U. of California code must address anti-Semitism -- Jewish groups

Proposed tolerance statement criticized for being too general in light of recent anti-Semitic incidents

The University of California Board of Regents will review a new statement of “principles against intolerance,” despite calls from the campus Jewish community that want a more specific focus on anti-Semitism.

The proposed statement of principles that the board is set to discuss at its September 17 meeting at the University of California (UC) Irvine campus condemns bias, violence, threats and hate speech based on race, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, sex or sexual orientation, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The proposed statement also says that: “everyone in the university community has the right to study, teach, conduct research and work free from acts and expressions of intolerance” and that lectures, scholarship and political expression are protected by “academic freedom or free-speech principles.”

A formal vote on the proposed statement is likely months away and the statement could change before then.

The proposed statement does not officially single out or define anti-Semitism. The regents thought it would be better to address intolerance “over a broader spectrum,” UC spokesman Steve Montiel told the Times.

Jewish and pro-Israel groups, as well as alumni, have called on UC President Janet Napolitano and the Board of Regents to formally adopt the State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism in order to properly identify anti-Semitic expression on campus.

The definition includes more general ethnic and religious hatred against Jews as well as demonizing Israel, and denying Israel’s right to exist.

One of the two swastikas spray painted outside a Jewish fraternity at the University of California, Davis on January 31, 2015. One was spray painted on their back wall and the other on their steps. (Screen capture: Sacramento Bee)

Organizations critical of Israel say that such a definition would limit free speech and conflates criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.

The California State Assembly in July unanimously approved a resolution calling on UC campuses to condemn all forms of anti-Semitism.

Recent incidents at UC schools include swastikas drawn on a Jewish fraternity house at the Davis campus and the questioning of a candidate for student judiciary board about her Jewishness and Jewish affiliations at UCLA.

The UC is a public university system that includes 10 campuses throughout the state.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.