Page 10 - jr060921

OSU student government sends divisive email

BY DEBORAH MOON ASOSU email. “It wasn’t so
On the afternoon of Friday, UO President condemns anti-Semitic hate much our statement as it was
May 28, Oregon State Univer- Michael H. Schill, University of Oregon President and Pro- built off of the responses from
sity student government sent fessor of Law, issued the following statement June 2, 2021: students,” says Gitelson.
a one-sided email to all OSU Dear University of Oregon community, “Many students are extreme-
students condemning Israel for All too often over the past five years, I have written to the ly hurt by this statement and
“war crimes in Gaza.” campus community condemning violence and expressions its inflammatory language that
Within an hour, dozens of of hatred targeted to particular groups. Today, I write not just puts the blame entirely on Isra-
OSU students reached out to as the president of the university, but also as a member of a el,” wrote Gitelson in the Hillel
Oregon Hillel for support. group that is the object of hatred. Violence against the Jew- email sent to all OSU students.
“Our focus first and foremost ish people has existed for centuries and in recent years has “We are deeply disappointed
was with students – just hearing accelerated with the growth of white supremacy. In the past and surprised to see the leader-
from those students,” says Andy couple of weeks, fighting in the Middle East has unleashed a ship of Associated Students of
Gitelson, Executive Director new wave of anti-Semitic sentiment – from hateful language Oregon State University (ASO-
of Oregon Hillel Foundation, scrawled on walls to vicious acts of violence. SU) issue a one-sided statement
which serves students at the The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complex. Whatever your on the complicated Israeli-Pal-
University of Oregon and OSU. views about this ongoing tragedy, nothing justifies either estinian conflict, furthering
The email from the Associ- verbal or physical attacks against innocent people based divisiveness among students,”
ated Students of Oregon State upon their religion, regardless of whether they believe in wrote Gitelson.
University, which was signed Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity or some- Hillel also sent the email to
by four leaders, concluded: “To thing else. We must stand up to hatred against people based OSU’s Vice President of Equity
our Palestinian community, we on religion, race, national origin, gender and gender expres- and Inclusion, the Dean of stu-
see you, we support you and we sion, or who they love. dents’ office and the staff advi-
are here for you.” Throughout history, we have learned that silence in the face sors for the ASOSU. The Hillel
Yet the email offered no sup- of evil begets more evil. The end of bigotry and racism starts email was sent just before 5
port for Jewish students at a with each of us, individually, lifting our voices. Please join pm, Friday, at the start of the
time when anti-Semitism has me in condemning the recent wave of anti-Semitic violence long Memorial Day weekend.
surged nationally. and hatred. Our nation is better than this. Though he had not heard from
“We are part of the fabric of OSU leaders as of Friday, June
the campus community,” says At press time, the UO student government 4, he says he expects to connect
Gitelson. “Certainly we know posted an anti-Israel statement on Instagram. with them soon.
that there are going to be differ- “Our hope is to continue to
ent voices. Our goal is to ensure mention of the role of Hamas. people of Palestine.” work with the administration
that dialogue across difference Instead it read: “This is colo- Late Friday afternoon, Oregon at the university and to build
happens … there’s positive nialism, this is ethnic cleans- Hillel sent an email drawing on the relationships across dif-
ways with which to do advoca- ing, this is state-sanctioned vio- the feedback from the dozens ferent cultural centers and
cy and build community.” lence, this is Zionism. We stand of students who began calling groups just so that we can build
The ASOSU email made no for liberation and justice for the within minutes of receiving the See OSU EMAIL on next page
Jewish community celebrates Pride Month

This year, the Portland Pride June 23, 7-8 pm (virtual event).
Parade was pre-recorded at a Rabbi Mark Sameth, author of
private venue to keep the com- The Name: A History of the
munity safe during the pandem- Dual-Gendered Hebrew Name
ic. Pride Northwest will host a for God. Rabbi Sameth’s es-
community viewing over Zoom says include “Our Father, Who
at 11 am, June 20. Following the Art Our Mother” (Religion Dis-
premiere showing, the Portland patches) and “Is God Transgen-
Pride Parade will be available der?” (Op-Ed, The New York
to watch on the Pride North- Times). Register at members.
west YouTube channel. For this nevehshalom.org/event/A-
and other Portland Pride events, Talk-with-Mark-Sameth
visit portlandpride.org. Liza and Beth Milliner, Danit Rothstein and Rachel Nelson repre- To support young adults,
Neveh Shalom is hosting two sented the Jewish community at the 2021 PrideNW parade with OneTable re-launched its Pride
Pride events: Pride banners from the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, guide (issuu.com/onetable-
Pride Kabbalat Shabbat Portland Jewish Academy and Congregation Neveh Shalom. shabbat/docs/pride_shabbat_
Service on the Plaza – Fri- guide_2021) in collaboration
day, June 18, 6:15 pm, on the Barbara Slader. No reservations or Liza Milliner lizam410@ with JQI (jqinternational.org/)
Holzman Plaza. Join Neveh are necessary. To connect with gmail.com. and in partnership with Lesbian
Shalom for a Pride Kabbalat the CNS Keshet LGBTQ+ com- The Name: A History of Bar Project released a Lesbian
Shabbat service led by Rabbi munity, contact Mel Berwin the Dual-Gendered Hebrew Shabbat guide (onetable.org/
Eve Posen and Guest Cantor mberwin@nevehshalom.org Name for God – Wednesday, lesbianbarproject2021)
10 Jewish Review June 9, 2021