THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT GOVERNMENT, TEMPE SENATE EIGHTEENTH LEGISLATURE SECOND REGULAR SESSION TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 SENATE RESOLUTION 5 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR NATHANIEL ANBAR THE IRA A FULTON SCHOOLS OF ENGINEERING CO-SIGNED BY: CHABAD AT ASU HILLEL AT ASU STUDENT LEADERSHIP BOARD JEWISH ARIZONANS ON CAMPUS STUDENTS SUPPORTING ISRAEL AT ASU SUN DEVIL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ALPHA EPSILON PI FRATERNITY ALPHA EPSILON PHI SORORITY AUTHORIZED BY: SENATOR JOSEPH PITTS The W.P. Carey School of Business SENATOR CAMERON DECKER Barrett, the Honors College SENATOR DAIVA SCOVIL The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences _________________________________________________________________________________ A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ANTISEMITISM AND CALLING FOR INSTITUTIONAL REPRESENTATION FOR JEWISH STUDENTS ___________________________________________________________________________________ WHEREAS, the Undergraduate Student Government of Tempe was created to provide a unified forum for inter-university dialogue, to organize student involvement, and to advocate for and administer services, resources, and programs that benefit the students of Arizona State University. WHEREAS, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY assumes fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves. WHEREAS, Jewish students constitute an important part of the broader ASU community, yet remain distinguishable from the majority by common ethnic and cultural characteristics.1 NOTING THAT the ASU Jewish community is thus a distinct and significant cultural community within ASU which ASU is charter-bound to support, protect, and defend. WHEREAS, Jewish students on campus have repeatedly faced antisemitic slanders and hate speech by outside provocateurs2 and leaders of official student organizations.3 NOTING THAT, just two weeks ago flyers promoting anti-Jewish conspiracy theories and genocide against Jewish students were placed in prominent locations around campus.4 ​https://azjewishlife.com/how-can-jews-be-both-an-ethnic-group-and-a-religion/ ​https://kjzz.org/content/1290006/anti-semitic-swastika-posters-found-asu-tempe-campus 3 ​https://www.statepress.com/article/2019/03/sppolitics-asu-investigates-racist-comments-made-by-colleg e-republicans-united-club-members https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/leaked-chats-show-alt-right-views-in-asu-republican-group-1125 2146 4 ​https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe-breaking/2020/08/31/posters-hitler-anti-semitic-comm ents-found-asu-tempe-campus/3447676001/ 1 2 NOTING THAT in the past Jewish students have been placed in on-campus living arrangements alongside individuals who espouse threatening, antisemitic views and that the University has not acted promptly and transparently to resolve these situations. FURTHER NOTING THAT the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance defines antisemitism as​ “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.​”5 RECOGNIZING THAT these incidents thus clearly fall into the category of being antisemitic and hurtful to Jewish students. RECOGNIZING THAT these incidents occur frequently on campus, with several having occurred in the last year alone. RECOGNIZING THAT this takes place amidst a national context where hate crimes against Jewish individuals and institutions have reached record levels.6 WHEREAS the ABOR Student Code of Conduct expressly prohibits “discriminatory activities” and ASU’s Academic Affairs Manual commits ASU to​ “providing an environment free of discrimination.”7 ​https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working -definition-antisemitism 6 ​https://www.adl.org/what-we-do/anti-semitism/antisemitism-in-the-us 7 ​https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html 5 NOTING THAT due to the aforementioned incidents this aspiration is not yet a reality for Jewish students among other minority groups. WHEREAS the Cultural Coalitions at Arizona State University exist “to ​promote and represent the voice of various cultures within the university” and act as “umbrella organizations for cultural/ethnic student organizations” related to their specific community. 8 NOTING THAT Jewish students constitute one of the largest9 and most diverse10 ethnic groups at Arizona State University not currently represented by any Cultural Coalition. FURTHER NOTING THAT several of the largest Jewish groups at ASU are unable to independently advocate for Jewish students in a political context due to their federal non-profit status.11 RECOGNIZING THAT these groups, in addition to other major campus organizations which advocate for the Jewish community have co-signed this bill in an effort to affirmatively emphasize the need for greater representation of Jewish students at ASU. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Undergraduate Student Government of Tempe unreservedly condemns all acts of racism, bigotry, and violence against the Jewish community, ​https://eoss-forms.asu.edu/student-engagement/coalition-info ​https://www.hillel.org/college-guide/list/record/arizona-state-university https://datausa.io/profile/university/arizona-state-university-tempe#:~:text=The%20enrolled%20student%2 0population%20at,Hawaiian%20or%20Other%20Pacific%20Islanders​. 10 ​https://www.myjewishlearning.com/jewish-and/why-diversity-matters-to-the-next-generation-of-jews/ 11 ​https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/866053859 https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/820653779 https://www.boardeffect.com/blog/common-501c3-rules-regulations/ 8 9 both on and off the Tempe campus. ​The Undergraduate Student Government of Tempe stands by the Jewish community and condemns all acts of racial, ethnic, or religious discrimination against members of the student body. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Undergraduate Student Government of Tempe calls upon ASU President Michael Crow to release a public statement from the Office of the President condemning the recent antisemitic incidents on campus and reaffirming ASU’s commitment to students of all races, colors, creeds, and ethnicities. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Undergraduate Student Government of Tempe calls upon Arizona State University to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism listed above12 as ASU’s official definition of antisemitism. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Undergraduate Student Government of Tempe calls upon the Office of Student and Cultural Engagement to work with the Jewish student organizations which have signed this legislation and the Council of Coalitions to establish a formally recognized Jewish Cultural Coalition as part of the Council of Coalitions. USG - T will help facilitate the conversation between Jewish leaders and the Council of Coalitions in order to support this process. BE IT EVEN FURTHER RESOLVED that in order to implement the above clauses USG-T President Jacqueline Palmer shall send a copy of this resolution to Dean of Students Cassandra Aska, Director of Student and Cultural Engagement Wadell Blackwell, and ASU President ​https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working -definition-antisemitism 12 Michael Crow. President Palmer shall also send a copy of this resolution to each member of the Council of Coalitions for the purpose of beginning the dialogue mentioned previously.