Allegations Against Cal Poly Humboldt
A troubling situation is unfolding at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, also known as Cal Poly Humboldt. A federal civil rights complaint has been lodged against the university, accusing it of advising Jewish students to downplay their religious identities as a means to avoid the growing tide of anti-Semitic harassment on campus. This complaint, submitted to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights by the Brandeis Center and Jewish on Campus, paints a picture of an environment hostile to Jewish students.
There have been consistent reports of harassment aimed squarely at the campus's Chabad group and the broader Jewish student community. Some of the reported incidents are deeply disturbing. Imagine the sense of vulnerability and fear that could arise when, during a Sukkot ceremony, pro-Hamas activists invade the space, chanting slogans and defacing the area with messages like 'Go Away Nazis.' The use of fake blood thrown at students to symbolize 'the blood of martyrs' adds a surreal and deeply unsettling dimension to the harassment.
University's Alleged Inadequate Response
The issue isn't just the harassment itself but also how the university has reportedly responded. One senior, Zachary Mink, became a target after he voiced criticism of pro-Hamas activism in a column. Following this, episodes of harassment forced him to take safety measures, including masking his identity and moving his coursework online.
More eye-opening are claims regarding the administration's response to these incidents. During a campus club fair, it’s alleged that a Chabad group's booth became the focus of a masked student spewing slurs and accusations. Instead of stepping in to stop this, the Associate Dean for Student Life reportedly advised the group to leave, rather than confronting the harassment directly. In an equally concerning incident, when a ritual item was stolen, administrators suggested students exercise caution rather than pursue disciplinary action against perpetrators.
This pattern of advice, according to the complaint, sends a dangerous message: for survival, Jewish students must hide who they are. The bigger picture suggests this is not an isolated issue at Cal Poly Humboldt. Similar grievances were noted at Scripps College, where religious symbols like Star of David necklaces came under fire, and at the Etiwanda School District, where a 12-year-old faced Nazi-related bullying.
The coordinated legal effort by the Brandeis Center and Jewish on Campus aims to underline a systemic failure to protect Jewish students under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
The timing of this complaint is significant given the backdrop of increasing anti-Semitism on campuses in the wake of the October 7 incidents, highlighting the complex interplay of political events and campus atmospheres. The debate continues on how universities should balance upholding free speech while staunchly opposing discrimination. While institutions like Harvard University have adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism to guide their measures, Cal Poly Humboldt has, so far, not taken similar steps.
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