The Antisemitism of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Staff at Universities

SUMMARY

Universities ostensibly employ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) staff to create more tolerant and welcoming environments for students from all backgrounds. A previous Heritage Backgrounder documented that the number of people devoted to DEI efforts has grown quite large, with 45 people working to promote DEI at the average university. This Backgrounder examines whether these large DEI staff are, in fact, engaged in behavior likely to promote the goal of creating a tolerant and welcoming environment on college campuses. In particular, this Backgrounder examines the extent to which DEI staff at universities express anti-Israel attitudes that are so out of proportion and imbalanced as to constitute antisemitism

Universities ostensibly employ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) staff to create more tolerant and welcoming environments for students from all backgrounds. A previous Heritage Backgrounder documented that the number of people devoted to DEI efforts has grown to about 45 people at the average university.

1 Jay P. Greene and James D. Paul, “Diversity University: DEI Bloat in the Academy,” Heritage Foundation Backgrounder No. 3641, July 27, 2021,

https://www.heritage.org/education/report/diversity-university-dei-bloat-the-academy .

This Backgrounder examines whether these large DEI staff are, in fact, creating a tolerant and welcoming environment on college campuses. In particular, this Backgrounder examines the extent to which DEI staff at universities express anti-Israel attitudes that are so out of proportion and imbalanced as to constitute antisemitism.

To measure antisemitism among university DEI staff, we searched the Twitter feeds of 741 DEI personnel at 65 universities to find their public communications regarding Israel and, for comparison purposes, China. Those DEI staff tweeted, retweeted, or liked almost three times as many tweets about Israel as tweets about China. Of the tweets about Israel, 96 percent were critical of the Jewish state, while 62 percent of the tweets about China were favorable. There were more tweets narrowly referencing “apartheid” in Israel than tweets indicating anything favorable about Israel whatsoever. The overwhelming pattern is that DEI staff at universities pay a disproportionately high amount of attention to Israel and nearly always attack Israel.

While criticism of Israel is not necessarily antisemitic, the inordinate amount of attention given to Israel and the excessive criticism directed at that one country is evidence of a double-standard with respect to the Jewish state, which is a central feature of a widely accepted definition of antisemitism.

2 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, “About the IHRA Non-Legally Binding Working Definition of Antisemitism,” https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism (accessed November 17, 2021).

Frequently accusing Israel of engaging in genocide, apartheid, settler colonialism, ethnic cleansing, and other extreme crimes while rarely leveling similar criticisms toward China indicates an irrational hatred that is particularly directed toward Jews and not merely a concern for human rights.

The evidence presented in this Backgrounder demonstrates that university DEI staff are better understood as political activists with a narrow and often radical political agenda rather than promoters of welcoming and inclusive environments. Many DEI staff are particularly unwelcoming toward Jewish students who, like the vast majority of Jews worldwide, feel a strong connection to the state of Israel. The political activism of DEI staff may help explain the rising frequency of antisemitic incidents on college campuses

3 Maria Carrasco, “New Website Allows Students to Report Anti-Semitic Incidents,” Inside Higher Ed, October 7, 2021, https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/10/07/new-website-allows-students-report-anti-semitic-incidents (accessed November 17, 2021).

as well as the association between college and graduate education and higher levels of antisemitic attitudes.

4 Jay P. Greene, Albert Cheng, and Ian Kingsbury, “Are Educated People More Anti-Semitic?,” Tablet, March 29, 2021, https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/are-educated-people-more-anti-semitic-jay-greene-albert-cheng-ian-kingsbury (accessed November 17, 2021).

Rather than promoting diversity and inclusion, universities may be contributing to an increase in anti-Jewish hatred by expanding DEI staff and power.

https://www.heritage.org/education/report/inclusion-delusion-the-antisemitism-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-staff

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Covid in Scotland: Sturgeon to defy unions and keep schools open

More than 18,700 children were off school last Friday for coronavirus-related reasons

Schools are expected to remain open until Christmas after Nicola Sturgeon defied unions’ demands to close them early.

The first minister confirmed that school closures are off the table because children have already lost too much education and suffered “disproportionate” harm during lockdowns, including mental illness and exposure to domestic abuse.

Scottish ministers will meet this morning to decide what other restrictions are required to head off the “tsunami” of Omicron cases predicted last week by Sturgeon.

Sturgeon told Drivetime on BBC Radio Scotland: “We’re not considering closing schools. I’ve tried to be really candid with people all along, that any leader that stands and says ‘100 per cent anything can be ruled out forever’ is not been straight with you.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/covid-in-scotland-sturgeon-vows-not-to-close-schools-dxr9d88lq

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'Racism disguised as progress': Colorado elementary school is accused of SEGREGATION over its playground event for 'families of color'

A Denver, Colorado elementary school has sparked outrage with a 'segregated' playtime for 'families of color' at its playground.

The Centennial Elementary School organized the 'equity' event for families of color to gather and play on December 8.

But critics have hit out at the event which conservative journalist Christopher Rufo called a 'racially-segregated playtime'.'

Rufo, one of the nation's leading anti-critical race theory activists, told Fox that the event was 'racism under the guise of equity' and joined a growing number of people on social media calling on the school to terminate the program.

One Twitter user named Geoffrey Miller wrote, 'If civil rights activists of the 1950s popped out of a time machine today, and saw all this stuff, they would infer that their movement had failed.'

Another Twitter user with the handle name Hound echoed fears of segregation in schools, writing, 'We're going to be segregated again, and somehow they will spin it that it's the white conservative males fault.'

Roy Ben-Tzvi, another person Twitter, mocked the idea that the event could be used to promote equity and celebrate diversity.

'This whole racism disguised as progress phenomenon is so backwards,' he wrote.

Another Twitter user with the handle name Timothy claimed the event was turning kids 'into a racist product'.

'If this continues, the product will desire and request segregated work space as they age into the work force.'

Dave Kopel, a law professor at Denver University, also chimed in an claimed the event was in violation of Colorado State law that schools not make 'any distinction or classification of pupils be made on account of race or color.'

Many called the program a work of segregation and called on its termination. Dave Kopel, a law professor at Denver University, claimed it event violated Colorado State law
Many called the program a work of segregation and called on its termination. Dave Kopel, a law professor at Denver University, claimed it event violated Colorado State law

Denver Public Schools did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Dr, Alex Marrero serves as Denver Public Schools Superintendent.

In a statement to Fox News, the Centennial Elementary School officials said the event was formed due to parent's request and open to all families.

'Our school leaders met with some of the black families whose children attend our school to determine ways for these families to feel more included in our school community.

'Some of these families shared with us that, since the only time many of them see one another is at drop-off and pick-up times, we host some events where black families can meet one another, connect with one another and share their experiences about the school with one another. We are honoring their request.

'All families are welcome to attend all of our events, and families from a variety of backgrounds have done so.'

The event itself was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols, but the school said the event will continue in 2022.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10311119/Outrage-Colorado-elementary-school-SEGREGATES-playground-regular-families-color.html

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