PRINTER'S NO.  1907

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

No.

315

Session of

2010

  

  

INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, DINNIMAN, STACK AND SCARNATI, APRIL 27, 2010

  

  

REFERRED TO EDUCATION, APRIL 27, 2010  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

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Condemning the resurgence of anti-Semitism on college and

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university campuses and calling upon the Department of

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Education, the State System of Higher Education, each of the

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State-related universities and all of Pennsylvania's

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independent colleges and universities to remain vigilant and

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guarded against acts of anti-Semitism against college and

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university students.

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WHEREAS, Anti-Semitism is an intolerable and ugly form of

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bigotry, prejudice and hostility directed toward persons of the

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Jewish faith, often based on the individual's ethnic, cultural

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or religious identity; and

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WHEREAS, Instances of anti-Semitic conduct, speech and

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intimidation on college and university campuses have increased

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during the past several years, giving rise to the perception

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that such conduct and hate-based speech will be tolerated under

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the guise of First Amendment academic freedom; and

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WHEREAS, The United States Commission on Civil Rights has

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acknowledged the resurgence of anti-Semitic conduct on college

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and university campuses as a serious problem and has recommended

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that the United States Department of Education's Office for

 


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Civil Rights protect against anti-Semitic conduct through

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enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and

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WHEREAS, Anti-Semitic conduct on college and university

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campuses has manifested itself in various forms, such as

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patterns of threatening or intimidating behavior, derogatory

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remarks, vandalism, use of symbols of hatred and bigotry and, in

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rare cases, physical altercations; and

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WHEREAS, Hostile environments have been created by college

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and university instructors, students and campus visitors; and

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WHEREAS, Evidence suggests that some university or college

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departments of Middle Eastern studies provide highly

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inflammatory and polarizing academic presentations that may

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exclude Jewish student participation, academically discriminate

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or repress legitimate dissent; and

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WHEREAS, Instances of anti-Semitic conduct have involved

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attempts to compare the nation of Israel to Nazi Germany in the

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1930s and 1940s and to demonize the Israeli Government and its

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supporters; and

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WHEREAS, Such anti-Semitic instances have occurred throughout

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the nation's centers of academic study, including the University

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of California, Columbia University, Saint Cloud State College in

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Minnesota, Brown University, George Washington University and

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the University of North Dakota; therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the Senate condemn in the strongest possible

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terms any anti-Semitic conduct as an intolerable, base form of

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bigotry and hatred and recognize that such conduct, particularly

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within centers of academic study, is unacceptable and cannot be

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tolerated; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the Senate request that the Department of

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Education and the State System of Higher Education, in

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cooperation with each of the State-related universities and this

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Commonwealth's independent colleges and universities,

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acknowledge the serious problem of anti-Semitic conduct and the

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creation of a hostile learning environment such conduct fosters

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and take necessary steps to prevent such instances from

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occurring on Pennsylvania college and university campuses.

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