Here is a nice little success story coming out of UC Santa Barbara and sent to me by my friends at the Brandeis Center in Washington DC. The Center and the university have come to some sort of an agreement on handling anti-Semitic incidents on campus. In return, the Brandeis Center is dropping its Title VI complaint with the Dept. of Education, Office of Civil Rights.
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Contact: Genevieve Rozansky
202-509-0794
genevieve@30point.com
Washington, D.C. January 16, 2014 - The University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) has pledged to implement recommendations from The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (LDB), and in return LDB has agreed to withdraw its U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Title VI complaint asserting that the university had created a hostile environment for Jewish students.
"We are pleased with the university's response, and look forward to see it implemented so that all students - regardless of religious or ethnic identity - are protected from civil rights violations on campus," said LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus.
The university, represented by University of California Chancellor Henry Yang, committed to several specific steps, based on LDB recommendations: Hosting on-campus educational programming conducted by the Anti-Defamation League on anti-Semitic hate and bias; and adopting a neutral observer program for on-campus events, especially those that could stoke intense debate and conflict. UCSB also issued formal statements that explicitly condemned anti-Semitism on campus and restated the school's commitment to mutual respect, civility, tolerance, and decency.
Marcus said the resolution of the complaint was welcome, as LDB prefers to work with universities to avoid future incidents. "We were quite concerned with prior incidents at UCSB and the initial reactions of university staff with regard to the safety and welfare of Jewish students. However, after working with UCSB to address these infractions, we feel that the school is taking the necessary steps to provide a campus life that is safe and welcoming for not just Jewish students, but all students," said Marcus.
"I would like to thank and commend Chancellor Yang and UCSB's Counsel Nancy Hamill for their diligent attention to this issue," he added. "We hope that this serves as a model for other universities facing similar challenges."
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in federally funded programs, including public universities, on the basis of race, color or national origin. In its November 2013 filing with the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, LDB had cited several recent examples of blatant anti-Semitic behavior on the UCSB campus, and complained about the lack of response from university officials.
About the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law
LDB is an independent, unaffiliated, nonprofit corporation established to advance the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and promote justice for all. LDB combats the resurgence of anti-Semitism on college and university campus through research, educational programs, and advocacy.It is not affiliated with the Massachusetts University, the Kentucky law school, nor any of the other institutions that share the name and honor the memory of the late U.S. Supreme Court justice.
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Support
The Louis D. Brandeis Center carries out its work through generous contributions from community members who are concerned about the well-being of Jewish students and the Jewish community. Contributions to the Brandeis Center are tax-deductible under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and can be made securely online or through personal or foundation checks. |
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"The university, represented by University of California Chancellor Henry Yang, committed to several specific steps, based on LDB recommendations: Hosting on-campus educational programming conducted by the Anti-Defamation League on anti-Semitic hate and bias; and adopting a neutral observer program for on-campus events, especially those that could stoke intense debate and conflict. UCSB also issued formal statements that explicitly condemned anti-Semitism on campus and restated the school's commitment to mutual respect, civility, tolerance, and decency."
This I think is valuable. The students at large need to be educated about the problem specifically how these constant anti-Israel events on campus are stoking anti-Semitism. The problem is not just at UCSB or the UC system or just in the US and Canada. It is a worldwide problem and growing. I think it would be worthwhile for the school to bring in speakers, both students, faculty and others, who have seen the problems first-hand on various campuses, especially within the UC system. Whether they support Israel or not, I am convinced that 99% of the students would respond favorably if presented with the entire scope of the problem.
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