American University has banned all indoor pro-Palestinian protests in a bid to promote inclusivity and discourage antisemitism on campus.
Sylvia Burwell, the university’s president, said in a Jan. 25 letter to the campus that the decision was made in response to “recent events and incidents on campus [that] have made Jewish students feel unsafe and unwelcome.”
According to her, the Jewish student felt unsafe.
“When our students’ safety, their sense of belonging, or their connection to our community are disrupted by discrimination or hateful behavior, we are committed to taking swift action to support them and address the problem, “ she wrote.
Multiple Jewish advocacy groups had filed complaints to the U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, asserting that the Washington, D.C., institution is currently a tough place for Jewish students.
State and federal lawmakers have also been ramping up their scrutiny and criticisms of higher education leaders’ handling of antisemitism on their campuses since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas.
Just two weeks ago, the American university announced curriculum changes to address antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate and bigotry. The university also introduced new training opportunities, through its Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab, for students and faculty to learn how to facilitate in-class discussions in perilous times.
The new policy also requires clubs and organizations to be “welcoming to all students” and that posters displayed around the campus and university-sponsored events “promote inclusivity.”
