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4:27 PM
Reut R. Cohen
The new UC Irvine Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky in an interview with the OC Register says that he's "never seen the slightest evidence of antisemitism on campus":
Q. Some Jewish people have described UCI as "the most anti-Semitic campus in America." You are Jewish. What do you think about that?
A. This is something I looked at very closely. I think it's a misapprehension. There was a letter written by students at several Jewish organizations on campus talking about the wonderful Jewish student life here. As a Jew, I have never seen the slightest evidence of anti-Semitism on campus.
There have been some speeches on campus against Israel that crossed over into anti-Semitic speech. But a university has to be a forum for all ideas, even if we don't agree with them.
What is particularly interesting about the Q/A is that the new dean says "some speeches...crossed over into anti-Semitic speech." And yet he has "never seen the slightest evidence of anti-Semitism on campus"? That's quite a contradiction.
Chemerinksy mentions that five students talked about how great Jewish life was on campus in a Hillel press release. In this letter the students said they felt Jewish life was thriving, but they themselves acknowledged that blatant antisemitism still exists at UCI. Perhaps Chemerinksy is unaware or didn't care enough to read a letter in response that was written and signed by 20 students who are deeply troubled by the anti-Semitism and Israel bashing on campus, and the inaction on the part of administrators.
When administrators and faculty at UCI are asked about antisemitism, they should just start telling the truth. Yes, there is pervasive antisemitism on campus. Administrators should acknowledge that they don't care if members of the Muslim Student Union (MSU) harass Jews/Israelis and their supporters. And the administration should be upfront about that fact that they will not do anything about it.
2 comments. Leave a comment:
First of all, Chemerinsky has not been at UCI until now. I have been at uci for 10 years while Erwin was at Loyola and Duke.
I have been listening to this guys views on the radio for years. He is a liberal, so I suspect that colors his views on this issue as well.
gary fouse
adj teacher
uci-ext
Chemerinsky, like most administrators and faculty, are empty suits. All these people do is echo each other's sentiments, but fail to get anything productive done.
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