Campus Watch Dec. 1, 2022

UA Prof Killed By Gunman Who Thought He Was Jewish

A University of Arizona professor was shot and killed by a gunman who allegedly thought the professor was Jewish.

Secure Community Network CEO Michael Masters wrote in a November 22 op-ed for The Arizona Republic that the gunman, identified as former graduate student Murad Dervish, had accused the victim, Professor Thomas Meixner, “of orchestrating a Jewish-led conspiracy against him” in various text messages. Meixner was not Jewish. The university did expel Dervish and banned from campus, but it wasn’t enough, Masters argued, noting that the Pima County Attorney’s Office did not see the threats as reason enough to criminally charge Dervish. 

“It is costing innocent lives that the threat level of ‘death to all Jews’ and ‘I hope someone blows your brains out’ is not serious enough to pursue legal and protective action,” Masters wrote.

Complaint Filed Against Berkeley Law Over Student Groups Barring Zionist Speakers

A legal complaint has been filed against UC Berkeley Law School over nine student groups passing bylaws barring Zionist speakers from coming to campus.

The complaint, which was filed by attorneys Gabriel Groisman and Arsen Ostrovsky, the latter of whom heads the International Legal Forum, alleged that Berkeley Law is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act for failing to take action against the student groups. They argued that Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky “has neither called for their revocation, nor has he taken any meaningful action in response to this egregious act of discrimination, as required under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.”

CUNY Prof Alleges University is Investigating Him for Calling Out Antisemitism

City University of New York’s (CUNY) Kingsborough Community College Professor Jeffrey Lax is alleging that the university is investigating him in retaliation for Lax calling for a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) supporter to be removed from a search committee.

Lax tweeted out a picture of a letter on which he was copied saying that CUNY would be investigating a complaint filed by the BDS supporter on the DEI search committee and that the investigation would be overseen by an independent firm. The investigation would be completed by January 2023 at the latest. The email did not specify what exactly was being investigated.

“The worst thing I did was call her [the BDS supporter] antisemitic,” Lax told the Journal, “which I stand by 100% … anyone who signs a BDS petition is antisemitic and should not be on DEI search committees for antisemitism officers.”

Antisemitic Graffiti Found on Syracuse Desk

Antisemitic graffiti was found in a desk at Syracuse University on November 10.

The Daily Orange reported that a student found the graffiti on a desk in Watson Theater and that when the student had sat at the same desk a week before, the graffiti wasn’t there. The graffiti was no longer at the desk when campus investigators looked into the matter. It’s still under investigation.

Cambridge Students Chant “From the River to the Sea” Protesting Former Israeli Deputy PM

Various students at Cambridge University can be seen on film chanting “from the river to the sea Palestine will be free” as they were protesting a speaking event by former Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor.

Meridor spoke on November 23 at The Cambridge Union; in response to those criticizing the Union for hosting a member of the “apartheid regime,” the Union said that they’re “strongly committed to our founding principle of promoting Free Speech.”

The Pinsker Centre tweeted out a video of the “from the river to the sea” chants, stating that “the same day as a bombing in Jerusalem, it is sickening to hear chants used by Hamas being used to shut down free speech in the UK.”

Ohio State President Denounces Antisemitic Incidents on Campus

Ohio State University President Kristina M. Johnson denounced recent incidents of antisemitism and racism in a November 15 email.

The Lantern reported that the email was in response to graffiti of several antisemitic and racial slurs in one of the campus buildings, as well as a swastika and a crossed-out Star of David. “There is no room for hate in our home,” Johnson wrote. “Most unfortunately, we have all seen examples of antisemitism, racism and other hateful behavior in the national news in recent weeks and months––and far too many of us have seen and experienced instances of antisemitism on our campuses and in the Ohio State community.”