UC Davis has the ignoble distinction of being on the top ten list of antisemitic universities in America. Over the years, events put on by Jewish organizations have been disrupted There has been anti-Semitic graffiti and vandalism on campus. Anti-Semitic flyers have been distributed on campus. Swastikas were painted on a Jewish fraternity house.
Last year, Jewish student leaders and UC Davis officials met with the intention of improving campus climate for Jewish students and combating antisemitism. The administration agreed to host a town hall and a series of workshops with the ADL.
Following outcry from Students for Justice in Palestine, the workshops were never held. An SJP petition , with 149 signatures was presented , with the demand that Jewish Voice for Peace instead conduct the workshops.
From the Daily Aggie
Following the submission of a petition from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) against the ADL workshops, however, none of the planned ADL-hosted workshops have presently been scheduled, according to Associate Vice Chancellor Sheri Atkinson.
In early December, Chancellor May mentioned in an interview with The California Aggie the mutually-agreed upon commitments made with Jewish students and administrators.
“We came up with a series of things we were going to do, including a town hall and some training from the ADL to improve the campus climate,” he said at the time. “I think after that meeting, everyone came away feeling like we were in a partnership mode rather than an adversarial mode.”
It is now unclear whether the university plans to follow through on this commitment in the near future.
A recent editorial in the UC Davis student run paper, the Daily Aggie called the University officials out on their failure to satisfactorily address the issue of antisemitism, writing
Well-intentioned groups must also understand that anti-Semitism exists on both the right and the left — in both explicit and implicit forms. Certain leftist groups have historically excluded Jews from liberal spaces because of actual or assumed Zionist ideologies. Anti-Semitism is often wrongly delegitimized. Like any other reprehensible form of discrimination, this form of hatred must be unequivocally and unilaterally condemned and denounced by university and student leaders.
It is undeniable that anti-Semitism is present on campus and in the Davis community. This is not a solitary incident and should not be treated as such. Discrimination in this form requires and deserves both short-term and long-term action. The campus community must know that anti-Semitism of any kind will not be tolerated.
Showing posts with label uc davis antisemitism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uc davis antisemitism. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
International Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi stands with its brothers at UC Davis
Andrew Borans of the International Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi issued a strong statement of solidarity with our brothers at UC Davis.
Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the anti-Semitic hate crime that occurred this past Saturday morning at the University of California, Davis. (UC-Davis)
AEPi’s 9,000 undergraduate and 85,000 alumni brothers stand strongly in solidarity and support with our brothers at UC-Davis.
On campuses throughout North America and Europe, AEPi brothers have been leading the Jewish community and leading the student movement to defend Israel. Because of that leadership, in the last few months alone, our brothers have been the targets of anti-Semitic attacks at a dozen universities including Oregon, the Claremont Colleges, Arizona, Calgary, Loyola, Ohio, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Temple, Emory, SUNY-Oneonta, Tufts and, now, in Davis.
Last week, our UC-Davis brothers proudly defended Israel while the student government voted to adopt a hostile anti-Israel resolution. Within hours of that vote, during the Sabbath night, our fraternity house was vandalized with swastikas. Anti-Semitism is on the rise on college campuses across the world, and the “BDS movement” — the effort to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel — is the chief face of campus anti-Semitism.
Alpha Epsilon Pi International has dispatched staff and security experts to Davis to assure that our brothers are safe in their university and safe when expressing their Judaism and support for Israel. We are cooperating with university and law enforcement authorities in the ongoing criminal investigation. Additionally, we are working in coordination with the Secure Community Network — the national homeland security initiative of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations — to assure the safety of our Brothers across the world and to educate students, college administrators, and local communities about the rising tide of anti-Semitism.
AEPi will not allow any brother — or any Jew — on any campus to be intimidated or threatened because of their ethnicity or their support for Israel.
He followed up with a statement reassuring the parents of students in the fraternity.
Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the anti-Semitic hate crime that occurred this past Saturday morning at the University of California, Davis. (UC-Davis)
AEPi’s 9,000 undergraduate and 85,000 alumni brothers stand strongly in solidarity and support with our brothers at UC-Davis.
On campuses throughout North America and Europe, AEPi brothers have been leading the Jewish community and leading the student movement to defend Israel. Because of that leadership, in the last few months alone, our brothers have been the targets of anti-Semitic attacks at a dozen universities including Oregon, the Claremont Colleges, Arizona, Calgary, Loyola, Ohio, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Temple, Emory, SUNY-Oneonta, Tufts and, now, in Davis.
Last week, our UC-Davis brothers proudly defended Israel while the student government voted to adopt a hostile anti-Israel resolution. Within hours of that vote, during the Sabbath night, our fraternity house was vandalized with swastikas. Anti-Semitism is on the rise on college campuses across the world, and the “BDS movement” — the effort to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel — is the chief face of campus anti-Semitism.
Alpha Epsilon Pi International has dispatched staff and security experts to Davis to assure that our brothers are safe in their university and safe when expressing their Judaism and support for Israel. We are cooperating with university and law enforcement authorities in the ongoing criminal investigation. Additionally, we are working in coordination with the Secure Community Network — the national homeland security initiative of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations — to assure the safety of our Brothers across the world and to educate students, college administrators, and local communities about the rising tide of anti-Semitism.
AEPi will not allow any brother — or any Jew — on any campus to be intimidated or threatened because of their ethnicity or their support for Israel.
He followed up with a statement reassuring the parents of students in the fraternity.
In which UC Davis Senator Azka Fayyaz attempts to play victim
Today the Daily Aggie, the school paper of UC Davis contained an op-ed by Azka Fayyaz, entitled "Letter to the community from ASUCD senator Azka Fayyaz". Its not an apology. Azka's a bit upset about her recent notoriety, and wants everyone to know for a certainty, that she is the victim. Really she is.
She writes:
On Thursday, January 29, 2015, after the ASUCD Senate voted “Yes” by a supermajority to pass the Divestment Resolution, I posted a picture with the Pro-Divestment community on my personal Facebook with a satirical caption. Although I made a comment on the picture stating that the caption was satirical, the anti-divestment community conveniently left out the comment from the rest of the picture and took the caption out of context.
Her claim isn’t valid- the comments are posted in context, and there is nothing that indicates that her deeply offensive statements were anything other than her sincere feelings.
It was a screen shot, Azka. If it were edited or altered you'd be able to prove it. Its your Facebook account.
Instead, Azka, you took it down.
Do you really expect us to believe this is satire ?
If you were convinced that the context of your statement would exonerate you, why did you immediately close down your Facebook page?
The depth of her animosity towards those who disagree with her extremist views is made crystal clear with her statement, published in the Aggie. To this Muslim Student Association activist, her students peers are part of the "Zionist lobby', and their only motivation could possibly be money.
As a veiled, Muslim senator, I have been attacked many times during my term by the anti-divestment community on campus, specifically the leadership of both AEPi, the Jewish fraternity at UC Davis, and Aggies for Israel, who have made it their mission to harass me over social media and actively censor my online presence during this summer’s atrocious Operation Protective Edge, which resulted in the death of over 2,000 Gazans. More specifically, these communities have violently stalked me on Facebook and reported the contents of my profile to the Zionist lobby groups which they have been paid to represent.
A simple adjustment of your Facebook privacy setting would have taken care of that, Azka. And if you hadn't conveniently hidden your account your claims of being “violently stalked” and “harassed” on Facebook could be easily substantiated.
Azka Fayyaz concludes "My hope is that any intelligent person is able to discern between satire and fact."
We can, Azka. Yes we can. And that why we fear for the future of UC Davis.
She writes:
On Thursday, January 29, 2015, after the ASUCD Senate voted “Yes” by a supermajority to pass the Divestment Resolution, I posted a picture with the Pro-Divestment community on my personal Facebook with a satirical caption. Although I made a comment on the picture stating that the caption was satirical, the anti-divestment community conveniently left out the comment from the rest of the picture and took the caption out of context.
Her claim isn’t valid- the comments are posted in context, and there is nothing that indicates that her deeply offensive statements were anything other than her sincere feelings.
It was a screen shot, Azka. If it were edited or altered you'd be able to prove it. Its your Facebook account.
Instead, Azka, you took it down.
Do you really expect us to believe this is satire ?
If you were convinced that the context of your statement would exonerate you, why did you immediately close down your Facebook page?
The depth of her animosity towards those who disagree with her extremist views is made crystal clear with her statement, published in the Aggie. To this Muslim Student Association activist, her students peers are part of the "Zionist lobby', and their only motivation could possibly be money.
As a veiled, Muslim senator, I have been attacked many times during my term by the anti-divestment community on campus, specifically the leadership of both AEPi, the Jewish fraternity at UC Davis, and Aggies for Israel, who have made it their mission to harass me over social media and actively censor my online presence during this summer’s atrocious Operation Protective Edge, which resulted in the death of over 2,000 Gazans. More specifically, these communities have violently stalked me on Facebook and reported the contents of my profile to the Zionist lobby groups which they have been paid to represent.
A simple adjustment of your Facebook privacy setting would have taken care of that, Azka. And if you hadn't conveniently hidden your account your claims of being “violently stalked” and “harassed” on Facebook could be easily substantiated.
Azka Fayyaz concludes "My hope is that any intelligent person is able to discern between satire and fact."
We can, Azka. Yes we can. And that why we fear for the future of UC Davis.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Meet the UC Davis student who celebrates Hamas and Sharia: Azka Fayyaz.
Who is Azka Fayyaz, the Student Senator at UC Davis who celebrated BDS as a victory for "Hamas and Sharia " on her campus?
Platforms:
1. CREATE A CAMPUS-WIDE CALENDAR
Currently, students are largely unaware of the incredible events that can be found on our campus every day. These missed opportunities are both tragic and easy to address: create a centralized calendar for all students to read and contribute to, compiling information from dozens of currently disjointed systems. If elected, I will ensure that the UC Davis population is able to find out about these great opportunities with the creation of a new ASUCD unit.
2. INCREASE CLUB FINANCE COUNCIL FUNDING
According to student leaders and the staff director of the Club Finance Council, the organization’s budget does not meet the needs of the more than 600 clubs who can apply for funding. This funding goes towards creating collaborative and exciting events, but for the last few years, no organization has received the full amount that CFC has determined they should get for the event. I want to reinvest in ASUCD’s most profitable ventures so that we can, in turn, reinvest in one of our Association's greatest resources and meet the needs of CFC.
3. ADVOCATE FOR MORE QUIET SPACES FOR STUDY, REFLECTION, AND PRAYER
With our growing student population, spaces that provide sanctuary for prayer, reflection, and study have become increasingly limited and overcrowded. Fortunately, this increase comes alongside our Association's growing involvement in campus renovations. If elected, I will be the strongest advocate imaginable for quiet spaces, so that students may find respite in prayer, reflection, and study during our long days on campus.
Azka Fayyaz clearly believes in meaningful discourse, as she holds a poster labeling Netanyahu as "Hitler's illegitimate child". Note the horns.
Via Scott Dresser on Twitter:
There is nothing in
her campaign statement that indicates she will use her position to
advocate for divestment There is nothing in her campaign platform to
indicate her support for avowed terror groups.
Azka wrote:
Hello Aggies, My name is Azka. Azka Fayyaz. I am a
second-year political science major from the beautiful central valley
town of Madera, CA. Currently, I am an active member of organizations
for students of color including various Middle Eastern and South Asian
communities such as the Muslim and Pakistani Student Associations.
Additionally, I have taken dynamic roles within ASUCD by serving on the
External Affairs Commission and by working with Senator Miles Thomas as a
member of his senior staff. Last quarter, I consummated my duties as
the head of logistics for the the Muslim Student Association’s West
conference, which welcomed over 1,000 attendees to our beautiful campus.
In this role, I worked closely with high level UC Davis administration,
as well as faculty and students from a host of communities. This
opportunity gave me both critical insight into how the school is run
from behind the scenes and the places where student concerns were not
being met. To address these issues and many more, I ask for your support
in my bid to become your ASUCD Senator. My initiatives range from
implementing a holistic campus calendar to creating a more robust Club
Finance Council, and actively working with administration for an
expansion of quiet spaces for study, reflection and prayer.
If divestment wasn't part of the platform that led to the election of Azka
Fayyaz, why does anyone think she has a mandate from the student body
to proceed in that direction? There is nothing in her platform to
indicate her extremist politics.
Platforms:
1. CREATE A CAMPUS-WIDE CALENDAR
Currently, students are largely unaware of the incredible events that can be found on our campus every day. These missed opportunities are both tragic and easy to address: create a centralized calendar for all students to read and contribute to, compiling information from dozens of currently disjointed systems. If elected, I will ensure that the UC Davis population is able to find out about these great opportunities with the creation of a new ASUCD unit.
2. INCREASE CLUB FINANCE COUNCIL FUNDING
According to student leaders and the staff director of the Club Finance Council, the organization’s budget does not meet the needs of the more than 600 clubs who can apply for funding. This funding goes towards creating collaborative and exciting events, but for the last few years, no organization has received the full amount that CFC has determined they should get for the event. I want to reinvest in ASUCD’s most profitable ventures so that we can, in turn, reinvest in one of our Association's greatest resources and meet the needs of CFC.
3. ADVOCATE FOR MORE QUIET SPACES FOR STUDY, REFLECTION, AND PRAYER
With our growing student population, spaces that provide sanctuary for prayer, reflection, and study have become increasingly limited and overcrowded. Fortunately, this increase comes alongside our Association's growing involvement in campus renovations. If elected, I will be the strongest advocate imaginable for quiet spaces, so that students may find respite in prayer, reflection, and study during our long days on campus.
Azka Fayyaz clearly believes in meaningful discourse, as she holds a poster labeling Netanyahu as "Hitler's illegitimate child". Note the horns.
Via Scott Dresser on Twitter:
UC Davis: the dirty dark core where BDS and anti-Semitism intersect
Grumble.
That didn't last long. There must be a 12 step program for Bloggers, somewhere.
But this is local and involves the dirty dark core where the BDS movement and anti-Semitism intersect, so it needs to be documented.
Earlier this week, the Student Council at UC Davis voted for divestment, passing a resolution of alarming extremism. It was a foregone conclusion that they would- the student anti-Israel groups had managed to elect their BDS slate . Senators Nicholas Sanchez, Anabiah Syed, Casey Nguyen, Reem Fatayerji, Azka Fayyaz, Roman Rivilis, Robyn Huey and Andrea Velazquez voted in favor of the resolution. Senators Artem Senchev and Eugenia Chung voted against it, Senator Alex Lee abstained. Senator Amelia Helland was not present.
A day after the resolution passed, 2 swastikas were sprayed onto the walls of Alpha Epsilon Pi, the Jewish fraternity at UC Davis.
From the Sacramento Bee:
Nathaniel Bernhard, vice president of the AEPi fraternity, said the vandalism took place between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday. He condemned the action, saying the hate crime threatened to rekindle race tensions on the UC Davis campus. The fraternity building is located off of the campus.
“Jewish people still can’t feel safe on their own campuses and in their own houses,” Bernhard said. “Anti-setimism still exists today. It’s not a fairy tale.”
A member of the UC Davis student Senate Azka Fayyaz, celebrating the passage of an anti-Israel Divestment resolution wrote on her facebook page "Hamas & Sharia law have taken over UC Davis. Brb crying over the resilience." And, "If a Movement is Not Controversial, if no one is mad enough, its not strong enough &;its not worth the fight. Israel will fall. insha'Allah."
The UC Davis Aggies are asking for help.
Please sign their petition at Aggies Demand Action:
http://aggiesdemandaction.nationbuilder.com/demad_action_against_hate
UPDATE via the Davis Vanguard
That didn't last long. There must be a 12 step program for Bloggers, somewhere.
But this is local and involves the dirty dark core where the BDS movement and anti-Semitism intersect, so it needs to be documented.
Earlier this week, the Student Council at UC Davis voted for divestment, passing a resolution of alarming extremism. It was a foregone conclusion that they would- the student anti-Israel groups had managed to elect their BDS slate . Senators Nicholas Sanchez, Anabiah Syed, Casey Nguyen, Reem Fatayerji, Azka Fayyaz, Roman Rivilis, Robyn Huey and Andrea Velazquez voted in favor of the resolution. Senators Artem Senchev and Eugenia Chung voted against it, Senator Alex Lee abstained. Senator Amelia Helland was not present.
A day after the resolution passed, 2 swastikas were sprayed onto the walls of Alpha Epsilon Pi, the Jewish fraternity at UC Davis.
Nathaniel Bernhard, vice president of the AEPi fraternity, said the vandalism took place between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday. He condemned the action, saying the hate crime threatened to rekindle race tensions on the UC Davis campus. The fraternity building is located off of the campus.
“Jewish people still can’t feel safe on their own campuses and in their own houses,” Bernhard said. “Anti-setimism still exists today. It’s not a fairy tale.”
A member of the UC Davis student Senate Azka Fayyaz, celebrating the passage of an anti-Israel Divestment resolution wrote on her facebook page "Hamas & Sharia law have taken over UC Davis. Brb crying over the resilience." And, "If a Movement is Not Controversial, if no one is mad enough, its not strong enough &;its not worth the fight. Israel will fall. insha'Allah."
The UC Davis Aggies are asking for help.
Please sign their petition at Aggies Demand Action:
http://aggiesdemandaction.nationbuilder.com/demad_action_against_hate
UPDATE via the Davis Vanguard
Yesterday morning Chancellor Linda
Katehi issued a statement. She wrote, “Last evening the ASUCD Senate
passed a resolution urging the UC Board of Regents to divest from four
corporations that, according to the resolution, ‘aid in the Israeli
occupation of Palestine.’”
She stressed, “This, however, does not
reflect the position of UC Davis or the University of California system.
The investment policy for the University of California system,
including UC Davis, is set by the UC Board of Regents. The Board and
Office of the President issued a statement regarding student resolutions
that urge the Board to divest from companies doing business with
Israel. The statement reiterates the Board’s position that this type of
call to action will not be entertained.”
Chancellor Katehi continues, “We
recognize that this is a sensitive topic for many on our campus, one
that is very personal and emotional. It is for this reason that we must
exercise sensitivity, restraint and respect in relation to the issue.
Prior to the debate last night, those in attendance were reminded of our
Principles of Community. We affirmed the right to freedom of
expression, but also affirmed our commitment to the highest standards of
civility and decency toward all.”
She writes, “A renowned international
university, UC Davis manages academic and research programs across the
globe and is home to a community of faculty, researchers and students
from everywhere in the world. We believe that our shared goals of
teaching, learning and serving the needs of society, in a climate of
justice marked by respect for each other, will help us build a strong
community of learning and fulfill our mission of educating the leaders
of tomorrow and producing and disseminating knowledge.”
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