Photo from Wikimedia Commons. StandWithUs sent a letter to Florida State University (FSU) President John Thrasher and the University Board of Trustees urging them to take action against Student Senate President Ahmad Daraldik.
StandWithUs co-founder and CEO Roz Rothstein, Saidoff Legal Department Director Yael Lerman and Center for Combating Anti-Semitism Director Carly Gammill noted that FSU’s previous student senate president, Jack Denton, was removed on June 5 over his private GroupMe chats saying that Black Lives Matter’s belief in transgenderism and the American Civil Liberties Union’s support for abortions were anti-Catholic. However, Daraldik was not removed on June 17 over his past social media posts that said “f— Israel” and “stupid Jews.” Daraldik also has a website where he compares the Israeli government to Nazi Germany.
“Denton and Daraldik both have records of engaging in hateful rhetoric, yet one was removed while the other was promoted,” they wrote. “Daraldik apparently enjoys immunity from being held accountable for a similar kind of hateful speech that led to Denton’s removal from office. This apparent double standard begs the question of why there appears to be a zero-tolerance policy for bigotry directed at some kinds of students at FSU, but not at Jewish or Israeli students.”
Rothstein, Lerman and Gammill argued that Daraldik’s comments fall under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, which states that the demonization and delegitimization of Israel is anti-Semitic, including comparing Israel to the Nazis.
“FSU’s decision to punish Denton while giving a pass to Daraldik is an example of exactly the kind of double standard that the IHRA defines as anti-Semitism,” they wrote.
Rothstein, Lerman and Gammill praised Thrasher’s June 18 statement condemning anti-Semitism, but argued that it should have mentioned Daraldik’s comments and provided a solution to the issue. They also pointed out that there is precedent for universities intervening to undo student government’s actions regarding anti-Semitism, pointing to Williams College acting in 2019 to ensure that a pro-Israel group was recognized as a student club on campus.
“Applying the same standard to Daraldik as was applied to Denton, it is obvious that the student senate should have removed Daraldik,” Rothstein, Lerman and Gammill wrote. “Instead, he remains in the senate presidency despite a long track record of anti-Semitism — sending a stark message to Jewish and Israeli students that hatred and bigotry directed against them is acceptable at Florida State University.”
They argued that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination against minority groups, requires the university to act on this matter.
“Instead of issuing a vague statement against anti-Semitism, as you have done, you should address the specific instances of anti-Semitism committed by Daraldik, and explain to students — especially members of student government — why these are examples of anti-Semitism and why it is important that someone expressing such views should not be in a position of campus leadership,” Rothstein, Lerman and Gammill wrote. “You should work to educate the student senate on anti-Semitism, and ask this body to vote again on whether Daraldik should remain president.”
They concluded: “Right now we believe you are not ensuring that all forms of discrimination are met with the same repercussions, raising clear Title VI questions. The pivotal role you play supporting students of all races, religions, colors, and nationalities includes denouncing incidents such as these and enforcing equal treatment when others refuse.”
On June 17, a vote of no confidence in Daraldik failed; 19 voted in favor, 16 voted against and six abstained. A vote of no confidence in the FSU student senate requires a two-thirds majority vote.
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