The student body president of a major California university
feels his school is taking "a step in the right direction" by
recognizing offenses against Jewish students.
The University of California Student Association's (UCSA) Board
of Directors has asserted that Jewish students were not
deliberately excluded from voicing their opinion on a resolution
the body passed. The UCSA condemned HR 35 -- a measure passed by
the state Assembly that encourages higher institutions to denounce
anti-Semitism and anti-Israel protests, and passed a resolution to
that effect, while Jewish students, unaware of the meeting, were
celebrating a holy holiday.
The UCSA also accused Israel
of racism and violating human rights, and even asked other colleges
and universities to divest from the nation. So UCLA student body
president David Bocarsly called on the Student Association to apologize -- a request that has now received
"A lot of the members of the Jewish community at UCLA are very
thankful that a representative to UCSA issued a response
recognizing some of the things that were offensive and the UCSA
resolution," Bocarsly accounts. "They are still in talks about
making sure certain issues are addressed, because some of them
weren't mentioned in their response."
Jewish students say they were excluded from sharing their
opinion at the meeting, while Palestinian students were invited to
speak. But the UCSA notes in its response that it was "unaware
that the resolution would be presented by Students for Justice in
Palestine" and of the confidential e-mails between SJP members.
"There will be continued dialogue, but we think that this is a
step in the right direction," the student body president offers.
"Hopefully the relationship between Jewish students and other
student leaders on campus will be improved from here on out."
The UCSA agrees that the confidential communication between
Palestinian students made the process undemocratic.
Some conservative political pundits are surprised, if not
pleased, that Ann Romney is criticizing teachers
unions for standing in the way of education reform.