Leaders of Jewish student groups at UC-Irvine expressed support for Chancellor Drake’s response to anti-semitism at UC-Irvine, while other current and former students released a statement voicing their deep concern at the Chancellor’s failure to act decisively to condemn anti-Semitic and anti-Israel attacks on campus.

Two Hillel co-presidents, the presidents of a Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, and a sorority, Epsilon Phi, and the president of Anteaters for Israel, the Orange County Hillel’s pro-advocacy group at UC-Irvine, released a statement on March 26, 2008 standing by the UCI administration’s “efforts to protect first amendment rights” and “the free exchange of ideas.” The five leaders supported Chancellor Drake’s appearance at a Hillel Summit in Washington, DC, and noted his “unrelenting commitment” to condemning hate speech on university campuses. They challenged “allegations” by “off-campus organizations” that the UCI administration “has failed to properly address issues of anti-Semitism” and that “Jewish students are consistently victims of physical threats.” On the contrary, they stated, “Jewish life [on campus] is thriving more than ever. Over the past four years, the Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, has grown by over 100% and is now 71 members strong” and Hillel’s weekly Shabbat dinners “now reach peaks of over one hundred students.”

In response, the twenty current and former students expressed their deep disappointment that Chancellor Drake refuses “to condemn ongoing hate-filled programs and speeches on campus that demonize Israel and Jews.” While the Chancellor “has issued general statements condemning hateful speech, he has refused to condemn any specific speech as hateful and anti-Semitic.” The students agree that the Chancellor may not suppress free speech but they urge him to exercise “his own right to free speech” by denouncing anti-Semitic speech and conduct as against the values of the UCI community.”

Emily Tall is emerita Assoc. Prof. of Russian (University at Buffalo ) and Co-Editor of the SPME Faculty Forum.