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The Student News Site of San Francisco State University

Golden Gate Xpress

The Student News Site of San Francisco State University

Golden Gate Xpress

Campus community responds to anti-Semitic title

 

The Star of David necklace has become a second skin for 19-year-old Jacob Mandel, who wears his jewelry proudly but subtly underneath his striped, button-up shirt. The Jewish student began his education at SF State before it was recently named one of the top anti-Semitic schools in the country, otherwise he said he might have been misled about the University.

The David Horowitz Freedom Center, titled after its founder, reported the 10 U.S. campuses that experienced the worst anti-Semitic behavior Feb. 21. SF State was selected as the seventh worst college, below sixth ranked San Diego State University but above ninth ranked University of California, Los Angeles. The organization picked colleges based on the severity and amount of anti-Semitic behavior that occurred on campus, often with the use of university funds, according to the Horowitz Center website.

Mandel, an active member of SF State’s Hillel, the largest international Jewish student organization, spanning over 500 U.S. campuses, was baffled when he heard about the report.

“I was quite surprised when I read more into the article,” Mandel said. “I didn’t feel that (the center) really knows the feel for this campus and they had not really looked into Hillel or contacted us at all.”

In addition to the Hillel, SF State has an active Jewish fraternity and sorority on campus, along with a Jewish studies department. The chair of the department, Fred Astren, said he found the Freedom Center’s report misleading.

“We’ve heard this kind of message before – it doesn’t correspond to the reality that characterizes our campus and our campus community,” Astren said. “If you ask Jewish students or Jewish faculty, you are going to have a hard time finding people to corroborate that this is an anti-Semitic place.”

The Freedom Center cited the General Union of Palestinian Students’ protest during the celebration of Israel Independence last May as an instance of anti-Semitic behavior on campus at SF State.

San Francisco State students Alexa Johnson (right) passes Brandon Glajchen, a computer science major, the challah bread during the opening Shabbat ritual at the San Francisco Hillel Jewish Student Center Friday, March 6. (Sara Gobets / Xpress)
San Francisco State students Alexa Johnson (right) passes Brandon Glajchen, a computer science major, the challah bread during the opening Shabbat ritual at the San Francisco Hillel Jewish Student Center Friday, March 6. (Sara Gobets / Xpress)

“When some of the heat was generated on the political expression in (the quad), it now gets generated in the classroom and is framed in the academic study of the controversial subjects,” Astren said. “It’s less emotional. The stakes have not changed, the stakes are huge but it has taken a new framework at San Francisco State and it’s a good place to come and study these topics.”

Astren, who has taught at SF State for 19 years, said past incidents between Palestinian and Jewish students may have been considered anti-Semitic, but he believes the administration has been receptive and reactive in order to fix those issues.

“In terms of anti-Semitism on the campus, the administration has been very, very supportive and the department has its confidence in President Wong and the administration,” Astren said.

Title IX Coordinator and Vice President of Student Affairs Luoluo Hong heads the administration’s involvement in cases of discrimination. Since joining the University’s administration 10 months ago, Hong said she has not had any incidents of anti-Semitism reported to her.

“Diversity brings differences and differences can sometimes be uncomfortable but I think it’s a skill set that we’re helping develop here at San Francisco State,” Hong said.

The GUPS and Jewish students at SF State have had disagreements and animosity in the past, but administration and faculty members like Hong and Astren said they view these as expressions of opinion that could be utilized to create necessary dialogue.

Despite occasional clashing of opinions between Israeli and Palestinian students at SF State, Mandel said he believes there is hope for coexistence of the two groups.

“The first step to coexistence will have to happen here in the United States with the students and then eventually it will make its way back (to Israel and Palestine),” Mandel said.

Administration, faculty, and students believe that the most important thing is the present and how students feel and can be identified today, Astren said.

“In the end for me the student feedback is the most important thing for me to do my job,” Hong said. “It’s our community here today. I’m trying to understand what students’ experiences are today.”

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    Phil TheShochet HaggardyMar 12, 2015 at 3:18 pm

    Sorry this article is a complete LIE. I went to SF state, I graduated with a degree in Modern Jewish studies, I was the only student who walked around with a Kippah wearing the traditional tzittzit and I can tell you anti-Semitism is alive and real on the SF state campus. I was in AEPi my friends who wore Israel shirts got spit on and assaulted and were forced to remain in the same class with these pathetic individuals since the campus administration has proven time and again that they do not care about the Jews on campus. Astren is a genius but he is wrong.

    Reply
    • J

      jessican123Mar 13, 2015 at 2:11 pm

      Hey Phil, I’m a Journalism student at SFSU writing a feature on anti-Semitism for one of my classes and would love to hear about your experiences. As a Jewish student myself, I haven’t experienced any anti-Semitism but am interested in hearing from people who have. Please reply here or tweet me @jessicanemire if you’re willing to be interviewed. Thank you!
      –Jessica

      Reply
      • P

        Phil TheShochet HaggardyMar 26, 2015 at 10:14 am

        Sure you can interview me, I have personal and 2nd hand stories (names of individuals included). You can send me a message on FB and ill give you my phone number and/or email address

        Reply
        • J

          jessican123Mar 27, 2015 at 1:19 pm

          Great, what’s your FB name? Thanks!

          Reply
  • R

    Ratchel MarcusMar 11, 2015 at 8:59 pm

    Well said, the DHFC has no right to claim they know campus climate on campuses like ours (I am a Jewish student at UC Berkeley). Also, its important to keep in mind that anti-semitism vs. free speech vs. Anti-Israel are different things.

    Reply
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Campus community responds to anti-Semitic title