US Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights issues report on UCI's response to anti-Semitism

I will comment later once I have time to read through everything.

The 11-page report, as published by the OC Register

Full article: (Link)

Civil rights investigation clears UCI
Agency says lack of evidence in allegations by Jewish students.
by MARLA FISHER
The Orange County Register

IRVINE – A federal civil rights investigation into allegations of anti-Semitism at UC Irvine found “insufficient evidence” that the university failed to respond appropriately to complaints by Jewish students, according to a reportreleased this afternoon.

Investigators with the department’s Office for Civil Rights visited the campus 11 times since 2006 to monitor demonstrations and interview students and staff. They failed to substantiate complaints that campus officials had ignored or downplayed anti-Semitic behavior, according to the Nov. 30 report released today.

UCI has earned a national reputation, spread largely by bloggers and pro-Zionist organizations, of being, in one organization’s words, “the most notoriously anti-Semitic campus” in America.

That appellation has been vehemently denied by campus officials, who say tensions between Jewish and Muslim students on their campus are about the same as at similar schools.

Earlier this year, the University of California released a report showing that 85 percent of UCI students said they believed there was respect for all students regardless of race or religion on campus. That is about the same percentage as other UC campuses around the state.

The Department of Education investigation was launched in 2004, after complaints filed on behalf of students by the Zionist Organization of America, a pro-Israeli organization with chapters in a dozen cities, including Los Angeles.

Some Jewish students complained about harassment, including reports of swastikas on campus and destruction of a Holocaust memorial display.

Muslim students have similarly complained about problems, including a fire that destroyed a mock depiction of the Palestine wall.

Jeffrey Rips, executive director of the Hillel Foundation of Orange County, which operates a Jewish student union at UCI, said he had not had a chance to review the report yet today, which is the last day of Hanukkah.

“I’m glad they finally came out with a report,” Rips said. “One way or another, it can give direction to the campus.”

The Los Angeles office of the Zionist Organization of America referred callers this afternoon to the East Coast office, which had closed for the day.

In its report, the civil rights office said that none of the 13 allegations could be substantiated. Some could not be acted upon because they were too old. The agency requires that complaints be filed within 180 days unless they show a pattern of discrimination.

According to the report, the agency found that several years-old complaints, including one of a rock thrown at a Jewish student and destruction of a Holocaust memorial in 2003, did not contribute to a hostile environment on campus because they “constitute isolated acts that were unrelated to the timely alleged acts.”

In other cases, investigators found that university officials acted appropriately, or that the complaint could not be conclusively identified as anti-Semitic.

For example, a swastika found in a bathroom in the Social Ecology building could not be considered anti-Semitic because it was accompanied by a vulgar phrase toward Asians.

In another reported incident, where a Jewish student’s flag of Israel displayed on the door of her dorm room was defaced with a swastika, the agency found that the university “responded promptly and effectively.”

“When OCR (Office of Civil Rights) investigated the timely allegations that suggested a possible hostile environment based on national origin, OCR found, in all instances, that the University took prompt and effective action to address the incidents,” according to the report.

While acknowledging that speeches, articles, marches, symbols and other events sponsored by the Muslim Student Union were “offensive to Jewish students,” they determined that they were not based on their national origin, but “rather based on opposition to the policies of Israel.”

In the case of inflammatory campus speakers, investigators found that most speakers “distinguished opposition to Zionism from opposition to Jews.”

The report also states there is “no evidence that the University implemented a systematic discriminatory policy.”

UCI Chancellor Michael Drake issued a statement saying that campus officials are “very gratified with the outcome and closure of this matter.”

“We are firmly committed to freedom of speech and open discourse, which are central to our missions of teaching, research and public service, and equally committed to maintaining a safe, non-threatening environment for all members of our campus community,” Drake said in his statement.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, who has been critical of UCI in the past, said he wasn’t surprised that many of the older complaints were not substantiated.

“This is a classic case of distant bureaucracy in action,” DeVore said.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7994 or mfisher@ocregister.com

Chancellor Drake's Expressed Chosen Ignorance - May 31 2007

Orange County Register: UCI falls short on a test of leadership

LA Times: Harsh speech called free speech at UC Irvine

Commentary from the Concerned UCI Student on the event - includes links to a full audio recording of the event

Daily Pilot: Voices from UCI

OC Register: UCI deals with claims of anti-Semitism

Posted March 10, 2008

Here's an interesting quote from Mark LeVine, UCI tenured History Department Professor of the Modern Middle East, from the article below:

UCI Professor Mark LeVine...said he tried to mediate between the two student groups, but gave the task up as hopeless.

"The only thing that would satisfy the critics now would be if they expelled every Muslim student and painted stars of David on all the buildings,"

More interesting quotes from this article to come.

Link to Article

June 10, 2007
UCI deals with claims of anti-Semitism

Officials say blogs and outside groups make divide between Jewish and Muslim students seem wider than it is.
By MARLA JO FISHER
The Orange County Register

IRVINE – A young man in a turban, his face covered, marches around UC Irvine with signs saying "Death to Infidels. Death to Israel" during a week of campus demonstrations by Muslim students.

Here's the catch: He's not Muslim. In fact, he's not even a student at UCI.

Instead, he's one of many outsiders who have become embroiled in a campus war of words between a small number of Jewish and Muslim students.

Was he aware that passers-by might actually think he was a terrorist?

"Of course," said Max Gibson, 27, a self-proclaimed Zionist who lives in San Diego and is affiliated with a college Republican group. "It was to make people think."

Gibson's masquerade, authentic enough to spur campus police to disarm him of fake bombs strapped to his body, is an example of how real events at UC Irvine have spun off into their own sometimes fictional existence, spawning street theater and reverberating worldwide on dozens of blogs.

Events at UC Irvine are no different than at many other schools. A recent University of California study found 85 percent of UCI students agreed there was respect for all students, regardless of race or religion – roughly the same percentage as at other UC campuses.

Yet UCI has achieved a blog-inspired reputation for anti-Semitism – a notoriety that many campus observers say is unfair and unwarranted.

"A lot of the blogs distort facts and take things out of context," said Alex Chazen, president of Hillel: The Jewish Student Union at UC Irvine. "Many of the bloggers aren't on our campus and don't even know what's going on."

One of the most ardent bloggers and complainants about campus anti-Semitism, according to Dean of Students Sally Peterson, has not only already graduated from UCI but applied to and attended graduate school here.

UCI officials say they spend hundreds of hours each month trying to answer allegations that the they ignore anti-Semitic activities on campus.

Chancellor Michael Drake has met with religious leaders and spoken at synagogues and mosques trying to convince attendees that that the university should maintain a policy of free speech toward all campus groups.

Student discord over Israeli policies

The main source of discord among students is over the state of Israel's policies toward Palestinians in contested territories.

Like other campus groups around the country, the Muslim Student Union regularly invites inflammatory speakers who decry Israeli policies and go so far as to say that the state of Israel should not exist. The speakers use words deliberately designed to provoke strong reactions, like calling Israelis "the new Nazis."

Jewish students have also invited controversial speakers, one of whom said that "Palestinians must have their will crushed."

While these controversial speakers make the national circuits of college campuses – one recently spoke at Long Beach State with little fanfare – at UCI they seem to attract particular attention, particularly during the annual week when the Muslim students have a demonstration that includes construction of a mock "Palestine wall."

Jewish students also hold their own pro-Israel week on campus each year, as well as passing out flyers from their own booth during the Muslim events.

During Muslim student demonstrations, Chazen said the campus is an uncomfortable place for Jewish students. "The events put on by the MSU are definitely anti-Semitic," Chazen said.

The rest of the year, he said, "It's just like anywhere else."

Drake, who is scheduled to give the keynote speech June 28 at the American Jewish Committee's National Human Relations Award Dinner, has been criticized for resisting calls from Jewish leaders to repudiate specific speeches or speakers.

Drake said that, while he personally abhors "hate speech," he believes in the principles of academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas. He also pointed out that the most controversial speakers are invited by student clubs, not the university, and officials are prevented by law from banning such events.

Faculty members involved in the issue say students should be able to hear all sides of an issue, even if its one they find disturbing.

"We prepare students here to be adults," said Professor Scott Bollens, who is involved in the university's "Difficult Dialogues" project to promote harmony. "If we shut off debate, we treat them like little kids who can't be trusted with disagreements. That would just make them passive and mute pawns."

Chazen said the blogs have stirred up support for Jewish students on campus, but also annoy him when he goes home to visit his family.

"I get asked, 'Is UCI really a terrorist training ground?'" Chazen said, groaning. "That kind of thing doesn't do much good for us. I wish it was interesting to read about all the good Jewish students are doing, unfortunately it's more interesting to read about poor little Jewish students getting beat up by Muslim kids."

Media consultant Rod Mitchell, who lives in Houston, Texas, sent out a press release recently with the headline, "Why is there so much anti-Semitism on the UC Irvine campus?"

Mitchell's press release, promoting a pro-Israel event, claimed that UCI's Muslim Student Union "spews terror and hatred, preaching a Jihad against all Jews."

When contacted, Mitchell said he had no firsthand knowledge about "terror and hatred" at the Irvine campus.

"I'm just reading the information on the student blogs they're sending us," Mitchell said.

To keep tabs on the issue, UCI's Free Speech and Advocacy Team sends between five and 10 administrators to monitor every potentially controversial event. While the university doesn't legally have the right to control speakers, the team can and does intervene to keep the peace or halt disruptions by other groups.

Team members escorted a rabbi from Long Beach away from a Muslim speaking event last month.

When Muslim students disrupted a speech by an inflammatory anti-Muslim speaker earlier this year, shouting "Anti-Israel, anti-Hate," they quickly moved outside to avoid being forced to leave by campus officials.

Pro-Israeli blogs later described the peaceful incident, which lasted about 90 seconds, as being staged by "Islamist thugs" and "budding terrorists."

Members of the Muslim Student Union say they don't preach hatred against Jews, but they do criticize Israeli policies toward Palestine.

Club spokeswoman Marya Bangee acknowledged that her group has invited provocative speakers but that members are not personally anti-Semitic.

"People see Israel as part of their religious identity and say, 'They are attacking our religion instead of having a political debate,' " Bangee said. "But the way the Zionists on campus treat people speaking out against Israel is way worse. A woman once shouted out that Islam is an evil religion. Without a doubt we never said anything like that."

'American Idol: Jihad Edition'

Rabbi Yonah Bookstein, a Long Beach resident who's affiliated with the Hillel at California State University Long Beach, recently reported on his blog that "the frenzy of hate and pro-Jihad sentiment runs so high, it overflows into full-scale intimidation, harassment and even assault" at UCI.

Bookstein didn't appear frightened when he cheerfully invited a reporter to "watch our street theater" a few minutes before he staged the "American Idol: Jihad Edition," a counter-demonstration that disrupted a Muslim speaking event last month. The event later appeared on YouTube.com.

On another day, Bookstein came to a Muslim speaking event and passed out fliers dressed as a clown.

In an interview, Rabbi Yonah, as he's known, said Jewish students on campus "are in great need of help and support."

"I've gotten supportive mails from around the world," Bookstein said. "I am a constant voice to point out injustice and hatemongering."

The issue has become heated enough for the campus New University newspaper to publish an editorial in March entitled "UCI Anti-Semitism Distorted" and for the faculty senate to hold a rally to demonstrate campus tolerance.

"It also becomes apparent from the average age of attendees that the target audience of such speeches is not the average UCI student … but a strange smattering of Orange County residents that have nothing better to do than to see their conflicts played out through students," the editorial in New University read.

'At our paper, we've been called both anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim'

UCI student Ben Ritter, the paper's editor, said he didn't think UCI was any more anti-Semitic than anywhere else.

"People who are very devout Muslim or Jewish both tend to perceive they are being persecuted by the other side, but most people just ignore it," Ritter said. "I just got a letter to the editor that seemed to be saying more needs to be done about the prevalent anti-Muslim feelings on campus. At our paper, we've been called both anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim."

Even legislators have been drawn into the debate.

Assemblyman Chuck Devore, R-Irvine, said in May he was approached by "a few students at UCI who feel the environment of fear and hatred is growing out of control on that campus."

Devore said that leaders with the Jewish Anti-Defamation League told him "UCI has the dubious distinction of being in the top handful of campuses in America for anti-Semitism."

The assemblyman said students asked him to look into "two former students at UCI who are Jewish who claim they left UCI because of the atmosphere that fosters hate."

UCI officials say that no students have left the campus due to anti-Semitism.

"I think I would know about that," said Peterson, whose office reviews and investigates every harassment complaint.

Peterson said the controversy has been kept alive by a handful of students on either side of the issue – and that she gets complaints about unfair treatment from both sides.

"In my opinion, there are maybe five people trying to control and orchestrate this whole thing," Peterson said.

UCI Professor Mark LeVine, a Middle East scholar who once wanted to become a rabbi, said he tried to mediate between the two student groups, but gave the task up as hopeless.

"The only thing that would satisfy the critics now would be if they expelled every Muslim student and painted stars of David on all the buildings," said LeVine, whose criticism of Israeli policies has caused some critics to dub him as a "self-hating Jew."

Outside groups get involved

Jewish students are also supported and encouraged by outside advocacy groups such as the Zionist Organization of America and Stand With Us, "an international education organization that ensures that Israel's side of the story is told," according to its Web site.

On a typical day during the Muslim students' protest week, paid staff members from several advocacy organizations visit the campus to observe the events.

"It's not just student groups initiating things, but students responding to outside groups," Bollens said. "That's why there's energy on this conflict. I think, left to their own accord, left to be students in a university interacting in their own classes or public forums without outside groups, they would over time agree to disagree, or be more moderate and civil about things."

Bollens, whose academic expertise is studying polarized religious groups around the world, said "UCI is not an anti-Semitic place" and added that he thinks community groups should be welcome on campus, along with everyone else.

Sometimes, officials said, the stories of anti-Semitism are simply fiction.

A young man reported to his father in 2004 that he was being harassed and assaulted for being a Jewish UCI student, leading the infuriated dad to e-mail campus authorities and castigate them for doing nothing.

"My son has been assaulted both physically and verbally on campus," the father wrote in an e-mail, adding that "it appears campus security takes no action."

On further investigation, concerned UCI officials had to report to the boy's father that he wasn't a harassed student, in fact, he wasn't a UCI student at all. He was not then, nor had he ever been, enrolled at UCI. Campus officials were surprised, however, to learn that the young man has now applied to enroll at the campus for fall 2007.

Max Gibson, the San Diego resident who marched in a turban around UCI, e-mailed a campus administrator on May 22 that he was "at UC Irvine campus, and as a young Jewish Republican, I am so, so, so enraged."

Gibson went on to say that he had "been spit on, received death threats and been insulted heavily this last week."

In an interview with the Register, Gibson, who is not a UCI student, repeated his allegations that he was spit on and threatened.

Campus police have a different version of the tale, saying that Gibson recanted when asked to discuss the threats.

According to a memo in which Assistant Police Chief Jeff Hutchison recalled the conversation, Gibson said, "I'm really sorry, but I embellished a bit"

"He said that no one had actually threatened his life, but four MSU students told him they would have their friends take care of me," Hutchinson reported that Gibson told him. "I said, "So you do not believe your life is in danger or that anyone is planning to kill you?" Mr. Gibson replied, "No, no. Not at all." I asked Mr. Gibson about the spitting incident and he said that the spit from the MSU student's mouths, who he argued with, would land on him as they argued. I asked him if he wished to file a formal crime report on any of these incidents. He declined to do so."

Swastika incident

According to the campus police, a widely reported incident where swastikas were sprayed on campus was actually a protest against university police who broke up a loud party.

The swastikas were sprayed from a paint can found near the party site, and vulgar expressions that accompanied the swastikas made it clear they were directed toward the "fascist" actions of the university, not a racial slur, police chief Paul Henisey said.

While UCI officials and faculty have been trying to combat the growing perception that the campus is anti-Semitic, the attacks are becoming increasingly vitriolic.

UCI's Dean of Students Sally Peterson kept one of many letters she's received on the topic from other people outside the campus.

"Since you promote Jew-hating Islamic garbage, you are clearly a worthless Nazi …," one letter read.

Jewish student population growing

So is UCI "notoriously anti-Semitic," as one blogger claims?

"Depending on who you talk to, you get a different answer," said Hillel president Chazen, who was formerly president of Anteaters for Israel. "There are two or three student groups who put on events that are anti-Semitic, but I really don't think the administration is to blame. They put just as many checks on the MSU (Muslim Student Union) as anybody else. In fact, the MSU just filed a complaint saying they were treated unfairly. In my years I've been here, I've been treated with nothing but respect." Tareef Nashashibi, a Muslim whose son is a UCI student, said "people should stick their noses out of UCI's business."

"If people are going to start dictating what speakers come in and don't come in, we might as well go live in the Soviet Union," Nashashibi said. "Let them hear all sides of the spectrum and make up their own minds."

UCI administrators said that, although anti-Semitism is not a big problem on campus, they're concerned stories on the blogosphere will discourage Jewish students from applying.

According to Hillel President Chazen, it hasn't happened yet.

In fact, Chazen said, UCI has more Jewish students now than ever before, about 800 to 1,000, and a growing membership in its Jewish fraternities and sororities.

"We've had a steady increase in students accepting their admittance to UCI," Chazen said. "If Jewish students are really concerned, then they should come here and increase our numbers."

Contact the writer: 714-796-7994 or mfisher@ocregister.com

Chancellor Drake didn't tell the full truth at Shir HaMa'alot; some might say he lied

At the Chancellor Drake town hall forum two nights ago, the Chancellor was asked if he said the "one person's hate speech is another person's educational speech" statement. Click here for links to the full audio of the event

The audio of this specific question and the Chancellor's response is here

So how did the Chancellor answer the question?

The Chancellor chose to do a joke about being photo-shopped and simply denied saying the statement.

But where did that statement come from, and was the Chancellor's answer truthful?

Reut Cohen's article "Jewish Students Discuss Vandalism With Chancellor" attributes Vice Chancellor Manuel Gomez with saying that statement:

"Gomez emphasized that though hate speech may be present, he would not seek to curtail it, as 'one person's hate speech is another person's education.'"

But the Chancellor WAS in the room:

"More than a dozen Jewish student leaders met with Chancellor Michael Drake and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Manuel Gomez on Wednesday, October 18 [2006] to discuss the recent anti-Semitic vandalism here amidst a broader discussion about how Jewish students feel they are treated."

The Chancellor had full opportunity last night to say "ok, that was said by a member of my administration. I want to apologize for the hurt it caused. I'm sorry."

Some might call the Chancellor's response - a joke with a simple denial - LYING.

It was also unbecoming of a leader of a top-notch university whose opening remarks included statements about SEEKING THE TRUTH.

Now permit me to note this too:

If Chancellor Drake was a student, not telling the full truth - some would call it lying - would violate UC campus policy (not just UCI, the policy of ALL UCs).

Specifically #102.02, which covers all dishonesty outside the classroom, including furnishing false information:

102.00 Grounds for Discipline

Chancellors may impose discipline for the commission or attempted commission (including aiding or abetting in the commission or attempted commission) of the following types of violations by students, as well as such other violations as may be specified in campus regulations:
...
102.01 All forms of academic misconduct including but not limited to cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, or facilitating academic dishonesty.

102.02 Other forms of dishonesty including but not limited to fabricating information, furnishing false information, or reporting a false emergency to the University.

Audio of Last Wednesday's Open Town Hall Forum at Shir HaMa'alot with UCI Chancellor Michael Drake, MD

The audio isn't great, so you'll need to either turn up your speakers or wear a pair of headphones to hear it clearly. Obviously, if you do use speakers, please make sure those around you won't be disturbed by any loud noises.

If anybody knows an audio engineer who would be willing to volunteer his/her to clean up and isolate the audio on this and other recordings, please contact Reut Cohen at rrcohen@uci.edu

Thanks to Rabbi Richard Steinberg and Congregation Shir HaMa'alot for putting on the program!

Note: For now, it appears one must have Windows Media Player to listen to these files. Soon, though, I'm hoping to use Flash-based players, but I need to work with LiveLeak on it. Let me know if you run into any problems.

Introductory speeches by Rabbi Richard Steinberg of Shir HaMa'alot, Jeff Margolis (the "mediator"), and Chancellor Drake himself

Part 1 of the Q&A

Part 2 of the Q&A and Chancellor Drake's final remarks

Vice Chancellor Gomez: "one person’s hate speech is another person’s education."

Hat Tip: LGF and MereRhetoric

Reut R. Cohen published an article on October 24th in Jewish Collegiate News titled "Jewish Students Discuss Vandalism With Chancellor". That article is a summary of an October 18th meeting between some of the Jewish students on campus and Chancellor Drake and Vice Chancellor Gomez regarding some recent vandalism on campus involving a swastika and vulgarities.

“I hate that things like this happen,” Drake responded, acknowledging that there has been speech on campus promoted by the Muslim Student Union (MSU) that is largely hateful. Drake called hate-speech “vile,” “awful,” and “stupid,” and said it is “weak” human beings who engage in such speech. The chancellor also asserted that hateful speech does absolutely nothing to promote understanding and tolerance.
Many Jewish students at the meeting blamed the Muslim Student Union for creating an environment in which hate speech can prosper, which they felt had a direct connection to the vandalism.

Some of the Jewish students at the meeting revealed that they and others had been subject to verbal and physical intimidation at the hands of MSU members, and that they had previously reported these claims to campus security. In light of this, some students asked that Drake place restrictions on where MSU events are held, saying that if their events were held in classrooms as opposed to public spaces, their effect would not be as broad. However, Chancellor Drake told Jewish students at the meeting that he cannot restrict any club, that it would be “violation of law to prohibit certain speech.”

Gomez emphasized that though hate speech may be present, he would not seek to curtail it, as “one person’s hate speech is another person’s education.”

Looks like the Vice Chancellor wants "equal time for Hitler".

This year's Chancellor's Distinguished Fellows Series

Note the items I've emboldened.

-----Original Message-----
From: mailsvc@alpha.ddm.uci.edu [mailto:mailsvc@alpha.ddm.uci.edu] On
Behalf Of Michael Clark, Vice Provost for Academic Planning
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2006 7:29 PM
To: @mta5.service.uci.edu
Subject: Chancellor's Distinguished Fellows Series 2006-2007

Chancellor's Distinguished Fellows Series
2006-2007

November 8, 2006
7:30 p.m.
Beckman Center Auditorium
Never Again: Practical Steps Toward Prevention of Genocide
David Hamburg, M.D.
Psychiatrist, President Emeritus, Carnegie Corporation of New York
Chairman, United Nations Advisory Committee on Genocide Prevention

November 13, 2006
8 p.m., Irvine Barclay Theatre
Immigration: Challenges on Both Sides of the Border
Carlos Fuentes
Author, Statesman, Scholar
Tickets Required - Free
Contact Irvine Barclay Theatre, 949-854-4646, www.thebarclay.org

February 13, 2007
Waiting: A Butoh Dance Performance
Carlotta Ikeda
Japanese Butoh Choreographer and Dancer
8 p.m., Irvine Barclay Theatre
Tickets Required - $15
Contact Irvine Barclay Theatre, 949-854-4646, www.thebarclay.org

February 14, 2007
Sacred Monsters of the French Stage: The Photographs of Laurencine Lot
Laurencine Lot Principal Theatre Photographer for the Comedie Francaise
Lecture: 7:30 p.m., Feb. 14, Calit2 Atrium
Exhibition: Feb. 11-18 (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.), Calit2 Atrium

February 15, 2007
The American Sojourn
Maxine Hong Kingston
Author, Professor Emerita, University of California, Berkeley
7 p.m., Crystal Cove Auditorium

March 8, 2007
Literature and Religion
E.L. Doctorow
Author, Lewis and Loretta Glucksman Professor in American Letters, New
York University
7 p.m., Crystal Cove Auditorium

April 4, 2007
Innovating Innovation
John Seely Brown
Visiting Scholar, Annenberg Center for Communication, University of
Southern California
7 p.m., Crystal Cove Auditorium

April 19, 2007
4 p.m.
Social Science Lecture Hall Room 100
Human Rights and Ethical Globalization
Mary Robinson
Former President of Ireland,
Professor of Practice in International Affairs, Columbia University

May 2, 2007
Human Rights in the Vernacular: Plural Legalities and Traveling Rights
in India, China and the USA
Sally Engle
Merry Professor of Anthropology and Law and Society, New York University
6:30 p.m., Crystal Cove Auditorium

Irvine World News: Chancellor works to ease tensions

Chancellor works to ease tensions
UCI’s Drake working to lessen hostilities between Muslim, Jewish students
BY JORGE BARRIENTOS THE IRVINE WORLD NEWS
September 14, 2006

After years of debate between Jewish and Muslim students on the UC Irvine campus, the student groups and university officials hope to start the school year by peaceably talking about differences.

From the showing of a representation of the Prophet Mohammed on campus, to false rumors of Muslim students wearing Hamas armbands to graduation commencement, to speeches deemed hateful toward Jews, campus events throughout the years have made for heated debate among Jewish and Muslim student organizations.

Most recently, the Muslim Student Union sponsored a week of events in May titled “Holocaust in the Holy Land,” which featured speakers that Jewish students on campus deemed as anti-Semitic.

Jewish students said the speeches justified suicide bombings, cheered Hamas and Hezbollah and called for an end to the Jewish state. The Jewish community was outraged, said Jeffrey Rips, executive director of Hillel of Orange County, a Jewish campus organization.

“There was a lot of hatred,” he said.

Chancellor Michael V. Drake and administrators received complaints of hate speech against the union. The university ultimately said it was a freedom of speech issue – speech that could not be suppressed.

The university has since taken a more proactive approach to the situation, said Manuel Gomez, vice chancellor of student affairs.

Gomez and Drake have recently released statements addressing free speech and highlighting the importance of peaceful conversation. Drake said: “This
winter and spring there have been incidents testing the bounds of the First
Amendment at many campuses across the country, including ours … Make no mistake: I find hate speech abhorrent.”

The university plans on sponsoring cultural events to help spark peaceful dialogue to address the issues.

In December 2005, the uni- versity was one of 27 in the nation that received $100,000 in grants for projects to address intolerance and help create dialogue about contentious political and cultural issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The projects include courses, seminars and events that facilitate dialogue.

About two weeks ago, Drake met with Orange County Jewish leaders and students to discuss the conflicts at UC Irvine and on campuses throughout California, said Jewish Federation President Jodie Greenbaum. His approach to resolving the challenges on campus have been beneficial, she said.

“He took the chance to talk with each person,” she said. “We came out feeling very optimistic. We feel (the university is) stepping forward.”

He has also met with Muslims on a regular basis. Drake and the university have developed a good relationship with the union, and Drake understands them, Bangee said.

“He probably doesn’t agree with our political views,” she said. “He agrees with our right to say them.”

Drake was not available for comment, but Gomez said the chancellor and the university have emphasized that students should follow a set of values that include respect, appreciation and empathy.

“He has been very, very involved in trying to resolve the concerns,” Gomez said. “I think (students) have been responsive to that.”

Bangee said she is hopeful that the groups will be able to build some bridges. The Muslim union is open to work with the Jewish groups to hold events and start friendly dialogue, she said. Gomez said he hopes the new school year, which begins Monday, will bring forward an understanding on all sides.

Tell Chancellor Drake that anti-Semitism at UCI is not acceptable!

Chancellor Drake's lack of even a public acknowledgment of the anti-Semitism at UCI as wrong (imitating his predecessor's similar actions) says very clearly that UCI recognizes that attacks on Jews and Judaism are a fully-acceptable form of civil debate at the University.

Please follow Ted Bleiweis's lead and print this Microsoft Word version or Adobe Acrobat PDF version of the following letter, sign, and mail or fax (1-949-824-2087) it to Chancellor Drake.

We need YOU to tell the Chancellor that things need to change.

Thank you for your support.

____________________
Today’s Date


University of California, Irvine
The Chancellor's Office
Irvine, CA 92697-1900


Dear Dr. Drake,

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) has for year’s hosted events on its campus whose participants have utilized inflammatory and hateful speech towards the State of Israel and the Jewish people as a whole.

This year a week-long program, entitled “Holocaust in the Holy land,” had been presented. It featured speakers calling for the destruction of the State of Israel, touting an acknowledged terror organization, Hamas, as the “people’s choice” and called Israel “the Fourth Reich”. Woven into the speeches were age old anti-Semitic themes. The perpetrators constructed an “apartheid” wall, and stationed intimidating guards dressed as Israeli soldiers nearby. The title itself denigrates the Jewish people, and contains an implied denial of the Holocaust during which over six million Jewish people were murdered.

The University’s stated policy has been, and remains that these campus activities are protected speech under the First Amendment. While this may be legally correct, it gives the appearance of official sanction by UCI.

In your May 30, 2006 message you stated “Hate speech is difficult to define precisely. It is largely defined by the individual hearing it…” Make no mistake; the annihilation of over two thirds of Europe’s Jewish population began with hate speech. The University and its leadership must recognize that it has a duty, and an obligation, as educators to denounce anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, and repudiate those whose demonstrations seek incitement against, or call for the destruction of, other human beings.

As a resident and a taxpayer of Orange County, I therefore call upon you as Chancellor of UCI to exercise your first amendment rights: that is, to take immediate and appropriate steps to publicly distance the University from those individuals who spew anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial, or any form of hate speech.

Sincerely,





cc: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamonte

This Just In: Chancellor Drake's Latest Email to the UCI Community

The UCI Chancellor's latest message is below but here's a quick summary: Chancellor Michael V. Drake, MD condemns "hate speech".

Little problem: what exactly is "hate speech"? I'm kind of lost and Drake doesn't give any specific examples.

So "hate speech" could be the anti-Semitic attacks that UC Irvine Jewish students, faculty, and staff have had to put up year after year...or perhaps not, as sentences like "Zionists, your days are numbered" and claiming (falsely) that there is a Holocaust in the Holy Land always fall inside "the bounds of civility." /sarcasm off

On the other hand, the MSU and SAS consider any Israeli Independence Day celebrations "hate speech". The MSU considers Bus 19 "hate speech" because in their dangerously extremist view bringing it to campus "ignited hate" - read their February 21, 2005 condemnation of the event in the New University paper: http://www.newu.uci.edu/article.php?id=3402

Obviously the MSU is full of bunk, but Drake's definition jives perfectly with the MSU's continuous, crazy, and obnoxiously loud speeches, news articles, and public displays that there's this massive Jewish conspiracy to take over the world, that Jews are the new Nazis and they're committing genocide against the Palestinians, and the use of suicide bombers that target for murder innocent men, women, and children because they are Jewish is a perfectly moral and legal way of waging war.

Chancellor, every time I step on campus, I walk around with a bullseye on my back because you and your administration aren't doing your jobs - you're supposed to protect my Title VI civil right to be able to go to school here without fear of intimidation against my religious, ethnic, and racial group. You're going to have to do better. I want specifics of recent events on this campus that fit the bill of "hate speech".

You've stepped closer to what you need to say, but your message still doesn't cut it. For once, show all of us you've got balls.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Hate Speech
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 19:58:11 -0700
From: Michael V. Drake, Chancellor
To: All Students: ;;All Students:@es.nacs.uci.edu;

Dear Students:

This is the third in a trilogy of messages sent to the campus community this month reiterating our core values of respect, appreciation and empathy, our refusal to tolerate illegal behavior, and our Constitutional obligation to respect and uphold First Amendment rights.

Today, I would like to address behavior that adheres to the strict definition of the law, but falls distinctly outside the bounds of civility. In a society of laws, we all must abide by a written code that draws the line between legal and illegal activities. The law sets a minimum standard of behavior. But there is a zone between illegal behavior and desirable behavior. In this zone we find disrespectful, deliberately offensive, but not specifically illegal acts. In the case of hate speech this behavior is protected by the Constitution.

Hate speech is difficult to define precisely. It is largely defined by the individual hearing it: what some or many may find hateful or offensive, others may not. Hate speech tends to be directed at individuals or groups. The provocateur chooses words specifically to offend and inflame. We can all think of examples of this behavior: words that are used to provoke outrage.

This winter and spring there have been incidents testing the bounds of the First Amendment at many campuses across the country, including ours. The controversies have revolved around a variety of issues, often not related to campus life per se, but rather reflecting larger international frictions.

Make no mistake: I find hate speech abhorrent, illogical and ultimately pitiful. Hate speech is inconsistent with advancing understanding or dialogue. It is also inconsistent with the great tradition of free speech at the University of California. I ask you to join me in renouncing hate speech as a form of expression, and to join with our larger university community in fostering open and candid dialogue.

I invite you to visit the web page of Student Affairs Vice Chancellor Manuel Gomez (http://www.vcsa.uci.edu), which includes important information related to the practice of free speech and events that UCI is sponsoring to encourage constructive dialogue on difficult issues currently being addressed on campuses across the country.

And, as always, I invite you to review our values, which can be found at http://www.chancellor.uci.edu/values.shtml. By upholding these values, we can ensure a healthy exchange of ideas in a civil, non-threatening environment.

Fiat Lux
Michael V. Drake, M.D.
Chancellor

http://www.chancellor.uci.edu

New Email From UC Irvine Chancellor Drake

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Campus Civility
Date:	Tue, 16 May 2006 18:21:03 -0700
From:	Michael V. Drake, Chancellor
To:	All UCI Students: ;;All UCI Students:@es.nacs.uci.edu;

Dear Students:

Last week, I wrote to reiterate the core values that guide our interactions at the University of California, Irvine. They are: integrity (what kind of people we are), respect (how we treat others), intellectual and creative rigor (how we approach our work), commitment (how we face challenges), empathy (how we connect with others) and appreciation (how we value others).

The First Amendment provides great latitude regarding our freedom of expression. The university has a legal obligation to assure the free exchange of ideas, however infuriating we may perceive particular views with which we disagree. It is often offensive or inflammatory speech that requires Constitutionally-mandated protection.

I ask that you join me in ensuring that we remain a dynamic, respectful campus community that upholds these core values and where free speech, individual rights and safety are honored and respected.

Michael V. Drake, M.D.
Chancellor

http://www.chancellor.uci.edu