Survey finds high rates of anti-Semitism on college campuses

[Behind the Aegis]

More than half of 1,157 Jewish students surveyed at 55 college campuses in the U.S. reported being subjected to or witnessing anti-Semitism at their schools, according to a new study conducted by Trinity College and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law.

The report, titled The National Demographic Survey of American Jewish College Students, was conducted in the spring of 2014 by a research team from Trinity College in Connecticut. The rates of victimization ranged depending on the campus, major, religiosity and other factors.

The survey was conducted in March and April 2014.

In the South, 70 percent of Jewish college students surveyed reported anti-Semitism at public schools, while 48 percent reported incidents at private schools. Still, the overall rates showed only a slight variation according to region, the report said, suggesting anti-Semitism is a nationwide problem.

more...

[hr]

I experienced it at the university I attended, and the ones where I worked. I was the "victim" at all three universities, but I was more 'victimized' for being gay, than Jewish.

[Marrah_G]

1. I am surprised, i would have thought it would be lower in the younger people

Very sad and disturbing.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. I am not.

From things I have seen, it is likely one of the groups where it will continue to rise.

[shenmue]

3. Very sad

[Exhibit A]

4. That's my impression, too.

It's getting worse. Hopefully, it will turn out to be a matter of young people questioning the values of earlier generations and eventually they'll come around. I know I experimented with some ideas as a young adult that I later rejected when I had more education and life experience.

[hack89]

10. BDS is very trendy on college campuses.

when you start looking at complex situations as good vs evil it is only natural to label the groups involved as good or evil.

[DanTex]

12. BDS has nothing to do with anti-Semitism. It's too bad we can't talk about the real problem of

anti-Semitism without people trying to turn it into an apology for Israeli crimes.

[hack89]

13. Right. nt

[azurnoir]

5. shocking report

especially the part in the the PDF of the reprt itself that states antisemitism on collage campus's is a bit worse in the US than in the UK page 8

http://www.brandeiscenter.com/images/uploads/articleuploads/trinity-Anti-Semitism.pdf

[leftynyc]

6. Not surprised at all

With even people here, on this board, seemingly unable to separate the Israeli Jews from all Jews, what do you expect? If anyone here said it was understandable that Muslims everywhere were held to account for the actions of Saudi Arabia or Syria, others would burn the place down.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. Unable or unwilling?

[leftynyc]

8. We both know the answer

to that.

[DanTex]

14. There is plenty of Islamophobia on DU also. Some of it overt.

The tendency to blame all members of a group for the actions of some members of the group is unfortunately something that DU hasn't been able to overcome.

[HappyMe]

15. I have noticed the broad brush

being applied also. Too much black and white thinking.

[leftynyc]

16. Perhaps you can point

out where anyone said there wasn't but in the meantime, once again a thread specifically about antisemitism has been deflected to something else. How pathetically predictable.

[DanTex]

17. Umm, says the person who diverted the thread with a discussion of how Islam-friendly DU is...

If you scroll up a bit, you'll find another attempt at diversion by dragging BDS into the discussion. I'm anxiously awaiting your protestation.

[leftynyc]

18. That you don't think BDS

is directly tied to antisemitism is your problem and seriously? You don't think talking about antisemitism that exists right here is related to the topic of antisemitism? Whatever.

[DanTex]

19. I think talking about anti-Semitism is worthwhile. I think any claim that DU is Islam-friendly

is worthy of being rebutted. And I don't think that BDS or for that matter any other criticism of Israeli policy is antisemitic. Just two posts ago, you were (rightfully) bemoaning the fact that people don't distinguish between Israeli policy and Judaism in general. And now here you are, calling critics of Israel anti-Semitic.

[leftynyc]

20. Uh -no

I'm calling the BDS movement antisemitic. I criticize Israel and the repulsive bibi all the time. On the other topic, I've watched - over the last 13 years - how Christianity and to a lesser extent Judaism can get trashed all day long here and nobody says a thing. Every single thread about anything having to do with Islam or Muslims directly gets (usually within the first 10 comments) into a deflection parade about how the US is worse, how Israel is worse. I've commented on it for years now and am surprised you have missed it.

[DanTex]

21. Making the precise mistake you accuse others of.

The BDS movement is about boycotting Israel in response to the Israeli policy of occupation. How this has anything to do with anti-semitism, unless you are linking Israeli policy with Judaism, is beyond me.

And thank you for clarifying the fact that you think DU is too Islam-friendly. Yes, I have noticed that this is one of your big talking points on DU. Sometimes I wonder how anti-Islam DU would have to be in order to satisfy you.

[leftynyc]

22. Then explain this

http://tabletmag.com/scroll/188961/israel-boycott-activists-call-for-jews-to-be-expelled-from-south-african-university

if it has nothing to do with Jews in general and not Israel at all.

If you don't see that Islam - as a religion - gets a special pass on DU, I can't help the fact you refuse to see what's right in front of your face.

[DanTex]

23. Of course, the whole BDS movement is responsible for these nutjobs.

Based on the well-established principle that all members of a group are responsible for the things that any members of the group do. That seems to be the unifying theme behind your beliefs.

Special pass, huh. Why, no I do not think so, I think that Islam is harshly criticized on DU. But I am kind of curious. A "special pass" for what exactly? What is it that Islam has done that you think they need a "special pass" to be excused from? What kinds of discussions would you like to see that don't happen because of this "special pass"?

[leftynyc]

24. It would have been nice

if even one person in the BDS movement had decried that action. No - it had to come from the Jews themselves.

And by special pass, I already explained that. Every single thread - EVERY SINGLE ONE - about anything having to do with Muslims or Islam gets IMMEDIATELY derailed into "the US is worse", "Israel is worse", "Christians are worse" - that NEVER happens when the subject is about Christians or Jews or Buddhists or anyone but Muslims. This place hasn't had an honest discussion about what's going on with Islam today EVER. Not one.

[DanTex]

26. Yes, and every time an obscure Muslim (or Jewish, or whatever) student group says something dumb,

I assume you think the "good Muslims" are responsible if they don't immediately condemn it. Obviously.

I'm quite sure almost all BDS people and most critics of Israel in general are just as disgusted as you and I with the idea of kicking Jews out of a university.

Hmm, so what do you think an "honest discussion about what's going on with Islam today" would entail. You must be aware of how creepy that sounds. How about "an honest discussion about what's going on with Judaism today". Ick. "An honest discussion of what's going on with homosexuality today." Puke.

I happen to think it's a good thing when Islamophobic posts are immediately rebutted by people pointing out the fallacy of blaming all Muslims for the actions of the few. Particularly since Muslims are one of the most persecuted groups in America today. I mean, if some nut said that Muslims should be kicked out of some university, it wouldn't even make the evening news.

[leftynyc]

27. Sigh

This is getting boring but I'll give it one last try seeing as you have completely proved my point by having this entire thread deflect from the original topic. You don't think there is a problem with the way Islam has been perverted by isis? That young British women leave a western country so they can join a group that will sell them into slavery or turn them over to be raped by whoever? That 8000 ancient manuscripts were destroyed for being "against Islam"? None of that bother you or is that it's too "creepy" if we talk about it? And nobody here has tagged all Muslims with isis so that strawman is an embarrassment.

[DanTex]

32. Again, *you* were the one who introduced Islam into the discussion.

If you don't want the thread to be diverted, don't start making posts about how there's not enough anti-Islam sentiment on DU.

It's funny, I click on this thread to read about rising anti-semitism in the US, something that has more been associated with Europe recently. Then I get here and I find one response suggesting that critics of Israeli policy are anti-semitic, and another complaining that there isn't enough criticism of Islam. And now I'm being accused of derailing the thread from its original topic.

To answer your question, yes I have a huge problem with ISIS. I also have a problem with anti-abortion terrorists. I have a big problem with the Israeli occupation. I don't have a problem with Islam, Christianity, or Judaism.

Oh, and since I know what comes next: yes, I have a bigger problem with ISIS than with anti-abortionists or Israel.

[Violet_Crumble]

41. Why do you keep on denying that there have been posts at DU broadbrushing Muslims?

It's kind of like if someone were to go round insisting that there's no anti-Semitism at DU.

[leftynyc]

42. Where did I say

it didn't exist? Any post I've seen that broadbrushes is quickly hidden so for all we know, trolls are trying to make trouble. Do you think the majority of DUers are Islamophobes?

[Violet_Crumble]

45. There's plenty of broadbrushing posts been left standing.

You appeared to be saying they didn't exist. Now it's they exist but they get hidden?

No, do you think the majority of DUers are anti-semites?

[leftynyc]

50. I think far too many

let their anti-Israel feelings infect their feelings about Jews in general. A majority? No idea - I never counted.

[DanTex]

48. It looks like his/her point is that there aren't enough threads broadbrushing Muslims.

And that those annoying liberals keep interrupting the Islamophobic threads by pointing out that holding all Muslims to account for the actions of ISIS is bigotry.

[leftynyc]

28. And here we go again

Just posted. Keep telling yourself there is no problem today with Islam:

http://www.ibtimes.com/saudi-arabia-apostasy-case-man-renounces-muslim-faith-video-sentenced-death-saudi-1826152

A Saudi court has sentenced a man to death for renouncing his Muslim faith and other blasphemy charges, according to a Saudi Gazette report cited by Reuters Tuesday. The offender had posted a video online showing himself defacing the Quran and hitting it with a shoe, a grave insult and a crime in the kingdom, which follows a strict interpretation of Islam.


Or take a look at this Pew Poll and see just how many think sharia law should be the law of their land:

http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-overview/

You can continue to pretend it's isolated cases but you'd only be putting your head in the sand.

[DanTex]

35. Yes, and I could make a post about horrific things that Chrisians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, etc have

done or are doing in the name of religion. I could also point you to verses in the Bible that are just as horrific as anything in the Koran. And so on. I'm not going to do it, first because you also know that I could and so does anyone else, but more importantly it would place me in the position of arguing "Christians and Jews and Hindus are bad too!" whereas what I actually believe is that they are not bad, nor is Islam, despite the fact that there are bad people using these faiths for evil ends.

[leftynyc]

36. You can pretend

all those overwhelming majorities that want sharia law - and think thieves should have their hands cut off and people should be stoned to death for leaving Islam is nothing to concern yourself with but those numbers are pretty fucking scary to anyone paying attention. It appears you want to pretend it's just isis that feels that way. That Pew poll shows how wrong you are.

[DanTex]

39. I'm not sure how much more clearly I can put this.

If someone pointed out that the one Jewish nation in the world is committing war crimes regularly, that a huge majority of its Jewish citizens support these war crimes, and then drew the conclusion that we need to have a "serious conversation about Judiasm," I'm pretty sure you would be up in arms about that. And for very good reason.

And, again, since I know what your answer invariably is, yes, what ISIS (or Syria or whoever) does is obviously worse than what Israel does. Which, again, completely misses the point.

And finally, I'll point out, yet again, the person who brought up Islam in this thread was you. And I still don't understand why. It's not a competition between Islamophobia and antisemitism. They are both evil prejudices. I could understand if you brought it up in the context of "there are a lot of hateful bigots in this world", but, no, instead the point you made was that Islam gets off easy. Which, given that in the US, Muslims are one of the most discriminated against groups (probably a close second to LBGT), is not just inappropriate but also absurd. It's not Islam that's given a pass, it's Islamophobia. What other persecuted minority can someone get away with saying we need to have a "serious discussion" about?

[leftynyc]

40. YOU think it misses the point

but that's just your opinion. I think when a group has decided to follow Islam TO THE LETTER and uses it to commit heinous crimes (another 150 Christians rounded up and taken away to be sold as slaves just yesterday), then a conversation needs to be had. You apparently think ignoring it will make it go away. I strongly disagree. We see tens of thousands take to the streets over fucking cartoons - where are these same people when it comes to showing the world isis is perverting their faith - that's seems to be something that would get more people out in the streets than cartoons.

[Violet_Crumble]

43. Yr comments about Muslims remind me of some who broadbrush Jews...

When it comes to Jews it's stuff like Stern Gang, settlements, bombing Gaza being connected with Jews in general.

When it comes to Muslims it's stuff like ISIS, riots in developing countries, fucking cartoons being connected with Muslims in general.

Both attitudes reek to high heaven.

[leftynyc]

49. Totally unresponsive to my

post but I've come to expect that.

[DanTex]

44. The point isn't the severity of ISIS crimes.

Nobody's disputing that. Nor the fact that following a religion to the letter is truly dangerous (take a peek at the Old Testament if you doubt this). Following religion to the letter has and continues to cause problems all over the world. For example, wouldn't it be great if the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque didn't have to be located in exactly the same place?

The problem comes when you say things like "we need to have a serious discussion about Islam" in light of the fact that Islamophobia is one of if not the strongest forms of discrimination in America today. Again, would you not object if someone said "we need to have a serious discussion about Judaism"? Of course you would. And so would I.

That doesn't mean we don't need to have a serious discussion about ISIS, or about Israeli war crimes (which, once again, are obviously not as bad as what ISIS is doing).

[Bluenorthwest]

51. Considering the subject of this thread and your assertions about anti Islamic bias being a huge

problem in America, I can't help but think about the FBI's Hate Crimes Statistics. I doubt you are familiar with them, as you don't seem to belong to a community subject to frequent bias crimes. I belong to such a community, so I tend to know about these things. Let's grant that bias toward the Islamic faith of the victim is a great and terrible problem consuming the us, then look at the figures from 2013, the most recent year for which the FBI has statistics.
An analysis of data for victims of single-bias hate crime incidents showed that:

49.3 percent of the victims were targeted because of the offenders’ bias against race.
20.2 percent were targeted because of bias against sexual orientation.
16.9 percent were victimized because of bias against religion.
11.4 percent were victimized because of bias against ethnicity

Of the 1,223 victims of anti-religious hate crimes:

60.3 percent were victims of crimes motivated by their offenders’ anti-Jewish bias.
13.7 percent were victims of anti-Islamic (Muslim) bias.
6.1 percent were victims of anti-Catholic bias.
4.3 percent were victims of bias against groups of individuals of varying religions (anti-multiple religions, group).
3.8 percent were victims of anti-Protestant bias.
0.6 percent were victims of anti-Atheist/Agnostic bias.
11.2 percent were victims of bias against other religions (anti-other religion). (Based on Table 1.)


So while advocacy for any group is admirable, issues of hate crime and discrimination are not exclusive to any one group and thus those who oppose bigotry and hate crimes and discrimination should speak out strongly and loudly against bigotry and hate crimes and discrimination no matter who is the victim and also no matter who is the criminal. Those who are selective in opposition to such attitudes and crimes are not really opposing the attitudes and crimes.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2013/topic-pages/victims/victims_final

[DanTex]

54. I agree completely. There is bigotry against many groups. And it goes way beyond just hate crimes.

There is all sorts of discrimination. The anti-Semitic actions described in this OP, for example, probably don't rise to the level of hate crimes, but that doesn't mean they aren't despicable.

Which is why I objected to a DUer complaining that Islam "gets a free pass" on DU. I think it's a good thing that DU resists the rampant Islamophobia in the mainstream media.

[Behind the Aegis]

57. Sometimes that bigotry gets a pass.

Just as you are taking issue with your concern, it never ceases to amaze that almost every time anti-Semitism is the topic, it is derailed into comments about Islamophobia or Israel. Why do you suppose that is? Why do you suppose that people give the cursory "oh, that's bad, but..." when the topic is about discrimination or hate against Jews?

[DanTex]

58. Let me show you who derailed this thread with comments about Islam and Israel.

With even people here, on this board, seemingly unable to separate the Israeli Jews from all Jews, what do you expect? If anyone here said it was understandable that Muslims everywhere were held to account for the actions of Saudi Arabia or Syria, others would burn the place down.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6270831

BDS is very trendy on college campuses.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6271420

Please, if you want to find out why this thread got derailed, you should take it up with leftynyc and hack89.

I have no earthly idea why anyone would think that a thread about antisemitism is a good place to start talking about how Islam-friendly DU is, how Islam gets, and I quote "a special pass." Even more ironically, leftynyc repeatedly complained and insinuated that I was the one who derailed this thread, when it is plainly obvious that it was he/she who did just that in order to forward an anti-Islam agenda.

I also have no earthly idea why anyone would take a thread about antisemitism and decide to take this opportunity to link it to critics of the Israeli occupation.

You ask, "why to I suppose that is?" I can only speculate. But my guess is people are trying take something -- antisemitism -- that everyone agrees is horrible, and attempt to link it to more controversial topics. But that's just my guess. If you really want to know, you are going to have to ask the people who did the derailing.

[2banon]

56. Very well put DanTex.

Additionally, I think an analysis/discussion on the basis of perceptions of antisemitism (vs actual) is largely lacking in the context when these charges are ultimately brought..

I believe that policy matters and ethnicity and/or religious affiliations need to be separated in these discussions in my opinion but unfortunately it is too often intertwined - so maybe it's just not possible, especially given that to criticize inhumane policy is to criticize the people that support inhumane policies. And if that number is the majority, well then.. that's a serious problem with quite an undesirable effect and so naturally, logically, there will be a negative attitude towards the group of people/nation that does harm to another.

[Behind the Aegis]

37. It is more common than many think.

What I have found so surprising is the return or uptick in "classic" anti-Semitism. To me, that is very surprising. I am also not in the least bit surprised by the anti-Semitism being higher in younger people; I have seen more than a few examples. It goes to show the classic "wait for the old people to die off" is just a denial tactic.

[leftynyc]

38. The ones dying off

have already infected their children. Living in NY awards me a certain comfort - so many fellow Jews around - not like living in places that joke they have enough for a minion and 2 alternates.

[Behind the Aegis]

53. I was going to tell you about the NYC cab story...

...I see you found it.

[leftynyc]

55. And I see

the usual culprit is completely LYING about it. You would think an honest adult would not only admit his mistake but would delete the comment where he made it to stop any confusion but noooooooo - that would take grace and good manners.

[GreatGazoo]

9. Talking to a Prof at a local Ivy League school which is considered very liberal, she told me they

are trying to get more diversity in their undergrads. They have given scholarships to several African American students only to have them withdraw during their first year. In the exit interviews they found that the prejudice the students confronted was not over race but rather their religious (Southern Baptist) practices.

Sorry to hear of your experiences. I worked in some temp positions year ago and the only people who gave me a hard time were people who were miserable in their job, their life or their work environment. Miserable people give themselves permission to behave horribly.

[Fumesucker]

46. Southern Baptist church is anti gay and against equal rights for women

Jimmy Carter rather famously left the Southern Baptist church over their support for bigotry.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=95311

Former President Carter, a longtime Sunday school teacher, is walking away from the Southern Baptists because of the church’s stance on equality for women.

In an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published today, Carter says Southern Baptist leaders reading the Bible out of context led to the adoption of increasingly “rigid” views.

“I’m familiar with the verses they have quoted about wives being subjugated to their husbands,” he told the paper. “In my opinion, this is a distortion of the meaning of Scripture. … I personally feel the Bible says all people are equal in the eyes of God. I personally feel that women should play an absolutely equal role in service of Christ in the church.”

[LeftishBrit]

11. This is what happened fairly recently at Oxford University

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/8870909/Oxford-Tories-nights-of-port-and-Nazi-songs.html


I wouldn't say that anti-Semitism was the biggest prejudice on British university campuses (misogyny is more prevalent IMO, despite a majority of students now being women); but it certainly keeps rearing its ugly head.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. I would be more interested in attitudes than incidents.

I have even heard anti-semitic comments by professors while relatively benign they should know better. One professor I knew called American University (AU) , A Jew, and waxed about Jewish American Princesses (JAPS) being driven to campus in limos. Another professor called The New Republic magazine The Jew Republic because a lot of the writers and owners were Jewish.

The notion that anti-semitism, even here, is a relic of the old world is inane.

[Behind the Aegis]

29. That would be interesting.

However, that would require interview the perpetrators not the victims/witnesses. Take a look at this thread, or just about any thread where anti-Semitism is the topic, and one thing is almost always displayed...subject change. They make it about something else, and leave the discussion of anti-Semitism as a footnote. Of course, you also get comments like this:

I find it hard to believe that there is any aspect of "anti-Semitism" that is not talked about endlessly, with or without adequate provocation.

Seems to me discovering the attitude behind that statement isn't difficult.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. Not the attitudes of the perps but attitudes towards Jews in general./NT

[Behind the Aegis]

31. Check out the ADL survey on Global Anti-Semitism.

It breaks it down by stereotype. That would fall under "attitude" IMO.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

33. I saw it...I noticed the Philippines had the least anti-semites. That's interesting./NT

[Behind the Aegis]

34. Yeah, there were a few surprises in that survey.

Here's an "attitude" piece:

http://dailybruin.com/2015/02/18/submission-usac-members-should-apologize-for-discriminatory-act/

( Mosby)

[KittyWampus]

47. It depends on what is termed "anti-Semitism". Hostility towards Israel and its Likud policies

and its treatment of Palestinians and its illegal seizure of Palestinian territory isn't anti-Semitism.

Annoyance with people who support the far-right tendencies of Israel also isn't anti-Semitism.

Unfortunately, even on DU it's hard for some people to differentiate between Israel, Israeli far-right policies, Israeli citizens and Jews.


Perhaps the crappy economic outlook is a part of the equation. Got to blame somebody. And the old Birch Society and its milking of tribal prejudices seems to become more and more mainstream. THANKS, FOX News.

[procon]

52. Agreed. A lot of needless arguments arise from this type of mistake. nt