OBERLIN, Ohio - An Oberlin College alumni group claims the college is unwelcoming to many Jewish students, has more events portraying Israel negatively than positively and does not respond to blatant attacks of anti-Semitism.
About 100 alumni made the accusations in a March 28 letter to the college's president, trustees, faculty staff and students. The letter was written by Oberlin Alums for Campus Fairness.
The group is a chapter of the national Alums for Campus Fairness. According to its website, the nonprofit organization "organizes alumni to fight the anti-Semitism that is infecting university and college campuses, and promotes open and fair dialogue on campus regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict."
The group said similar concerns that it had raised in 2016 were ignored, so they were reiterating them to new President Carmen Twillie Ambar.
In the letter, the group demanded a:
- transparent investigation and documentation of all acts of anti-Semitism.
- forum for students and alumni to discuss the impact of those experiences on their psychological wellbeing and academic performance. Anti-Semitic incidents should be treated with the same kind of sensitivity and attention that has been given to other campus incidents of racism and other prejudices.
- task force that includes members of Oberlin Alums for Campus Fairness to create a plan of action to address this continuing crisis.
In a March 29 post titled "Jewish Life and Scholarship at Oberlin," Twillie Ambar responded to the letter.
"While we appreciate the concerns of the Alumni for Campus Fairness (ACF), we feel the picture they paint is not an accurate representation of Oberlin College and contemporary Jewish life on our campus," she wrote. "Approximately 23 percent of our students identify as Jewish. Our two campus rabbis work with Oberlin students, one from Hillel, the other from Chabad. Students lead a variety of organizations focused on Jewish life and culture. Oberlin's institutional commitment to Jewish life and scholarship is broad and deep."
She wrote that the college "abhors antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and harassment. We will continue to be vigilant in ensuring our campus is safe for all students, faculty, and staff, especially those who identify as Jewish."
Relations between the alumni group and the college have been strained since February 2016 when assistant professor Joy Karega caused controversy with anti-Semitic posts on Facebook.
Karega, who taught rhetoric and composition, drew national attention when her posts were publicized by pro-Israel organizations. She was placed on paid leave and did not teach that fall. She was fired in November 2016.