SWC: Supporting Jewish Students on Campus

 

The following was submitted today by the Simon Wiesenthal Center. 

Last month, a newly released study by Brandeis University highlighted the rise of anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses - much of it spurred by the virulent anti-Israel and anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Of the 50 campuses surveyed, students reported that a hostile environment towards Israel existed; others felt there was also hostility toward Jews.

That is why the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Campus Outreach department stands up for Jewish students on campus and is committed to creating a safe environment for them.

We are fighting back against this growing anti-Semitism by:

Supporting Jewish students and demanding of university officials that anti-Jewish attackers be held accountable---from Wellesley College in Massachusetts, to UCLA and San Francisco State University in California to Binghamton University in New York and the University of Arizona.

Launching and participating in Combat Hate conferences where SWC experts, together with other professionals in the field, help students learn how to promote dialogue with others and build effective coalitions against the haters.

Building strategic partnerships with other campus organizations including the AMCHA Initiative, Hillel, and AEPi to be more effective in demanding action from reluctant University officials.

Assigning Campus Outreach Director Aron Hier to meet with student, community activists and educators to forge effective strategies that will make a difference in real-time.

Customizing Campus Outreach’s unique iAct Civic Engagement workshop for different audiences who are struggling with intimidating campus climate and overt anti-Semitism.

Letting our students know on campuses, big and small, that they are not alone: They can report anti-Israel hate crimes and incidents in real time through the SWC’s CombatHateU free app which has been endorsed by the Jewish fraternity, AEPi, as well as Hillel.

Exhibiting the SWC’s traveling exhibit, People, Book, Land-The 3,500 Year Relationship of the Jewish People to the Holy Land on college and university campuses where anti-Israel and pro-BDS activities are most prominent and problematic.