Scholars for Peace in the Middle East Welcome Clarification by the American Jewish Committee on Anti-Semitism on Campus Issue

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME) welcomes and applauds the disavowal by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) of an opinion piece entitled "Anti-Semitism on Campus," written by Kenneth Stern of the AJC and Cary Nelson of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), published last April by the AAUP (http://www.aaup.org/AAUP/about/pres/let/antisemitism.htm).   The piece deals with the October 2010 announcement by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) that Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, in federally funded programs, could be construed to prohibit discrimination against Jewish students. 

The authors of the opinion piece argued that:

While some of the recent allegations (such as charging pro-Israel Jewish students admission to a university event while allowing others to attend for free) might well raise a claim under Title VI, many others simply seek to silence anti-Israel discourse and speakers. This approach is not only unwarranted under Title VI, it is dangerous.

One problem with that criticism is that the term "anti-Israel discourse" blurs the distinction between criticism of a country's or government's behavior and criticism of the existence of that country.  Anti-Israel discourse does not mean criticism of Netanyahu's policies; it means demonization and delegitimization of Israel as a Jewish state, often extending to physical and verbal assault on pro-Israel or Jewish students. 

Another problem is the authors' implication that pro-Israel or Jewish individuals are more likely than others already protected by Title VI to abuse that protection.

The piece was also objectionable for its assertion that it is a "perversion" of the EUMC Working Definition of Anti-Semitism to use it "as some are doing in an attempt to censor what a professor, student, or speaker can say."  This statement is problematic for two reasons.  First, it insinuated that some of the pending campus anti-Semitism claims against federally funded institutions are intended to "censor" professors or students.  This is a serious allegation for which no substantiation was provided.  Second, the statement implied that the EUMC Working Definition should not be used as an enforcement tool to evaluate incidents which may be anti-Semitic.  In fact, that definition provides the best generally accepted international standard against which allegations of anti-Semitism may be assessed.

Cary Nelson is president of the AAUP.   Kenneth Stern is the AJC's specialist on anti-Semitism and extremism.  It was reasonable to expect that their opinions would carry weight in academic circles.  And indeed, in the few months since its publication, the Nelson-Stern piece has been used to obstruct efforts by faculty and students on campuses, the Jewish community, the civil rights community, and others to combat anti-Semitism in higher education.   Moreover, the piece has been construed, on anti-Semitic and anti-Israel blogs, newsletters and web sites, as an official AJC statement. 

Since its beginnings in 2002, SPME has striven to protect the rights of students and faculty on college and university campuses to be free from harassment and intimidation.  SPME therefore welcomed the extension of Title VI protection to Jews and Israelis on campuses.   When the Nelson-Stern piece appeared, Stan Dubinsky, SPME Vice President for External Affairs, initiated an email correspondence with Nelson at the AAUP and with Stern and others at the AJC about it.  In May, he and other SPME officers met directly with Ken Stern and other AJC officials to discuss it.  At that time we were told that the AJC was also concerned about the impact of the piece. 

SPME board member Tammi Benjamin and Professor Dubinsky continued to ask for clarification of the AJC's position.  David Harris, the AJC's executive director, and Steven Bayme, Director of the AJC's Contemporary Jewish Life Department, have now provided it.  We appreciate their support.

As our mission statement declares, "We believe that ethnic, national, and religious hatreds, including anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism, have no place in our institutions, disciplines and communities."  We therefore urge all colleges, universities, and other organizations concerned about academic freedom, intimidation-free campuses and civil and human rights to respond promptly and effectively to anti-Semitic and other hate and bias incidents on campuses.

With respect to institutions that fail to protect their students and faculty from discrimination, SPME endorses responsible and judicious enforcement of Title VI and VII of the United States' Civil Rights Act of 1964 and analogous statutory provisions in other nations, consistent with each jurisdiction's applicable laws relating to freedom of speech and academic freedom.

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SOURCE Scholars for Peace in the Middle East