Today, many Jewish students have experienced or witnessed bullying, intimidation, and even hate crimes spawned by classic Jew-hatred or by campaigns to demonize and erase thestate of Israel. Many campuses, including those in the University of California system, have failed to provide an open and safe environment students who proudly and outwardlydisplay their pride in being Jewish and voice their love for Israel.
At an upcoming meeting of University of California Regents, the Board will soon vote whether or not to accept the United States State Department's official definition ofanti-Semitism.
UC President Janet Napolitano has already made an important decision that would help administrators, students, and other members of the community to better understand and opposeanti-Semitism: She has expressed her personal support for the
U.S. State Department’sdefinition of anti-Semitism which includes “using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis” or “drawingcomparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.”
Recently, the California State Assembly’s Higher Education Committee’s voted to adopt the State Department definition of Anti-Semitism that includes extremist rhetoric comparingIsrael to Nazi Germany and it called on University of California campuses to adopt resolutions condemning all forms of anti-Semitism. Last month the California Senateunanimously passed the resolution.
Without infringing on free speech rights under the First Amendment, the Regents can and should exercise their own right to accept a definition of anti-Semitism that meets thechallenge of our
times.
