Go Anteaters! UC Irvine rescinds BDS resolution

The University of California at Irvine Student Senate has repealed a 2012 resolution that called for the campus to divest from companies that do business with Israel.

Meeting on March 31, the Associated Students of UC Irvine voted to repeal the earlier BDS resolution by a vote of 15 for, 6 against, with 2 abstentions.

Senator Marshall Roe introduced a resolution to repeal  R48-15 , stating it had contributed to a hostile campus climate for Jewish students.   The boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement was denounced as “contrary to the foundational ideals of Higher Education and thus the values of the UC.”

Senate Roe, quoted in the Jerusalem Post expressed his desire that the repeal of the highly divisive resolution would return the campus to a position of neutrality on the conflict

“I believe that embracing neutrality on this matter and thus repealing R48-15 would dispel the noxious atmosphere and create neutrality on campus, a neutrality that would foster an environment of reconciliation rather than rancor.”

When the original resolution passed in 2012, Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada gloated that the "historic" vote was a "stinging defeat" to "Zionist bullying" on campus.   He has not made a statement since the original vote was rescinded.

In the 8 years since  the passage of the  original BDS resolution, not a cent have been divested from UC Irvine, or any campus of the University of California. The UC Irvine / Israel Engineering Initiative remains strong and supports collaborative  educational research initiatives withTel Aviv University, the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology), Ben Gurion University and Hebrew University.

For more information on the repeal of UC Irvine's BDS resolution see:

UCI Student Senate Repeals BDS Resolution

UC Irvine Student Senate repeals BDS resolution

The University of California and Israel’s Innovation Authority sign cooperation agreement

A major BDS fail from the University of California. While the students keep discussing what brand of hummus they want in their dining halls, the grown-ups are hard at work.

Press Release from the UC Office of the President  Friday, February 17, 2017


With the goals of fostering technological innovation and boosting research and development, the University of California has signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel’s National Technological Innovation Authority to increase cooperation between the two entities.

The memorandum aims to identify opportunities for projects, partnerships and collaborations between UC and Israel’s Innovation Authority that may lead to innovative technologies and products with the potential for commercialization in the global market.

“This agreement aligns with UC’s larger efforts to build relationships with state, national and international partners to propel the many discoveries and innovations from our campuses, labs and medical centers into the world economy,” UC President Janet Napolitano said. “Developing groundbreaking technologies that can be put to practical use around the world is central to our mission as a public institution, and we’re delighted to have Israel’s Innovation Authority as a partner in this mutually beneficial endeavor.”

“This is a great opportunity for bilateral research and development projects that will combine state of the art technology from the UC system with the capability of Israeli companies,” said Avi Hasson, chairman of Israel’s Innovation Authority. “The economic fruits of collaboration with this large and impressive California environment will certainly play an instrumental role in helping these companies to increase their competitiveness and accelerate commercial success in global markets.”

As part of the agreement, UC and the Innovation Authority will boost cooperation through increased bilateral meetings and information sharing. It comes on the heels of a similar memorandum signed between the state of California and Israel on bilateral cooperation in industrial research and development.

“The memorandum of understanding with the University of California is yet another important step forward in the ongoing effort to bring Israel and California closer,” said Andy David, consul general of Israel in San Francisco. “As two global leaders of innovation, this collaboration is a natural one that can enhance our mutual goal of creating a better world for everyone.”

From the Daily Cal


The University of California signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel’s National Technological Innovation Authority to expand collaboration between both parties.

The memorandum was signed with the intention of cultivating technological innovation, research and development, according to a UC Office of the President press release.  The agreement further aims to promote projects between the university and Israel’s Innovation Authority that would lead to “commercialization in the global market,” the press release stated.

Part of the agreement involves an increase in bilateral meetings and information sharing between both bodies.

“This agreement aligns with the university’s objectives of steering UC inventions through our labs and into the world economy,” said UCOP spokesperson Ricardo Vazquez in an email. “We believe that this will be a mutually beneficial partnership.”

Vazquez cited the January 2014 UC-Mexico Initiative as an example of the university’s cooperation with other nations and states in a variety of fields. According to Vazquez, the collaboration between the university and Israel’s Innovation Authority is founded on similar principles.

The memorandum between Israel and the university comes almost three years after a similar memorandum between Israel and the state of California, based on collaboration in industrial research and development.

Results of University of California Boycott resolution

 The results of the University of California Graduate Student BDS resolution are in. With only 2168 voters out of 13,000 sufficiently engaged by this topic to even bother to vote, the results are as follows:
Yes: 1411 (65%)
No: 749 (35%)

Berkeley ballots cast: 721
Yes: 506
No: 214
Personal Pledge: 397

Davis ballots cast: 203
Yes: 167
No: 36
Personal Pledge: 127

Irvine ballots cast: 141
Yes: 55
No: 86
Personal Pledge: 46

Los Angeles ballots cast: 525
Yes: 305
No: 218
Personal Pledge: 238

Merced ballots cast: 1
This ballot was counted with the Riverside ballots to respect the anonymity of the Merced voter.

Riverside ballots cast: 127
Yes: 91
No: 36
Personal Pledge: 75

San Diego ballots cast: 149
Yes: 121
No: 27
Personal Pledge: 110

Santa Barbara ballots cast: 180
Yes: 84
No: 95
Personal Pledge: 70

Santa Cruz ballots cast: 121
Yes: 82
No: 37
Personal Pledge: 73

The lackluster participation in this resolution is more telling than nearly anything else about this vote.Students at the University of California opposed to the resolution plan on appealing,  citing an unfair and undemocratic election.

"This was far from a fair process," said Jonathan Kummerfeld, a member of Informed Grads, a group of rank-and-file United Auto Workers (UAW) 2865 members who formed to oppose BDS in their Union. "Over the past several months, the Union leadership invested thousands of dollars, together with the Union's institutional and human resources to promote a ‘yes' vote"

UPDATE:

Via Jonathan Kummerfeld,in the comment sections:
One small correction - the union represents ~14,000 workers, but it currently has ~40,800 members (any grad can be a member, even if they aren't currently teaching). In addition, any grad could join at the polls, and hundreds did. There are over 52,000 grads in the UC system.

UC-wide BDS vote on Dec 4, the effort to oppose it, and how you can help

Please forward widely to all UC Grad students, parents of grad students.

 

UC-wide BDS vote on Dec 4, the effort to oppose it, and how you can help:

by Jonathan Kummerfeld 

From Informed Grads, a UC-wide student group

Graduate students across the state will be voting next Thursday, Dec 4, on whether their union should join the BDS movement. If passed, it would make them the first labor union in the US to join, and make the political activities of the BDS movement a part of their standard activist platform (alongside issues like reducing class sizes and fighting discrimination on campus). Since announcing the vote, some of the things union leaders have done are:

• Encouraged TAs to advocate BDS politics in the classes they teach
• Participated in and endorsed the Block the Boat protests in Oakland
• Spent several thousand from member dues on bringing BDS leaders to speak on campus in support
• Rejected a proposal to endorse Jewish self-determination (in July they made a statement that included support for Palestinian self-determination)

Informed Grads (informedgrads.org) is a student group that has organized to fight the proposal. Since the vote is state-wide and any graduate student, including law, medical and MBA students, can vote, we have a real chance of defeating the proposal, but only if we can get the word out (most grads don't even know it's happening). This is where we would appreciate all the help we can get. You can help right now by:

• Telling grads you know that this is happening and they should go vote
• Asking undergrads and grads to help put up posters and leave flyers around campus (even a single hour can make a big difference), they should get in touch at informedgrads@gmail.com
• Tell friends and family and ask them to spread the word
• Like the Informed Grads facebook page, facebook.com/informedgrads and encourage others to do so too

There will also be an event on campus on Monday, Dec 1st:

 

Prof. Russell Berman on "Scholars against Scholarship: The Boycott as an Infringement of Academic Culture", his contribution to the new book, "The Case Against Academic Boycotts of Israel"

It is open to all, please encourage grads and undergrads to attend and have them sign up here:

Eventbrite or Facebook 

United Auto Workers Union reaffirms opposition to BDS movement.

UAW's region 5 covering California  and 16 other states sent a brief letter to UAW 2865 leadership reaffirming its opposition to the BDS movement.   The letter states that the UAW International’s position has not changed since it signed a Statement of Opposition to Divestment From or Boycotts of Israel in 2007 with 40 other national labor leaders.

Via our friends at  Informed grads

Dear Sisters [Michelle] Glowa & [Leslie] Quintanilla [President and Recording Secretary of UAW 2865],

The International Union has received numerous requests for a position from the Local 2865 leadership and membership regarding the BDS movement. Please find enclosed a 2007 Statement of Opposition to Divestment From or Boycotts of Israel, signed by over 40 national labor leaders.
The International Union’s previous position has not changed.

The following is the aforementioned statement of opposition to BDS, signed by various labor leaders, that still stands as a statement of principle.

Statement of Opposition to Divestment From or Boycotts of Israel

We view with increasing concern the phenomenon of trade unions in a number of countries, including, most recently, the United Kingdom, issuing resolutions that either directly or indirectly call for divestment from and boycotts of Israel.

With the large number of local, regional and international conflicts, with the diverse range of oppressive regimes around the world about which there is almost universal silence, we have to question the motives of these resolutions that single out one country in one conflict.

We note with increasing concern that virtually all of these resolutions focus solely on objections to actions or policies of the Israeli government, and never on actions or policies of Palestinian or other Arab governments, parties or movements. We notice with increasing concern that characterization of the Palestinians as victims and Israel as victimizer is a staple of such resolutions. That there are victims and victimizers on all sides, and that many if not most of the victims of violence and repression on all sides are civilians, are essential items often not mentioned in these resolutions.

Any just and fair resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be brought about through meaningful negotiations between their elected representatives. We believe strongly in a two-state solution, brought about through meaningful negotiations, with the involvement and encouragement of the world community.

Trade unionists and their organizations seeking such a just and fair resolution should be assisting those working to bring the two sides together in direct talks and then negotiations. In this regard, we call for increased engagement of trade unions with their counterparts on all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We support efforts of Palestinian and Israeli trade unionists and their organizations to maintain contact and cooperative and mutually supportive activities, even in the midst of tumult and political change within their respective communities and polities.

Calls for academic boycotts of Israel are inimical to and counter to the principles of academic freedom and freedom of association, key principles for which academics and educational unions have struggled over many years. Rather than limiting interactions with Israeli educators, academics and educational institutions, we see the importance of maximizing, rather than proscribing, the free flow of ideas and academic interaction between peoples, cultures, religions and countries.

Similarly, calls for journalistic boycotts of Israel are inimical to the free flow of information and journalistic objectivity, and must be opposed.

Rather than divestment from Israel, we believe that investment of time, energy and material aid is the best means to alleviate the ongoing suffering of Palestinians and Israelis. Engagement, rather than disengagement, with the Israeli people and the Palestinian people is needed, so that a just and fair resolution of this conflict may be pursued, and so that meaningful progress towards achieving the legitimate needs of Palestinians and Israelis can be made.

We offer our support to assist trade unionists as well as interested members of the community-at-large who are grappling with these matters, and who share our concern over simplistic and non-constructive approaches, whether in the form of misguided resolutions or other statements on the tragic conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Stuart Appelbaum
President, Jewish Labor Committee
President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union / UFCW
Edward J. McElroy
Secretary, Jewish Labor Committee
President, American Federation of Teachers
Morton Bahr
Treasurer, Jewish Labor Committee
John J. Sweeney
President, AFL-CIO
Anna Burger
Chair, Change to Win
Clayola Brown
President, A. Philip Randolph Institute
Timothy A. Brown
International President, International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots / ILA
R. Thomas Buffenbarger
International President,
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
William Burrus
President, American Postal Workers Union
James Clark
President
International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers-Communications Workers of America
Larry Cohen
President, Communications Workers of America
Barbara J. Easterling
Secretary-Treasurer, Communications Workers of America
Patrick D. Finley
General President
Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association of the United States and Canada
John J. Flynn
President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
John Gage
President, American Federation of Government Employees
Leo W. Gerard
International President
United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union
Ron Gettelfinger
President
United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America International Union
Michael Goodwin
President, Office and Professional Employees International Union
Larry V. Gregoire
President, International Chemical Workers Union Council / UFCW
James A. Grogan
General President, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers
Don M. Hahs
National President, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen / IBT
Joseph T. Hansen
International President, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
Edwin D. Hill
International President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
William P. Hite
General President
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada
James P. Hoffa
General President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Joseph J. Hunt
General President
International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers
Frank Hurt
International President
Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union
Louis Lacarbonara
President, Italian-American Labor Council
D. Michael Langford
National President
Utility Workers Union of America
Thomas F. Lee
President, American Federation of Musicians
Jill S. Levy
President, American Federation of School Administrators
James C. Little
International President, Transport Workers Union of America
William Lucy
President, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
Douglas J. McCarron
General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
Gerald W. McEntee
President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Bruce S. Raynor
General President, UNITE HERE
Cecil E. Roberts
President, United Mine Workers of America
Michael Sacco
President, Seafarers International Union of North America
Robert A. Scardelletti
International President, Transportation Communications Union / IAM
Michael J. Sullivan
General President, Sheet Metal Workers International Association
George Tedeschi
President, Graphic Communications International Union / IBT
Patric M. Verrone
President, Writers Guild of America, West
Reg Weaver
President, National Education Association
James A. Williams
General President, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

Berkeley SJP Opposes Senate Bill in Support of International Academic Collaboration

Who would possibly object to a School Senate bill in support of the Free Flow of Ideas?
If you guessed UC Berkeley Students for Just us in Palestine, you'd be correct. 

SJP's impressively Orwellian spin:

Tomorrow: Stand Against Senate Anti-BDS Bill Suppressing Pro-Palestine Speech at UC Berkeley
Monday 9/15, 8 PM
Anna Head Alumnae Hall, 2537 Haste St

Tomorrow the senate will vote on a bill calling for UCB administrators to condemn the campus day of action for Palestine and the boycott of racist Israeli universities. Come stand in solidarity and tell the senate it can't condemn students' free speech and peaceful protest for Palestine on campuses. Support Cal Professors Hatem Bazian and Ramon Grosfoguel who are singled out in this bill for supporting Palestine. Tell your senators they can't support a bill that encourages our university to keep collaborating with the Israeli government censor student voices on campus.

Anna Head Alumnae Hall is a brown wooden building between the Channing and Telegraph on Haste. If it passes on Monday, the full senate will vote 7:20 PM in the same location on Wednesday.

This is what they are objecting to:

Senate Bill No. 2014/2015-011

A Bill in Support of the Free Flow of Ideas and International Academic Collaboration

---

Primary Sponsor

Ori Herschmann (Senator, ASUC)

Cosponsors

Hannah Frankl, (Senator, ASUC), Michaela Fried (President, Tikvah), Adam Shapiro (President, JSU)

WHEREAS, Along with other academics, UC Berkeley professors Hatem Bazian and Ramon Grosfogul are sponsoring an “International Day of Action on College Campuses for Palestine” September 23, 2014, and;

WHEREAS, the “International Day of Action on College Campuses for Palestine” calls for the following.

1. No to Academic Complicity with Israeli Occupation
2. No to Study Abroad Programs in Israel
3. No Investments in Apartheid and Occupation Supporting Companies
4. No to University Presidents' Visits to Israel
5. No Campus Police Training or Cooperation with Israeli Security
6. No Joint Research or Conferences with Israeli Institutions
7. No Cooperation with Hasbara Networks on College Campuses
8. No to Targeting Faculty for Speaking Against Israeli Crimes
9. No to Administrative Limits on Free Speech Rights of Palestine Activists
10. No to University Coordination and Strategizing with the ADL, JCRC, AJC, Stand With US, ZOA, Israeli Consulate to Limit Students Pro-Palestine Constitutionally Protected Activities, and;

WHEREAS, limiting research or other academic activities with Israeli institutions constitutes an academic boycott, which the Association of American Universities calls a violation “of academic freedom, which is a fundamental principle of AAU universities and of American higher education in general”, and;

WHEREAS, UC Berkeley Chancellor Nicholas Dirks said, “to impose an academic boycott on Israel is a regrettable step that subverts academic freedom. Any limit on the open exchange of knowledge and ideas stands in direct opposition to the scholarly values and goals we uphold as an institution. UC Berkeley fully supports the position taken by the Association of American Universities, AAU, against this academic boycott”, and;

WHEREAS, stifling partnerships and research with Israeli academics for the sole reason of their national origin is a form of discrimination based on nationality which is disallowed within UC Berkeley under University Nondiscrimination policies, and;

WHEREAS, in the Fall 2005 senate session, the ASUC Senate demonstrated its support for all education abroad programs by passing SB 29, “A Bill in Support of Academic Freedom”, and;

WHEREAS, in the Fall 2007 senate session, the ASUC Senate reiterated its support for education abroad programs in Israel by passing SB 125a, “A Resolution in Support of UC Education Abroad Programs (UC EAP) to Philippines and Israel”, and;

WHEREAS, in the Spring 2013 senate session, the ASUC Senate passed SB 160, “Resolution in Support of Human Rights in the Gaza Strip and West Bank” which stated “that the ASUC should not be construed to support a significant portion of the BDS movement including but not limited to their call for an academic and cultural boycott of Israel.”

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the ASUC voices its support for the “Campaign for Academic Freedom” which calls for:

1. Free academic exchange between UC Berkeley, Israeli institutions, and similar institutions of higher learning around the world
2. Continuation and encouragement of cross-institutional student collaboration, including, but not limited to education abroad opportunities
3. An end to discrimination of scholars or students based on nationality or nation of origin
4. Rejection of academic boycotts by the American Studies Association and the Association for Asian American Studies among others, and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ASUC President Upadhyayula publicly denounces the event titled “International Day of Action on College Campuses for Palestine” as a loss to Academic Freedom, alienating students and faculty of Israeli national identity as well as students and faculty that are interested in studying abroad in Israel or collaborating on academic scholarship with their Israeli counterparts, and;

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the ASUC Academic Affairs Vice President writes a letter to Chancellor Dirks asking the Chancellor to take a public stance on this event and reiterate his support for academic freedom.

Appendix List

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http://academic-senate.berkeley.edu/committees/acfr

http://www.dailycal.org/2014/01/14/napolitano-dirks-among-officials-opposing-academic-boycott-israeli-institutions/

http://avimayer.tumblr.com/post/70821835473/universities-standing-strong-for-academic-freedom-and

http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007677

http://independentpublisher.com/includes/32_5/Tech.jpg

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TTXdFBmz1uT56ftO_fCGxL_ZBNnNVzB7YgAVlT3STYo/edit?pli=1

http://www.theasa.net/what_does_the_academic_boycott_mean_for_the_asa/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_boycotts_of_Israel

http://www.timesofisrael.com/illinois-congressmen-submit-anti-boycott-bill/

https://roskam.house.gov/sites/roskam.house.gov/files/wysiwyg_uploaded/Roskam%20Boycott%20Letter_0.pdf

http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/campaigns/academic-freedom

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A08392&term=&Summary=Y&Text=Y

http://roskam.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/roskam-leads-bipartisan-effort-opposing-the-academic-boycott-of-israel

http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/an-open-letter-on-the-anti-boycott-bills-11748

http://www.defendingdissent.org/now/anti-boycott-bills-proliferate/

(http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2014/0894/BillText/Filed/PDF)

(http://legiscan.com/IL/text/SB3017/2013)

(http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2014RS/bills/hb/hb0998f.pdf)

(http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=PDF&sessYr=2013&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=R&billNbr=0627&pn=2944)

(http://legiscan.com/SC/text/H4635/id/961813)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1476563449265566

Tammi Benjamin Under attack: A troubling Double Standard at the University of California.

From  an article by Thomas Lifson , originally published in the American Thinker:

A troubling double standard appears to exist when it comes harassment at the publicly funded University of California. The University has taken strong action against harassment, physical assault, terrorization and targeting individuals on the basis of their ethnic origin or religion -- except when the person under assault is Jewish, and the perpetrator is a member of an antisemitic or jihadi front group. Then UC administrators have no time to answer emails pleading for protection...

Only one professor in the entire University of California so far has had the intestinal fortitude to speak out about the growing jihadi harassment of Jewish students on campus, a beloved part-time professor of Hebrew at U.C. Santa Cruz, Tammi Benjamin, who has appeared often in AT articles.

After the Civil Rights law was re-interpreted to include Jews in 2010, Tammi Benjamin made history by successfully applying for the federal Office of Civil Rights to investigation the hostile environment for Jews at UC Santa Cruz. If she wins, it will be first time the Civil Rights law is applied to antisemitism.      

     Her students love her:

Tammi is AMAZING. I've taken dozens of language classes in my life, and Tammi is hands down one of the greatest teacher's I've ever had. Her lesson plans are great, the course is thorough, and she is dedicated to helping you learn AND get a good grade. You'd have to honestly try to do badly in her classes. Wonderful person, wonderful teacher.

Frustrated by the increasing level of anti-Semitic intolerance on campus, as well as the vitriolic rhetoric directed against her personally Tammi Benjamin wrote a letter to the President of the UC system

As Tammi describes in a letter to the president of UC published this week on the website of her organization, the AMCHA Initiative, she is being harassed mercilessly for having exercised her free speech off campus….

In her letter to President Yudof, Tammi detailed clearly antisemitic actions tolerated on UC campuses, which are illegal by university rules.

At an SJP rally at UCB in 2002, UCB Lecturer Hatem Bazian, then a graduate student and co-founder of the first SJP chapter in America, told a large crowd, "Take a look at the type of names on the buildings around campus -- Haas, Zellerbach -- and decide who controls this university."

Former Nation of Islam member Imam Abdul Malik Ali, a frequent speaker on many UC campuses, has railed against the "disproportionate numbers of Jews, Zionist Jews, in the media, in finance and foreign policy."

At an MSU-sponsored speech at UCI in 2001, Imam Mohammed Al-Asi said: "We have a psychosis in the Jewish community that is unable to co-exist equally and brotherly with other human beings. You can take a Jew out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the Jew".

Al-Asi also actively promotes the lie that Jews were behind the 9-11 attack, stating: "Where were the 4,000 to 5,000 Israeli Jews that were supposed to be in those two buildings on the 11th... Did they know something we didn't know?"

Imam Abdul Alim Musa, a frequent speaker for the MSU at UCI, sells at some of his events copies of an antisemitic book, The Ascendant Qur'an, which blames Jews for conspiring against Islam. Musa maintains contact with virulently antisemitic groups such as Jamaat al-Muslimeen, which promotes Holocaust denial and anti-Jewish conspiracy theories.

Tammi concludes her letter:

As a result of the hostile environment created by these chapters and their members, Jewish students have reported feeling physically unsafe, harassed, and intimidated while on campus, and some have even reported leaving the university, avoiding certain parts of campus, and hiding symbols of their Jewishness.


Students can be pro-Palestinian without resorting to physically confrontational, disruptive, and virulently aggressive behavior and it is this behavior, which continues to escalate, that deeply concerns me. Expressing support for the Palestinians is not the same as chanting "Death to Jews!" "Death to Israel"...O Jews, the army of Mohammed is coming for you," or holding banners that read "Death to Zionism" and "Long Live the Intifada."

The quiescence and timidity of the academic community in the face of these continuing personal attacks on Prof. Benjamin must be challenged. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr famously declared "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Its time to break the silence.

Report Anti-Semitism in the UC System

Israel "Apartheid" week is around the corner- and for Jewish students, and for many others, it is always problematic.  Are the posters promoting the weeks' activity promoting hate?  Do they cross the line into anti-Semitism? Does the gratuituous use of the 6 pointed Jewish star on mock checkpoints make you uncomfortable?  There is now a procedure  for reporting this, and its completely anonymous. If the activities and promotional material of Israel apartheid week contribute to a hostile climate on campus, this is your chance to let people know.

UC students who have experienced anti-Semitic activity or hate crimes on campus are strongly encouraged to fill in this form for reporting incidents of intolerance on campus. 

Welcome to the University of California's systemwide intolerance report form.

The University of California's Principles of Community are grounded in our mission of instruction, research and public service. We value diversity, affirm the inherent dignity of every person and uphold communities of justice. We strive for a campus and a world free of discrimination, intolerance and hate. We are equally committed to freedom of expression, critical inquiry, civil dialogue and mutual respect.
If you experience or observe behavior that is inconsistent with our Principles of Community, please report it.

You may report in a variety of ways:

• Report anonymously or by name, via this Campus Climate page, by selecting the University of California campus where the incident occurred from the list to the right and clicking "Continue".
• Report anonymously to an appropriate campus office, based on the nature of the incident. Please refer to the website for the campus where the incident occurred.
• Report anonymously via your campus' Bias Reporting page, by selecting your campus from the Local Bias Reporting menu above. If your campus does not appear on this list, there is no local reporting form available. Please use this form, instead.
• File a report with your Campus Police Department, via the Campus Police menu above.

In addition, community members have the option to report bias incidents to their County Human Rights Commission or City Human Relations Commission.
Even if you don't want or expect any action to be taken, having a record of all campus incidents helps the University to better address issues of culture, climate and inclusion. Your report can make a difference.
On this form you may report the following issues. To see a particular definition, please mouse over the issue name.

• Expressions of Bias
• Hate Speech
• Hate Crime
• Graffiti/Vandalism
• Intimidation, Bullying or Physical Violence
• Bias Incidents
• Hostile Climate
• Other Campus Climate Issues

The University takes these issues seriously and expects that they're reported in good faith. At no time will action be taken against anyone for good-faith reporting, inquiring about or seeking guidance regarding campus issues of intolerance. Your report is confidential and, to ensure that, the University contracted with an independent provider, EthicsPoint, for this service.

You may choose to remain anonymous and, if you do, you can continue to communicate with us regarding your report through this service by providing your report key and password.
Once you've submitted your report, a designated campus official will review it. Please check back in 2 weeks to see if the campus has any additional questions for you.

The form can be found here: