Protect Jewish students at Cornell, Syracuse, and NYU

The Honorable Elise Stefanik Chair

The Honorable Elise Stefanik Chair
House Oversight Committee
2211 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairwoman Stefanik,
We are writing to alert you to some disturbing personnel developments at several prestigious universities in your home state of New York.

Cornell University:
Cornell University recently announced the reinstatement of history professor Russell Rickford, who was suspended from the school following the backlash against his statements at an off-campus rally, where he called the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel “exhilarating." As you may recall, Rickford faced bipartisan calls for his resignation from other New York politicians, including U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and your colleague Congresswoman Claudia Tenney.

Rickford has praised Hamas war crimes, glorified terrorists, demonized Israel, defended violent protesters, and endorsed anti-Israel agitators; his antisemitic and racist views have been well documented. Some of Rickford’s notable quotes include the following:

1. “Israel is especially useful because it serves as a laboratory for the development, testing, and dissemination of techniques of surveillance and control...that enable the targeting of Black and brown people within the U.S.” [aaihs.org, Jul 2, 2018]
2. “(T)he colonial occupation of Palestine remains one of the world’s most visible campaigns of white supremacist violence.” [cornellsun.com, Oct 5, 2017]

3. “All the great structures of U.S. violence — mass incarceration, militarism, police terror, racism, etc. — converge in the occupation of Palestine.” [cornellsun.com, Oct 5, 2017]

Syracuse University:
An assistant professor in the political science department at Syracuse, Jenn M. Jackson, recently posted on her Instagram account, “There is no reason to be friends with people who support Israel. Full stop.”

This is not the first time that Professor Jackson has made offensive and controversial remarks. She has been alleged to teach her students that Thanksgiving is the celebration of “cultural genocide.” In the past, she has claimed that 9/11 was resistance to “white people” and “capitalism.”

New York University:
New York University just announced the promotion of Samantha Jaser as Vice Chair of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity of the Administrative Management Council. Earlier this year, Jaser posted this on her Instagram account: “ZIONIST ORGAN HARVESTING FROM OUR LOVED ONES’ CORPSES IS SO SICK... I’M TELLING YOU, THERE’S NOTHING LEFT THEY HAVEN'T STOLEN FROM PALESTINIANS.”

A few weeks later, she posted this: “MY TWO CENTS / -TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO FORENSIC EVIDENCE OR FIRSTHAND TESTIMONY TO SUPPORT THE CLAIMS / -THE FAMILY HAS ASKED PEOPLE TO STOP SPREADING THE LIE THAT THEIR LOVED ONE WAS RAPED / -THE ZIONIST PROPAGANDA MACHINE IS WELL FUNDED AND INSIDIOUS. NEXT TO NOTHING IT PRODUCES IS CREDIBLE / -THIS IS ALL TOO REMINISCENT OF FALSE RAPE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST BLACK MEN IN THE U.S., WHICH WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN JUSTIFYING THEIR LYNCHINGS.”

Unfortunately, these are only a few examples of the antisemitism that has infected three of New York’s elite universities. This letter would be much longer if we were to document all the deeply offensive statements and social media posts.

The college experience demands that students be exposed to views with which they disagree or that make them uncomfortable. However, students also have a right to live on a campus free from hatred, bigotry, hostility, and intimidation. This is not possible on a campus that includes the likes of Professor Rickford, Professor Jackson, or Ms. Jaser. If any professor or administrator were caught making racist and bigoted statements against African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, Latinos, or any other group, the university would quickly and rightfully move to dismiss them. For some reason, a much higher standard appears to exist when dealing with antisemitism.

It is our elected officials duty to defend and enforce Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in educational environments. The law’s mechanism of compliance is to withhold federal, state, and student loan-programs until the university complies with this landmark legislation. We ask you for your continued help to uphold anti-terrorism legislation and the Title VI based on the rights afforded ALL Americans in the U.S. Constitution.

Your leadership in Congress is helping to expose antisemitism on U.S. university campuses. We appreciate what you have done and encourage you to continue the fight. We look forward to one day seeing a congressional hearing on this subject that might include Cornell President Molina, Syracuse President Syverud, and NYU President Mills.

Thank you, as always.

Sincerely,

Sponsored by
Default_group_icon
End Jew Hatred

To: The Honorable Elise Stefanik Chair
From: [Your Name]

The Honorable Elise Stefanik Chair
House Oversight Committee
2211 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairwoman Stefanik,
We are writing to alert you to some disturbing personnel developments at several prestigious universities in your home state of New York.

Cornell University:
Cornell University recently announced the reinstatement of history professor Russell Rickford, who was suspended from the school following the backlash against his statements at an off-campus rally, where he called the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel “exhilarating." As you may recall, Rickford faced bipartisan calls for his resignation from other New York politicians, including U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and your colleague Congresswoman Claudia Tenney.

Rickford has praised Hamas war crimes, glorified terrorists, demonized Israel, defended violent protesters, and endorsed anti-Israel agitators; his antisemitic and racist views have been well documented. Some of Rickford’s notable quotes include the following:

1. “Israel is especially useful because it serves as a laboratory for the development, testing, and dissemination of techniques of surveillance and control...that enable the targeting of Black and brown people within the U.S.” [aaihs.org, Jul 2, 2018]
2. “(T)he colonial occupation of Palestine remains one of the world’s most visible campaigns of white supremacist violence.” [cornellsun.com, Oct 5, 2017]

3. “All the great structures of U.S. violence — mass incarceration, militarism, police terror, racism, etc. — converge in the occupation of Palestine.” [cornellsun.com, Oct 5, 2017]

Syracuse University:
An assistant professor in the political science department at Syracuse, Jenn M. Jackson, recently posted on her Instagram account, “There is no reason to be friends with people who support Israel. Full stop.”

This is not the first time that Professor Jackson has made offensive and controversial remarks. She has been alleged to teach her students that Thanksgiving is the celebration of “cultural genocide.” In the past, she has claimed that 9/11 was resistance to “white people” and “capitalism.”

New York University:
New York University just announced the promotion of Samantha Jaser as Vice Chair of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity of the Administrative Management Council. Earlier this year, Jaser posted this on her Instagram account: “ZIONIST ORGAN HARVESTING FROM OUR LOVED ONES’ CORPSES IS SO SICK... I’M TELLING YOU, THERE’S NOTHING LEFT THEY HAVEN'T STOLEN FROM PALESTINIANS.”

A few weeks later, she posted this: “MY TWO CENTS / -TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO FORENSIC EVIDENCE OR FIRSTHAND TESTIMONY TO SUPPORT THE CLAIMS / -THE FAMILY HAS ASKED PEOPLE TO STOP SPREADING THE LIE THAT THEIR LOVED ONE WAS RAPED / -THE ZIONIST PROPAGANDA MACHINE IS WELL FUNDED AND INSIDIOUS. NEXT TO NOTHING IT PRODUCES IS CREDIBLE / -THIS IS ALL TOO REMINISCENT OF FALSE RAPE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST BLACK MEN IN THE U.S., WHICH WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN JUSTIFYING THEIR LYNCHINGS.”

Unfortunately, these are only a few examples of the antisemitism that has infected three of New York’s elite universities. This letter would be much longer if we were to document all the deeply offensive statements and social media posts.

The college experience demands that students be exposed to views with which they disagree or that make them uncomfortable. However, students also have a right to live on a campus free from hatred, bigotry, hostility, and intimidation. This is not possible on a campus that includes the likes of Professor Rickford, Professor Jackson, or Ms. Jaser. If any professor or administrator were caught making racist and bigoted statements against African Americans, LGBTQ+ individuals, Latinos, or any other group, the university would quickly and rightfully move to dismiss them. For some reason, a much higher standard appears to exist when dealing with antisemitism.

It is our elected officials duty to defend and enforce Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in educational environments. The law’s mechanism of compliance is to withhold federal, state, and student loan-programs until the university complies with this landmark legislation. We ask you for your continued help to uphold anti-terrorism legislation and the Title VI based on the rights afforded ALL Americans in the U.S. Constitution.

Your leadership in Congress is helping to expose antisemitism on U.S. university campuses. We appreciate what you have done and encourage you to continue the fight. We look forward to one day seeing a congressional hearing on this subject that might include Cornell President Molina, Syracuse President Syverud, and NYU President Mills.

Thank you, as always.

Sincerely,