Civil Rights Commission Says No Anti-Semitism at UC-Irvine
Civil Rights Commission Says No Anti-Semitism at UC-Irvine
It has been announced today that a federal civil rights commission under the Department of Education failed to find evidence that the University of California at Irvine failed to respond to complaints by Jewish students of anti-Semitism on campus. The commission reportedly visited the campus on 11 occasions since last year, monitoring demonstrations and interviewing students and staff members. The complaints of anti-Semitism are a result of friction between Jewish and Muslim students that dates back severaL years, in large part over the Israeli-Palestinian issue. The commission concluded that actions by Muslim students were based not on feelings against Jews per se, rather than opposition to the practices and policies of the state of Israel.
I disagree.
As a part-time instructor at UC-Irvine since 1998, I have seen who the Muslim Student Union brings to UCI to speak virtually on a quarterly basis. These are vitriolic speakers like Oakland-based Imam Amir Abdel Malik Ali, who, in his speeches, calls suicide bombers in Israel “heroes”, constantly refers to “Zionist Jews” (both in the US,Israel-and on the UCI campus), and advocates the destruction of Israel. Another is Washington DC-based Imam, Abdul Alim Musa, a convert to Islam while in prison, who mirrors the comments of Malik Ali, talks about Islam taking over the US, and condemns America in general. Their speeches are routinely expressions of resentment and hatred. In my view, they have no place on a university campus.
I want to add here that among the overwhelming majority of students, there really is no anti-Semitism. As I have repeatedly stated, most of our students are great kids who concentrate on their studies and are enjoying their college experience.
In my opinion, the report of the Commission is a whitewash and an exercise in political correctness. University leadership has refused to deal with the issue of hate-mongering speakers coming to UCI, even when confronted with complaints by Jewish students who feel intimidated on campus. To the Administration, free speech is paramount and sacred. I say let hate-mongers, such as Malik Ali and Musa exercise their free speech on a soapbox on a city street. If UCI wants to be known as a serious university, then it needs to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility on campus.
I, for one, am disappointed in the findings of this so-called “civil rights commission.
Gary Fouse
Adjunct teacher, UC-Irvine
fousesquawk
