The Campus Scene and a Reality Check

Being an advocate for a non-dire view of the world can be challenging; one can argue against, but not disprove, someone else's genuinely held fears and concerns.

Several years ago I spoke to a major Jewish organization's annual board meeting and described Community Advocates' concerns and view of the world—–while there are (and always will be) serious problems, concerns and inequities—-for the most part American society is amazingly tolerant and many of the most profound battles of the past few decades regarding diversity, race, religion and ethnicity could be viewed in the rear view mirror.

At the conclusion of my remarks a middle aged woman got up to take issue with my thesis and declared that, at least on campus, there was a crisis and Jewish kids were “at risk.” She spoke of her niece who, she said, left UCLA because she felt threatened and in danger.

I responded, admittedly not knowing the circumstances surrounding her niece's departure (but calling upon my years of involvement with UCLA as a student, as an alumnus, as head of the ADL in LA, and as a former UCLA Hillel board member). I knew and have experienced confrontations, unpleasant incidents and tensions on campus and as an involved alumnus, but never did I, or anyone I knew of, experience a sense of danger or fear for personal safety. I mentioned to her that part of “getting educated” at the university level was learning to be challenged and to be “uncomfortable.”

I gingerly suggested that her niece's case was likely an outlier and that UCLA was NOT hostile to Jewish students. She would have none of it. She became rather hostile and accused me of being blind to the dire situation of Jews on campuses across the country and at UCLA most especially.

I was convinced then, and am convinced now, that the Chicken Little view of campus life for Jewish students is simply wrong and dangerous; too often engendering fear in students and parents about the schools their kids attend or are considering. Frequently, the hyperbole is the product of overzealous organizations—see “>here and “>here). But, for the most part, it is a golden age on campus for American Jewish students, faculty and administrators. (In terms of the Beyda case, it could hardly have been handled better than it was by the powers that be at UCLA—students and administrators).

This past weekend I was confirmed in my notion that UCLA, and I suspect most American campuses, continue to be wonderful places for Jewish kids to flower as students, as activists (if they so choose) and as vigorous participants in a diverse and vital campus scene.

UCLA Hillel held a lay leaders' retreat to discuss the activities that occur on campus and off, under the auspices of Hillel and other organizations. The message of involvement was delivered not by Hillel staff members or concerned board members, but by about a dozen UCLA students who described their world.

Their listing of activities and the range of Hillel activities was “> letter drafted by Hillel students to prospective UCLA students about their “thriving Jewish community at UCLA”).

These kids were confident, self-assured and excited about what they described. They weren't the stereotypical schleppers who were the butt of Hillel jokes decades ago. From Shabbat services and dinners that hundreds of students attend every week, to