A new effort by the federal government to crack down on anti-Semitism against Jewish students on U.S. colleges campuses has some questioning why more isn’t being done to also monitor racist activity directed towards African-American, Hispanic and other racial minority college students.
Recently, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights announced a new Web site designed to track and raise awareness about anti-Semitism on college campuses. The move was immediately lauded by Jewish groups like the Anti-Defamation League, who said the effort was long overdue.
“We encourage and welcome any attempt to monitor and to increase reporting of anti-Semitism on the college and university campus,” says Abraham H. Foxman, the ADL’s national director. “This site is an important new tool in the fight against anti-Semitism.”
According to commission staff director Kenneth L. Marcus, the Web site was launched after the release of a November 2005 report that indicated an increase in the number of anti-Semitic incidents on campuses. A new report by the ADL identified 88 anti-Semitic incidents on campuses in 2006. The incidents include swastikas and hate graffiti scribbled on walls where Jewish students congregate.
“We decided that it was important to create a public awareness campaign,” says Marcus. The Web site, located at www.eusccr.com, includes information explaining what anti-Semitism is and ways to report incidents on campus. The commission also studies and collects information relating to a wide range of discrimination, including for race, color, religion and sexual orientation.
While some scholars say that the commission’s focus on anti-Semitism is important, they wonder why more resources aren’t being directed toward tackling racism.
