Stand Up For Students
7 May 2024
I support the following petition from Hillel International balancing students’ First Amendment rights with their right to be free from threats and assault and the rights of universities to carry out their functions.
Many recent protests are more anti-Israel than pro-Palestinian and are harming any legitimate Palestinian cause more than they are helping Palestinians.
I urge you to read and sign this petition if you agree:
Free speech and the respectful exchange of ideas in the classroom and in peaceful public protests are fundamental to a college education. What is happening on too many college and university campuses today is not that.
We are seeing threats, intimidation and even assaults targeting Jewish students — calls to eliminate the home of half of the world’s Jewish population, to wage a violent “intifada” against Jews, and to revisit the horrors of October 7 “10,000 times over”. As the White House said this week, antisemitism on our campuses must not be tolerated — by Jews, by Americans, and by anyone who values the ideals that make our nation so exceptional, welcoming, and diverse.
These protests are also disrupting the basic functioning of these universities, depriving students of the ability to attend classes, prepare for finals and otherwise gain access to critical areas on campus. And, as we look ahead to the graduation ceremonies scheduled to take place over the next three weeks, students and parents — from all backgrounds — worry that this cherished milestone will be ruined.
It’s time for all college administrators to step up and take action. We, the undersigned, call on university presidents and administrators to:
Enforce your rules and campus codes of conduct to actively prevent threats, violence, and vandalism. Take the necessary steps to prevent or end unlawful building occupations and encampments.
Stop harassment, intimidation, and threats directed at Jewish and Israeli students. No student should EVER feel targeted on their own campus because of who they are or what they believe.
Hold classes as scheduled, in their classrooms, and prevent faculty from canceling classes or moving them to encampments. The primary purpose of colleges and universities is for teaching and learning. No student should have to sacrifice their education because of the demands of protestors.
Prepare for graduation and commencement ceremonies so that these milestone lifecycle events are not canceled or disrupted.
Invest in a healthier campus environment that prioritizes, holds space for, and builds students’ skills to have difficult conversations and be in conversation across different views and identities.
Powered by Hillel International.
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