This commentary is by Matt Vogel, executive director of Hillel at the University of Vermont.
The publicity surrounding the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights investigation into antisemitism at the University of Vermont has thrust Jewish students to the center of global attention. Increased publicity began with last year’s Burlington City Council contentious vote on Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) of Israel, continued throughout the Ben & Jerry’s boycott, and has resurfaced again this fall with our return to campus.
During that time, I’ve received calls and emails from alumni, parents and organizations, all wanting to know three things: What is going on at the University of Vermont, is it really that bad, and what can be done to improve the situation?
Here is what I’ve seen. Last month, hundreds of students celebrated Rosh Hashanah with Hillel, proudly and publicly in the center of campus. Last week, students prepared Shabbat meal kits of kale and potatoes grown on our Hillel farm by students this past summer. They studied Jewish agrarian traditions and agricultural innovations alongside UVM faculty and Hillel educators while working to alleviate food insecurity. We have a full Birthright bus this winter.
Jewish life, learning and connections to Israel are thriving, even as antisemitism exists at UVM.
Jewish students across the country experience hatred in both subtle and overt ways, either through ignorance or willful intent. I’m certain that Justice Louis D. Brandeis did not envision campus life when writing an article titled “What Publicity Can Do” about banking reforms for Harper’s Weekly in 1913. However, his note that “publicity is justly commended as a remedy for social and industrial diseases” rings true.
Publicity of antisemitism at UVM has helped students find their voice to speak out and stand up for their right to be Jewish without preconditions or needing to hide an integral part of their identity to be accepted by others.
So what can be done in response to antisemitism on campus? This is what I heard directly from Jewish students, friends and allies during the listening sessions that UVM held last week.
- When Jewish students report bias as antisemitism, act promptly and publicly to condemn hateful speech and acts or else they will continue unabated.
- There should be ongoing education and training for the campus community to better understand the intertwined complexity of Jewish identity, antisemitism and Israel.
- Discrimination impacts everyone with a historically marginalized identity. Jewish students should not be treated differently when they experience bias and harassment because of who they are.
- Students feel supported by Hillel and they want us to continue as a bridge to the university on issues of Jewish identity, inclusion and equal treatment.
My experience from 20 years of work with Hillel says to engage these students in conversation, listen to them, and learn from them. Believe them when they tell you that, whether it’s based on religion, ethnicity, culture, their connection to Zionism, Israel or some combination thereof, antisemitism is dangerously real.
Universities and colleges must lead the way in publicly and clearly condemning antisemitism and proudly supporting Jewish students as diverse, equal and included members of their campus communities.
