[View the story "The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on campus" on Storify ]The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on campus Accusations of both hate speech and censorship on University of California campuses. Storified by The Stream · Mon, Jan 07 2013 10:42:26
According to
Mondoweiss , there have been at least 25 "examples of the [University of California] administration intimidating and censoring students and faculty who speak in support of Palestinian rights" since 2009.
Mondoweiss
One notable incident has to do with the
Irvine 11 , a group of 11 students who openly protested against a speech by Israeli ambassador to the US Michael Oren at UC Irvine. The 11 students were later suspended, sentenced to community service hours and charged with two misdemeanors.
Israeli ambassador Michael Oren heckled at University of Californiakekeke01
Here, the event is discussed by those who supported the actions of the Irvine 11:
The Story of the Irvine 11standwiththeeleven
Here, the response of those opposed:
UC Irvine Jewish Students Break the Silenceucistudents
In an Al Jazeera opinion piece, Palestinian poet Remi Kanazi
describes a situation in which a Jewish student allegedly attempted to "shout (him) down".
Unlike the Irvine 11 case, there was no condemnation from UC Santa Cruz’s chancellor, no outraged post by UC President Yudof, no arrests, no suspensions, no investigations into the student who "trampled on the constitution" and "suppressed my free speech".Silencing pro-Palestinian speech on campus - Opinion - Al Jazeera English
Silencing pro-Palestinian speech on campus, @Remroum on #UC double standards: http://aje.me/MnKTGG #Palestine #Israel #FreeSpeech #BDSHuwaida Arraf
In 2010, Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which protects certain minority groups against discrimination, was
amended to include the phrase "harassment of members of religious groups based on shared ethnic characteristics".
This is a breakthrough. Until this announcement, OCR wouldn't enforce Title VI to protect Jewish students, leaving them without the same civil rights protections that have been afforded to other ethnic and racial groups since Title VI's enactment in 1964.College Inc. - A 'breakthrough' in fighting anti-Semitism on campus
Jewish community backs Title VI http://bit.ly/KGZVtqJerusalem Post News
UC-Berkeley Jewish Students File Civil Rights Complaint - http://jewishpress.com/jPd #jewish #israelThe Jewish Press
In the past, University of California (UC) school officials have been
accused by students of "tolerating 'the development of a dangerous anti-Semitic climate' on UC campuses and of failing to protect Jewish students".
One such Title VI complaint was
filed by UC Santa Cruz lecturer Tammi Rossman-Benjamin:
As a result of their experiences with such university-sponsored, anti-Semitic expression, Jewish students at my university have expressed feeling emotionally and intellectually harassed and intimidated by their professors, isolated from their fellow students and unfairly treated by administrators.Why I Filed Title VI Complaint – Forward.com
In July 2012, the UC Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture and Inclusion
released the “University of California Jewish Student Campus Climate Fact-Finding Team Report & Recommendations”.
Via report:
What came through in our discussions, however, was a sense from Jewish students and others of a double standard when it comes to the themes and language used by those protesting Israel and its policies. Specifically, Jewish students described the use of language and imagery which they believe would not be tolerated by faculty and administration, or would at least be denounced with more force, if similar themes and language were directed at other groups on campus.www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/documents/campus_climate_jewish.pdf
At the end of the report, the Council made several recommendations, such as prohibiting "hate speech" and adopting a definition of anti-Semitism. Many came out to oppose these recommendations, saying they would lead to limits on speech and solidarity with Palestinians:
Students and Critics Respond to Controversial UC Campus Climate Reportrbapierce
UC climate report authors omitted student testimony contradicting their goals. Results marginalize critics of Israel. http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/66225/u.c.-report-on-jewish-campus-climate-results-marginalize-misrepresent-stude/Rebecca A-P
A number of opponents have come out against the legislation's potential to stifle free speech - including leaders from the American-Jewish community
JCPA Wades Into Debate on Use of Civil Rights Law: Group Divided Over Invoking Title VI Around Anti-Israel Actions http://bit.ly/qAx4HgHafiz Rashid
A
petition is now being circulated by the UC Ad Hoc Committee on Jewish Campus Climate telling the University of California President "to disregard the sub-standard and biased report and the poorly considered recommendations that threaten to limit free speech."
ClimatePetitionAJstream
Around the same time, another climate report was also released regarding the campus environment of
Muslim and Arab students :
In August of 2012, the California State Assembly passed HR-35, a controversial resolution "
urging University of California officials to do more to fight anti-Semitism on university and college campuses".
Video of the resolution being passed with
no debate :
HR 35 Passes in the California State AssemblyRBAPierce
The resolution also suggests that the UC system adopt the European Union's
definition of anti-Semitism:
Working definition: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”Working definition of Antisemitism: English. European Forum on Antisemitism
The use of this particular definition has garnered significant criticism:
Unfortunately, this resolution makes no distinction between this tiny bigoted minority and the majority of activists who oppose the Israeli occupation and other policies of that country's right-wing government on legitimate human rights grounds.Stephen Zunes: California State Assembly Seeks to Stifle Debate on Israel
RT @aptly_engineerd: HR 35 unfairly targets Palestinian and Muslim students, labeling Palestinian solidarity as "hate speech" #StopHR35 ...SJPNational
the resolution encourages stronger university policies prohibiting anti-Semitic conduct on campus, but does so in a way that infringes upon student rights of free speech and peaceful political action.Two Steps Back: How HR 35 Fails to Protect California Students
Over the last decade, self-anointed guardians of academic freedom have attempted to upend it by insisting on balance in university courses or on limitations on the right of free speech by faculty members and students. The most recent attempt is House Resolution 35, which was passed in the Assembly in August. This "nonbinding" resolution urged California's state universities to combat anti-Semitism on campus. That sounds good, but as framed, it could have the effect of censoring views critical of Israeli policy.In Israel, an assault on academic freedom - Los Angeles Times
The University of California Student Association has begun circulating a
petition urging the UC system to protect students' freedom of speech.
UC Students Support UCSA's "Resolution Regarding HR 35" | FacebookFacebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to ke...
Can you do CA SJPs a huge favor and share this infosheet on HR 35? @Remroum @zoezeno @alexbkane @benabyad @ZahraBilloo http://pic.twitter.com/F2Ex9ND6Rebecca A-P
Hokooka AlEnsan hating the state does not mean hating the jewish people. as an israeli-jewish person, i support the ucsa's resolution. free speech on campus! free palestine!UC Students Support UCSA's "Resolution Regarding HR 35"
The Daily Bruin has quoted a UC spokesman, Steve Montiel, as saying that "because the resolution does not have actual policy implications, the UC’s stance on the measure will remain neutral"
The term "anti-Semitism" seems to be central to the debate:
Singling out Israel for an impossibly high standard not applied to any other country begs the question: why such different treatment?Emanuele Ottolenghi: Anti-Zionism is anti-semitism | World news | The Guardian
Others
stress the differentiation between "those with whom wemay disagree and those who hate us and wish our destruction".
Want to see real life anti-Semitism , circa 2012? Suggest Israel has the right to protect their families & land. Liberals come hollerin'.Brady Cremeens
Some
suggest the definition be completely disassociated from what can be viewed as criticism of Israeli policy:
Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip is no fantasy. Nor is the spread of Jewish settlements in these territories. Nor the unequal treatment of Jewish colonisers and Palestinian inhabitants. Nor the institutionalised discrimination against Israeli Arab citizens in various spheres of life. These are realities. It is one thing to oppose Israel or Zionism on the basis of an anti-semitic fantasy; quite another to do so on the basis of reality. The latter is not anti-semitism.Brian Klug: No, anti-Zionism is not anti-semitism | World news | The Guardian
