December 20, 2024 — San Francisco, CA
American Jewish Committee (AJC) San Francisco today welcomed the announcement of agreements between the Department of Education and UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz, which include training for university employees, public safety officers, and law enforcement “about the university’s policies, procedures, and obligations under Title VI” and measures to ensure these schools better communicate with students who have made Title VI complaints and the student body at large about antisemitism on campus.
“Students at UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz faced unprecedented and unacceptable levels of antisemitism. We are glad to see new agreements with the Department of Education which – if properly implemented by the administrators – will help make campuses safer and more welcoming for Jews and all students,” said AJC Northern California Regional Director Seth Brysk.
"At UC Santa Cruz, incidents included swastikas spray painted on campus and encampments blocking student access to the university. Walk-outs accompanied by antisemitic chanting left Jewish and Israeli students feeling unsafe and estranged. Meanwhile, at UC Davis, students faced harassment for being Jewish or Israeli. Students who supported the existence of Israel were subjected to a barrage of in-person and on-line intimidation and threats,” continued Brysk. “AJC is prepared to work with administrators at UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz to ensure that all students have access to the educational environment they deserve – institutions that refuse to normalize antisemitism in any form, are inclusive of Jews and Jewish identity, and are rooted in critical thinking, viewpoint diversity, and fact-based inquiry.”
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