Texas lawmakers listen to antisemitism concerns amid university tensions over the Israel-Hamas war

The Texas Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education held a hearing on antisemitism, free speech and compliance with the state's DEI ban on May 14, 2024.Texas senators are taking testimony Tuesday on some of the most explosive issues rattling the state’s universities ahead of next year’s legislative session, when lawmakers are expected to propose new policies on antisemitism, free speech and compliance with the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The Texas Senate higher education subcommittee’s hearing started with a Jewish student from the University of Texas at Austin describing verbal attacks and a pervasive fear for his safety since pro-Palestinian demonstrations broke out across his campus this spring. Levi Fox, the UT-Austin student, said one history professor told him and a group Jewish students “they’ll come after you and put you in the oven.

“I have seen firsthand Jewish students taking off yamakas or hiding their Stars of David that are hanging around their neck or skipping Hillel Shabbat because it's been a tough week,’” Fox said. “It's horrifying to see my friends be scared to be Jewish. I never thought I would see that.”across the country have experienced or witnessed antisemitism since the start of the 2023 school year, a report from the Anti-Defamation League said.

Questions the schools had to answer included “How has your institution ensured that there are no DEI offices or officers on campus, or no individual or organization performing the duties of a DEI office or officer?” and “How has your institution worked to ensure that DEI training is not required for students, staff and faculty?”The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.

Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas System and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete, happening Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin.

Source: Education Headlines (educationheadlines.net)

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