Universityoffersmeeting todiscussantisemitism
JEWISH STUDENTS at York University who complained that their fears about antisemitism on campus were being ignored have been invited to talks with college officials and the student union.
The move comes after pro-Palestinian supporters staged performances of Seven Jewish Children, a play which has been described as antisemitic.
The Jewish Society said it had raised concerns with the union, university officials and the student welfare department last week, but were unhappy with the lack of response.
JSoc secretary Jordan Hennessy said the only reply received from a university official was to inform them they were contacting the wrong department.
“It just seems like no matter who you talk to about it, you’re just being passed around,” he said. The JSoc said it felt it “has been completely alone in the battle against antisemitism on campus”.
But this week university officials said they had invited the students to discuss their concerns.
In a statement the university said: “We are committed to ensuring the wellbeing of Jewish students… To this end, the Registrar and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Students have invited representatives of the Jewish Society to meet them and discuss these matters face to face.”
StudentunionpresidentBenLeatham also said a meeting had been requested with Jewish students to consider what action should be taken.
York University’s student Palestinian Solidarity Society (PSS) staged two performances of the play, by Caryl Churchill, last Thursday as part of Israel Apartheid Week activities. PSS member Israeli student Eran Cohen, who appeared in the play, denied it was antisemitic. “It presents an accurate picture of an ugly side of Israeli right-wing politics, and it is not antisemitic to present this reality.”
He said he regretted any offence that had been caused. He added that PSS member Tommy Corbyn, son of the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, had not been involved in the production.