Some University of Arizona community members say the UA isn’t doing enough to combat and identify antisemitism after a Jewish fraternity was the victim of graffiti and a Jewish professor found a swastika in his lab.
“Administrators at the University of Arizona — and on campuses throughout North America — must commit to protecting its Jewish students by holding groups responsible for these actions by removing their recognition and expelling students from school who violate the university’s code of conduct,” said Rob Derdiger, the CEO of Alpha Epsilon Pi, the Jewish fraternity on campus whose wall was graffitied.
The graffiti, which the fraternity says was antisemitic, referenced the Israel-Hamas war: “what side of history will you be on?” the vandals wrote in black spray paint.
The UA Office of Public Safety wrote that the university “unequivocally condemns threats, intimidation and vandalism in all forms,” in a statement released after the incident.
“As home to one of the largest populations of Jewish students in the country, the University of Arizona is committed to ensuring their safety,” the statement continued. “Law enforcement has been notified of the incident, and anyone with information should contact UAPD, the Tucson Police Department or 88-Crime.”
Alpha Epsilon Pi is the world’s largest Jewish college fraternity, with chapters on more than 150 college campuses, according to its website.
“Alpha Epsilon Pi strongly supports freedom of speech and expression however when that speech is an attempt to intimidate, ostracize or call for violence against Jewish students simply because of the beliefs they hold, universities must act quickly and decisively to expel and prosecute those who are making campus life dangerous for Jewish students,” Derdiger said in his statement on the graffiti.
He added that the fraternity “strongly supports the people and country of Israel in their fight against terrorism and hate.”
The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that works to combat antisemitism, recently unveiled a ratings tool for colleges and universities across the country; the UA earned a B rating.
According to the group, the UA has 3,500 undergraduate Jewish students, or 9% of the student population, and 500 Jewish graduate students, making up 5% of the graduate student population.
Jon Pierce, the Alpha Epsilon Pi international media spokesperson, told the Star there has been a rise in antisemitism faced by members of the fraternity since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7.
“Unfortunately, this has become a somewhat common occurrence on college campuses and the (number) of antisemitic acts have skyrocketed,” he said. “We’re pretty prepared for it (now).”
The fraternity offers counseling resources to members who feel unsafe or anxious amid rising tensions on college campuses, Pierce added.
Two UA faculty members are hoping to draft a resolution in time for May’s Faculty Senate meeting, meant to condemn what they believe is a pattern of hateful incidents on campus.
One professor, who asked that his name not be used because of safety concerns, said his workspace was vandalized with a swastika in 2019. Despite a police report being filed, he said, senior leadership refused to call the incident antisemitic. It has been an ongoing issue for the past five years, he said.
The Arizona Daily Star reviewed the photo of the swastika, as well as the police report and some of the communications the professor had with members of senior administration at the UA to verify the professor’s claims.
“I’m very afraid for my students,” the professor said. “We live in fear. The word antisemitism was never written or pronounced by anybody. It’s extremely upsetting.”
The professor added that he was concerned there were other incidents of antisemitism on campus that community members are not aware about because, he believes, the university tries to shut down reports.
“As far as I know, the person who drew the swastika is still in our community,” he said. “Could I be riding the elevator with them? How many antisemitic incidents have occurred on campus in recent years? We have no idea.”
The Star previously reported on the suspension of two college of education professors at the UA after audio recordings were released of them comparing Hamas to the Black Panther party in the United States. In another, they shared ways students could boycott Israel.
In response to their suspension, students staged a sit-in at the college to protest. The professors were reinstated, though barred from teaching the class where the incident took place.
Days after Oct. 7, the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at the UA was preparing to host a rally but canceled just 24 hours before after University President Robert C. Robbins sent a campus-wide email calling the group, and the rally, “antithetical to our university’s values.”
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