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Are Jewish students at risk of antisemitism on campus?

Selected Version - Version 4 (Current Version) : 12 Jun 2010 | 14:13 | NADIA999

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On the point: It's as bad as its been

What has happened in Leeds and Manchester is the worst I've known it.

In Leeds a man who endorses the KKK writes in the student paper that Jews control the media- without being challenged for his views. And almost a 1000 students defend him! Don't these kids realise/realize how upsetting this issue is!
and in Manchester the attacks on Tayla, the deputy ambassador, are frightening. The violence is not something I've known for a long time.

If I was looking for a university now, I'd be careful about where to go.

Freedom of Speech$1  
We need some perspective here. Yes an occassional antisemitic incident occasional may occur, but looking at the statistical evidence, the risk of antisemitism on campus is truly minimal.  
 
According to minimal.  
the CST's annual report in 2009, only 97 antisemitic incidents occured throughout the occurred year across the country on campuses. And of there 38 were abusive emails sent to an individual academic. Discounting this group of 38 incidents leaves 59 incidents occurred involving Jewish students, academics or student bodies - a 13% fall from 2008. The vast majority of these incidents involve antisemitic discourse rather than bodily harm. So we're looking at an average of only one incident a week, most of which are antisemitic comments. That means the vast majority of students on campus are not subjected to antisemitism (according to the CST's stats, though of course one could argue there is a problem of under-reporting).  
 
In short, under-reporting).  
there is no great risk of antisemitism on most campuses. People don't need to be scared, and indeed most students are not. Jewish student life is thriving on campus.

Yes, because... It's as bad as its been

 

No, because...

What has happened in Leeds and Manchester is the worst I've known it.

In Leeds a man who endorses the KKK writes in the student paper that Jews control the media- without being challenged for his views. And almost a 1000 students defend him! Don't these kids realise/realize how upsetting this issue is! and in Manchester the attacks on Tayla, the deputy ambassador, are frightening. The violence is not something I've known for a long time.

If I was looking for a university now, I'd be careful about where to go.

 

Freedom of Speech.

We need some perspective here. Yes an occasional antisemitic incident may occur, but looking at the statistical evidence, the risk of antisemitism on campus is truly minimal.

According to the CST's annual report in 2009, only 97 antisemitic incidents occurred throughout the year across the country on campuses. And of there 38 were abusive emails sent to an individual academic. Discounting this group of 38 incidents leaves 59 incidents occurred involving Jewish students, academics or student bodies - a 13% fall from 2008. The vast majority of these incidents involve antisemitic discourse rather than bodily harm. So we're looking at an average of only one incident a week, most of which are antisemitic comments. That means the vast majority of students on campus are not subjected to antisemitism (according to the CST's stats, though of course one could argue there is a problem of under-reporting).

In short, there is no great risk of antisemitism on most campuses. People don't need to be scared, and indeed most students are not. Jewish student life is thriving on campus.