In response to anti-Israel protests on campuses across the country, Brandeis, a historically Jewish university in Massachusetts, extended its transfer application deadline to May 31 and admitted more students than usual. He announced that he was ready to accept it. Transfer student.
“Jewish students are targeted, physically and verbally targeted, simply because they are Jewish or because they support Israel,” the university's president, Ronald D. Liebowitz, said in an open letter Monday. “They are being attacked by students and are being prevented from doing their studies and activities outside of class.” ”
He pledged that, in contrast to other universities, Brandeis provides an environment “free from harassment and anti-Jewish hatred.”
In a phone interview Tuesday, Dr. Liebowitz said that Brandeis students, about a third of whom are Jewish, have a wide range of opinions about the Israel-Hamas war, with many criticizing the Israeli government and supporting the Palestinian cause. He pointed out that right.
But he also said Brandeis had crossed “red lines” for “nothing”, such as claiming that Israel has no right to exist and claiming that Hamas attacked on October 7. He also said he would take action against speech that characterizes it. It was a legitimate form of resistance.
In November, the university severed ties with the chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, banning it from using the Brandeis name, receiving funds from the university or hosting events on campus facilities.
Brandeis students are on spring break in time for the Passover holiday, as protests have rocked several other campuses this week.