The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles has been following the story of Rose Ritch, a pro-Israel Jewish student who has resigned as vice president of the student government. The reason? She was under attack for being Jewish and a supporter of Israel. In addition, she was accused of not speaking out over a racial controversy that involved the former president of the student government. That led to demands for her resignation. After a months-long ordeal, Ritch resigned.
https://jewishjournal.com/los_angeles/320022/usc-president-calls-student-vp-resignation-letter-heartbreaking-says-anti-semitism-has-no-place-at-the-university/
Here is how the Daily Trojan reported Ritch's resignation.
As usual, the administration of USC is late to the party. The president of the university, Carol Folt, has belatedly engaged in hand-wringing over Ritch's plight and decries anti-Semitism. The fact that it was pro-Palestinian pressure that led to Ritch's resignation is not mentioned. President Folt should have intervened as soon as the problem reared its ugly head and stated in no uncertain terms that Ritch should not resign and had her support.
Folt correctly addresses the rise in campus anti-Semitism and even includes anti-Zionism in her letter to the campus community. That is good, but it doesn't go far enough. The perps are not even identified, which is par for the course. That would mean identifying the pro-Palestinian lobby, particularly, the toxic Students for Justice in Palestine.
What has happened at USC is typical of what is happening to Jewish students all over the country. It has to stop. There have been too many examples-including at cross-town UCLA- of Jewish students being kept off student governments. Administrations need to let it be known that anti-Semitism, like other forms of bigotry, will not be tolerated. In addition, students who are sympathetic to Israel are just as welcome as anyone else on campus. And if that doesn't suit certain other students, they can find another place to study. Hand wringing after the fact is not enough.
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