Antisemitism FAQ

The purpose of this FAQ is to educate the UO campus community about antisemitism, how to recognize and understand it, and its impact on all members of the campus community, and more specifically Jewish members of the campus community. Information about University policies and conduct that may constitute a policy violation can be found in the Title VI and Title VII Hostile Environment Harassment FAQ.

What is the definition of antisemitism?

While there is not one universally accepted definition of the term “antisemitism,” the term refers to a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as dislike or hatred toward Jewish individuals and/or their property, Jewish community institutions or religious facilities, or the state of Israel because it is a Jewish state. It can be used to justify hate crimes such as physical attacks, the destruction of property, and attacks on community and religious institutions, as well as discrimination and harassment of individuals who are Jewish or those associated with individuals who are Jewish. This includes, but is not limited to, stereotyping of Jews, blaming Jews for “why things go wrong,” and the depiction of exaggerated physical features and mannerisms. Antisemitism also includes using symbols and images associated with antisemitic tropes (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis, as well as holding Jews individually or collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel.

Reports of antisemitism are reviewed as allegations of discrimination and harassment based on religion, race, national origin, and/or ancestry, and must meet the definition of “harassment” set forth in the University’s Prohibited Discrimination and Retaliation Policy in order for there to be a finding that a policy violation occurred.

Does any UO policy protect campus community members on the basis of race, color, and national origin, including shared ancestry, from the conduct of other campus community members?

Yes. The University’s Prohibited Discrimination and Retaliation Policy prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, and national origin, ancestry, and religion, as well as other protected characteristics including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, family or marital status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services, veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law. The policy includes a prohibition against antisemitism as well as conduct based on citizenship or toward immigrants, migrants, and ethnic groups.

Is it antisemitic to criticize Israel?

Generally speaking, no. It is fair to criticize the conduct of a government or government official that one finds objectionable, including the government of Israel. This does mean that advocating for a two-state solution that includes a Palestinian nation-state or speaking up in support of Palestinian rights is presumptively not anti-Zionist. Such criticism is also presumptively not antisemitic. Where criticism of policies and/or actions of the Israeli government or individual government actors includes name calling, demonization or criticism of Jews or Israelis for the actions of the Israeli government, a line is crossed from legitimate criticism to potential harassment based on religion/national origin/ancestry. Such statements would be considered antisemitic.

Is Zionism a protected category under University policy?

No, but for many Jewish people, Zionism is an integral part of their identity and their ethnic and ancestral heritage. While not all Zionists are Jews and not all Jews are Zionists, discrimination or harassment of Zionists has at times, throughout history, been used as a pretext to discriminate against or harass Jews. The same is true today. Using Zionism as a pretext for discrimination or harassment “based on” or “because of” the Jewish religion, shared ancestry, ethnicity, or national origin would violate University policy. When the university receives complaints of discrimination or harassment “based on” or “because of” Zionism, the university will assess whether the invocation of “Zionism” is pretextual.

Like all assessments of pretext, whether a particular invocation of Zionism is pretextual depends on the context. There are some factors that suggest pretext. For example, where someone has a practice of conflating Jews and Zionists, that suggests that subsequent harassment or discrimination against Zionists is pretextual. Similarly, use of tropes, slogans, or stereotypes that are understood to relate to Jews do not cease to be “based on” or “because of” someone’s Jewish identity simply because the word “Zionist” has replaced the word “Jew.”

In assessing allegations of antisemitism, the university is guided by several definitions of antisemitism, including the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism including its contemporary examples, the Jerusalem Declaration of Antisemitism (JDA), and the Nexus Document definition from the Nexus Taskforce, whenever assessing claims of discrimination or harassment against Jews or Israelis—including in instances where Zionism is alleged to be a pretext. The university also relies on guidance from the EEOC and the US Department of Education.

Why should someone who is not Jewish be concerned about antisemitism?

All members of the UO campus community have the right to feel welcome on campus and believe that they belong here. This includes the ability to wear religious dress, traditional hair styles and head coverings, and symbols, including a yarmulke (kippah) and Star of David, and for those who reside in campus housing, displaying a mezuzah without fear. It also includes accessing religious accommodations to ensure students and employees can participate in religious observances without being adversely impacted.

Demonizing, vilifying, engaging in name calling, or excluding someone because they are Jewish or Israeli harms those members of the UO community, but it also harms the broader campus community. No one should feel unwelcome or unsafe because of who they are.

Can positive stereotypes be antisemitic?

Yes. Some stereotypes of Jews are described as being “positive.” For example, the stereotype that Jews are financially successful, upwardly mobile, own businesses, are successful professionals or well-educated are often framed as positive stereotypes. While individually, these are all positive attributes in discussing the achievements of individuals, stereotyping is always harmful. In addition, philosemitism—an interest in, respect for, or admiration of Jewish people, Jewish history, and Judaism by non-Jewish people—can be concerning as it creates a “good Jew-bad Jew” dichotomy. For example, it can lead to favoring one form of Judaism over others, or non-Zionist Jews over Zionist Jews, or favoring Jews of one political persuasion over Jews of another. And it often does not take much for a positive stereotype to be seen as a negative. Stereotyping is a form of harassment under University policy where all other factors required for a policy violation are met. The policy does not distinguish between positive and negative stereotypes.

Are instructors (professors and GEs) required to present a balanced perspective when discussing the Israel/Palestine conflict or other concerns related to the Middle East?

No. While there can be disagreement over what constitutes a balanced perspective, as a matter of academic freedom, instructors are not obligated to present a particular or balanced perspective on any topic. Nevertheless, it is good pedagogy to present an accurate picture of a matter being discussed. Often that includes presenting students with more than one perspective or information that conflicts with a predominant perspective put forward by students in a course. In addition, the University has an expectation that instructors will devote class time to the subject matter of a given course, assign relevant readings, and provide content that is accurate and pedagogically appropriate. Students who believe faculty have failed to meet this expectation can bring their concerns to the department head, dean of the college, the Provost’s Office at courseconcern@uoregon.edu or other trusted person, as well as share feedback in course evaluations. Students also have the option to file a report with OEOA if they believe what happened constitutes discrimination or harassment.

Do Jewish students face restrictions in hosting on-campus events?

The University’s event policies, including scheduling, space reservation, and other policies that impact event hosting are content neutral and apply to all members of the campus community. This means that the University does not grant or deny requests to host events based on the anticipated content of the speech at the event or the identity of an invited speaker. Where there is cause to believe that an event may be disrupted, the University will take appropriate steps to ensure the event can happen safely. Students are encouraged to plan events as far in advance as feasible. There may be times when the University needs to implement safety measures, and the University will need sufficient lead time to meet with event planners, assess risk, and identify the resources to ensure an event can occur safely. Those planning events who anticipate disruption should contact Scheduling and Event Services, located in the EMU, for planning support and assistance.

Note: It is a violation of University policy for individuals to interfere with an approved event. For example, if a student group has a display as part of an event, it is a violation of University policy to remove signage, parts of the display, add to a display without organizers’ permission, or to otherwise engage in conduct that interferes with the event moving forward or damages property that is part of the display. This includes swarming event participants, invading individuals’ personal space, obstructing access to a space, interfering with people’s ability to move through a space, and protesting audibly such that an event cannot go forward. This is not an exhaustive list of prohibited conduct.

Where can students and employees receive support if they have experienced antisemitism?

Students may receive support from:

• The Counseling Center
• The Care and Advocacy Program
• The Ombuds Office
• Oregon Hillel

Employees may receive support from:

• Revive, the UO’s employee assistance program
• The Ombuds Office
• Oregon Hillel