U of I, state leaders must denounce campus anti-Semitism

All citizens of our state we should be outraged by a continuous pattern anti-Semitism which has apparently been pervasive at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus. The lack of significant recognition of this problem by the university - and meaningfully addressing it - led to the filing of a Civil Rights claim with the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, which noted:

"Over the past five years, the Jewish and pro-Israel students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ("UIUC") have been subjected to a hostile environment of anti-Semitism. The anti-Semitism comes from both ends of the political spectrum: Jewish and pro-Israel students are peppered with swastikas by white supremacists on the extreme right while being labeled white supremacists by the extreme left. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that in December 2019, the UIUC student body president circulated a university-wide email condemning the "epidemic of anti-Semitism on this campus." This poisonous atmosphere has hindered the ability of Jewish and pro-Israel students to participate in UIUC's classes and activities."

This is wrong. This is sad. This is unfair to Jewish and pro-Israel students who should have the right to not be discriminated against as a result of their Judaism or their support for Israel.

This is not a few isolated incidents, but has been a continuous stream of actions and activities over an extended period. It has included rocks thrown at Jewish Fraternities, Menorahs repeatedly defaced at a Jewish center, Mezuzas ripped off dorm rooms or apartments of Jewish students, swastikas repeatedly drawn on university property and on property facing Jewish institutions or residences, discrimination against Jewish students seeking to participate in student government, and so much more.

The university has failed to acknowledge the problem and address it since this complaint was filed over seven months ago, other than some comment that it is not doing anything contrary to accreditation standards and no further review would be conducted. Regardless of what the Department of Education does on the complaint, this requires accountability and for the university and our state's leaders and legislators to forcibly condemn this anti-Semitic behavior and proactively address it.

When other forms of discrimination have occurred, the university has been more proactive At the U of I, the case of banning the use of Chief Illiniwek as a mascot was debated because many felt the Chief was revered and treated with the highest of respect, especially as he appeared for years at football games all through the years, while others felt it was highly offensive symbol to others, and therefore ultimately banned.

In the case of anti-Semitism there can be no argument that these anti-Semitic acts are done with any kind of respect. They are mean, hostile, unacceptable and despicable, and Jewish students and pro-Israel students should not have to be subjected to such an environment at the U of I. We should demand no less and urge a prompt and forcible denunciation with a plan of action to address these actions. Please join me in calling on the University and leaders in our state to speak out loudly against anti-Semitism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

• Elliott Hartstein of Northbrook is the former village president of Buffalo Grove and a 1970 graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.