Confronting Campus Antisemitism: A Deep Dive into Campus Climate and Strategic Policy Recommendations
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Confronting Campus Antisemitism: A Deep Dive into Campus Climate and Strategic Policy Recommendations
25 June @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
In the aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7th, which resulted in over 1,200 fatalities, there has been a significant surge in antisemitism globally. Monitoring organisations have reported record levels of antisemitic incidents, with universities emerging as major hotspots. The situation on UK campuses has deteriorated, leading to some Jewish students being advised to complete their studies online due to safety concerns.
The Henry Jackson Society (HJS) conducted research among students at UK universities, uncovering alarming levels of antisemitism in campus environments and classrooms. To address this pressing issue, HJS has formulated a comprehensive report featuring both short-term and long-term policy recommendations. The short-term recommendations focus on immediate concerns related to campus encampments and pro-Palestine protests, while the long-term strategies aim to tackle the deeper roots of antisemitism on campuses.
Join us for an insightful presentation of our findings and recommendations. This event will provide a platform to discuss the current state of antisemitism on UK campuses and explore effective policy solutions to combat this issue.
Dr Helena Ivanov is an associate research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society. She recently completed a PhD in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research focuses on the relationship between propaganda and violence against civilians. In her thesis, Helena examined the role propaganda played during the Yugoslav Wars and produced a model for studying propaganda which details the key phases, functions, discourses, and techniques of propaganda (the model itself is applicable to other contexts). Additionally, Helena also served as a Manager at the Centre for International Studies at the LSE.
Prior to her PhD, Helena completed an MPhil in Political Theory at the University of Oxford, and holds a BA in Politics from the University of Belgrade.
https://www.mishcon.com/people/anthony-julius
Anthony Julius is a highly regarded lawyer. He has held several central roles at Mishcon de Reya, including serving on our Management Board, ten years as head of the litigation practice and is currently our Deputy Chairman.
Anthony is the Firm’s most senior solicitor advocate, and has appeared in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He has significant experience in arbitration and is involved in the Firm’s work in public advocacy.
Anthony is a trusted advisor to his often high-profile clients, and typically acts for ultra-high net worth families and individuals in personal and business disputes. Anthony’s clients also include companies and charities.
As a recognised academic, Anthony now holds the Chair in Law and Arts in the Faculty of Law, UCL. He was for several years a visiting professor at Birkbeck, University of London in the Department of English and the Humanities. He is a noted author who has written extensively on law, literature, art and culture.
Anthony serves as Chairman or Non-Executive Director of a number of companies, some of which are clients of Mishcon de Reya. He was co-founder and first chairman, and then Vice President, of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund until it was wound up. He also serves as a Trustee on several charitable and non-profit organisations.
https://www.gold.ac.uk/sociology/staff/hirsh/
David Hirsh is a Senior Lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London and the Academic Director of the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism. He co-edited the three volume “Responses to 7 October”, he edited “The Rebirth of Antisemitism in the 21st Century” and he wrote “Contemporary Left Antisemitism”.
Dr Theo Zenou is a Research Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society. He has a PhD in history from Cambridge University and has written for The Washington Post, The Economist and Sunday Times.
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EVENT SUMMARY
The Henry Jackson Society hosted an event to discuss the rise of antisemitism on university campuses. Dr Helena Ivanov presented her report, highlighting the significant increase in antisemitic incidents globally, especially after the October 7 massacre. The UK saw a 147% rise in such incidents in 2023, with universities as hotspots. The report detailed the impact of pro-Palestine protests on campuses, citing incidents at Columbia University and UK institutions like Oxford and UCL. Anthony Julius emphasized the political implications, criticizing institutions for failing to protect Jewish students. He noted the blurring lines between antisemitism and anti-Zionism. Dr David Hirsch supported Ivanov’s findings and stressed the need to educate people on distinguishing between criticism of Israel and antisemitism. During the Q&A session, participants asked about effective strategies for universities to combat antisemitism and the role of education in preventing such incidents. The event concluded with recommendations for universities: appointing staff to monitor protests, improving reporting procedures, and engaging with Jewish students regularly. Long-term solutions included enhancing education about the Holocaust and the Israel-Palestine conflict to prevent antisemitic disinformation. This event highlighted the urgent need for universities to address antisemitism and ensure a safe, inclusive environment for all students.
This event can be watched ONLINE only.
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