Dear Hornet Community,
In response to what we are hearing from our Jewish campus community members, the Division of Inclusive Excellence will establish a Task Force on Addressing Antisemitism at Sac State to enhance our ability to prevent acts that erode the feeling of belonging, that do not promote psychological, physical, and cognitive safety, and that are otherwise discriminatory and oppressive. We are taking this step as part of a commitment to ensure that our campus continues the journey to be an antiracism and inclusive campus that is welcoming and safe for all.
Unfortunately, antisemitism has presented itself on and around college campuses throughout the nation, often in the form of antisemitic gestures, speech, and symbols. As a campus, we have already responded immediately to reported threats, hate symbols and images, and other violations, regulations, and policies inconsistent with our values. We have also co-constructed with members of the Jewish community a webpage on Addressing Antisemitism at Sac State. We will continue to provide resources like the Inclusive Excellence Belonging and Bridging Program focused on the Jewish community, CARES, Student Health Counseling and Wellness mental health counselors, and other resources to support a healthy campus community.
We know that antisemitism can escalate during times of international conflicts, and we acknowledge the pressing need to ensure we are prepared as a campus to support members of our Jewish community.
The Task Force to Address Antisemitism will be a critical mechanism for ensuring our campus can better understand what more we can do to prevent and respond to antisemitism and support our Jewish community. The task force of 12-15 students, staff, faculty, and administrators will be charged to:
§ Explore ways to protect academic freedom, while preserving the dignity and critical
perspectives of all students.
§ Identify practical and legal ways to address hate speech on a public college campus as
well as discuss polarizing and political ideas in educational ways without perpetuating
fear, othering, and hate.
§ Identify training(s) needed to support our campus community in continued learning and
productive dialogue concerning the origins of the conflict in the Middle East and current
manifestations of antisemitism, and how to increase culturally responsive and trauma
informed counseling, mentoring, and discourse for students, staff, and faculty.
§ Explore and recommend steps to reinvigorate community-building, develop support
networks, and increase productive dialogue that leads to greater understanding and
compassion.
The Task Force to Address Antisemitism will be sponsored by Dr. Mia Settles-Tidwell, vice president for Inclusive Excellence and university diversity officer, and Dr. Mark Wheeler, chief of staff to the President and professor of Philosophy. In the coming weeks, targeted invitations and a call for Task force members will be offered to our campus community. The taskforce work is projected to begin December 2023-May 2024.
In partnership,
Dr. Mia Settles-Tidwell
Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and University Diversity Officer
Dr. Mark Wheeler
Chief of Staff to the President and Professor of Philosophy