strategy. 'This is what the Brandeis Center and groups like it do: They file lawsuits and complaints against individuals and institutions that criticize Israel, all in the name of protecting Jews,' she said. 'This doesn't make Jews safer, though. It silences everyone who wants to speak honestly about Israel, including many, many Jews.' The trio of ethnic studies courses are all to be discontinued at the end of this school year. Ethnic Studies World Geography was already on hold during litigation. Ethnic Studies World Histories and Ethnic Studies Honors: Perspectives, Identities and Social Justice will be allowed to finish the current semester but content Jewish groups found objectionable, including passages from Michael Mann's book 'The Dark Side of Democracy: Explaining Ethnic Cleansing' and a glossary of terms from the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Coalition will be stripped from instruction. Future lessons on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, whether in ethnic studies or other classes, are to adhere to the district's 'controversial issues' policies, which expects that teachers should 'ensure that all sides of a controversial issue are impartially presented.' Course materials stating or implying that Jewish people don't have a right to self-determination or subject Israel to a double-standard of criticism cannot be presented outside of the policy. 'It's vital that the conflict be taught but it is vital that it be taught correctly,' said James Pasch, the ADL's senior director for national litigation. The district also agreed to sever a $92,000 contract unanimously approved last August with the Xicanx Institute for Teaching and Organizing, which provided professional development for ethnic studies teachers throughout the district. Plaintiffs in the suit objected to a Xito consultant's political opinions on social media, including a post that wondered aloud how anyone could 'support the settler colonial state of Israel?' In another stipulation, the district admits that the Santa Ana Ethnic Studies Steering Committee no longer exists and won't be reformed. It will pay $42,000 to the Brandeis Center's attorneys for out-of-pocket costs in settling the suit. For Pasch, the legal fight underscores the value of the Brown Act, the state's opening meeting law, in objecting to course content the ADL finds to be antisemitic. 'This settlement doesn't just have ramifications within Santa Ana, or even just within the state of California,' he said. There's open meeting laws from coast to coast.'
