Letter to the University of California, Los Angeles - Preventing Anti-Semitism on Campus

Letter

RE: Preventing Anti-Semitism at UCLA

I am sure that the University of California, Los Angeles wants to prevent anti-Semitism on campus. In addition, as a recipient of federal funds, you are required to prevent violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which requires you to protect students from bigotry based on "race, color, or national origin."

On October 26, 2010, responding to my strong suggestions and those of others, the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights issued a "dear colleague," which informed universities around the country that anti-Semitism qualifies within the term "race, color, or national origin," and accordingly students should be protected from anti-Semitism pursuant to Title VI.

It is important that UCLA enforces Title VI and prevents anti-Semitism, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because failure to do so could affect eligibility for federal funds. In order to make meaningful efforts to prevent anti-Semitism, you must adopt a definition of anti-Semitism. This is especially necessary because there are those who claim that the most vicious and hateful anti-Semitic remarks are mere criticisms of the policies of the Israeli government. There may also be others who claim that reasonable criticisms of the Israeli government should be regarded as anti-Semitism. Thus you need a definition of anti-Semitism which distinguishes between reasonable criticism of a government and its policies on the one hand, and bigoted invective aimed at Jews and Israeli-Americans on the other hand.

To date, the U.S. Department of Education has not authored a thorough definition of anti-Semitism. However, the U.S. Department of State has promulgated such a definition relatively recently. Since both the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education are executive agencies of the federal government, there is every reason to believe that the U.S. Department of State definition provides reasonable guidance to those seeking to comply with Title VI. In fact, it would be hypocritical for the U.S. government to apply weaker standards against anti-Semitism domestically than it demands of other countries.

I urge you, as the Chancellor, to adopt a definition of anti-Semitism based upon the U.S. Department of State definition.

On many California campuses, Jewish students have faced bigotry, slurs, and a hostile environment. It is up to the University to enforce policies against anti-Semitism, and this can be done effectively only by adopting a reasonable definition of anti-Semitism. The U.S. Department of State definition is the only definition issued by the United States government, and your adoption of it would constitute the best practice in complying with Title VI.

Very truly yours,

Brad Sherman
Member of Congress

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