SAN DIEGO (Press Release) — Leaders of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County sent the following letter to Pradeep Khosla, Chancellor of the University of California, regarding the increase in antisemitic incidents on campus and an upcoming speaker.
May 6, 2022
Chancellor Khosla,
In light of the concerns about the alarming increase in antisemitic speech and incidents across the country, and in particular in San Diego and on the UCSD campus, we are writing to urge your administration to take action to improve the campus environment in regard to antisemitism, and to protect your Jewish students, many of whom currently feel unsafe and unsupported. We greatly appreciate the statement from you and Vice Chancellor Petitt today, and hope that it will lead to subsequent tangible steps to address these incidents.
Jewish Federation of San Diego stands in solidarity with the students and staff of Hillel of San Diego in their effort to make UCSD safe for all Jewish students, faculty, and staff. We are deeply concerned by the reports of the daily vandalizing of the display at the Price Center, the recent swastika found in the library, and the defacement of any positive Jewish messages in Graffiti Park. We also worry about the impact of the misleading and defamatory language and messages from upcoming speaker Taher Herzallah, the incitement his words may cause and the environment his speech will create. We encourage you to support Hillel students and staff as they work tirelessly to address incidents of antisemitism on campus and to educate and engage the campus community to combat the disturbing increase in antisemitic acts and speech at UCSD.
We support Hillel’s request that antisemitism training take place as soon as possible for the administration and students alike. During Jewish history month (and every month), we call upon the administration to do everything in its power to ensure that Jewish students at UCSD feel safe and supported. We believe in the right to free speech, but, as you indicate in your statement, a stated commitment to free speech does not absolve the administration from doing everything in its power to address antisemitic rhetoric. UCSD’s administration should find and hold accountable those who deface or vandalize Jewish and non-Jewish spaces and symbols on campus with swastikas and other symbols of hate and do all you can to create an atmosphere of safety and respect for all. Federation stands ready to support your efforts any way we can.
Respectfully,
Heidi Gantwerk, President and CEO, Jewish Federation of San Diego County
Jack Maizel, Board Chair, Jewish Federation of San Diego County