bonus digital content
means I’m an oppressor, and that means I’m not
against all forms of oppression, which means that
I’m not against sexual violence,” Blotner told CNN’s
Dana Bash in the antisemitism special.

One day after the publication of the student
newspaper article detailing the allegations against the
group, New Paltz Accountability appeared to defend
its opposition to Zionism in an Instagram post.

“Being against sexual violence but indifferent
to colonialism are conflicting ideologies,” the post
stated. “Justifying the occupation of Palestine, in any
way, condones the violence used to acquire the land.

This does not mean we do not support survivors or
students with different political beliefs.”
According to the Brandeis Center and Jewish
on Campus, Blotner requested that university
administrators provide her with a security escort
because her interactions with the group left her
feeling unsafe on campus, but they declined her
request. She graduated last month, thanking the
Brandeis Center, Jewish on Campus and Mazzig in
an Instagram post that said they “lifted me up when
I was down.”
In response to the incident, SUNY New Paltz’s
president met with Jewish students and issued
a strongly worded condemnation of antisemitism,
saying, “Excluding any campus member from
institutional events and activities on the basis of
differing viewpoints on such matters is a traditionally
defined form of antisemitism.”
The university, according to the Brandeis Center,
also said that it should adopt the International
Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working
definition of antisemitism. That definition has been
endorsed by dozens of U.S. universities, according
to the American Jewish Committee, but has drawn
criticism for saying that certain criticisms of Israel are
antisemitic. It is the first antisemitism
investigation to be opened
since the Biden administration
unveiled a plan last month
to combat antisemitism
that includes a section on
higher education.

The Brandeis Center has frequently called for
universities to adopt the IHRA definition, yet in
this case it said SUNY New Paltz had not gone far
enough and called on the school to change other
policies in response to the incident. Some previous
investigations into schools accused of antisemitism
violations have resulted in universities pledging to
make tangible changes to their diversity training
programs and other initiatives.

That was the case recently at the University of
Vermont, which was the subject of a federal civil
rights complaint that also partially revolved around a
student group for sexual assault survivors excluding
Zionists. In 2020, the University of Illinois pledged
to take steps to combat antisemitism days after
the Department of Education opened up a Title VI
investigation into the school.

But other campus communities faced with Title
VI antisemitism investigations into Israel-related
matters have seen the investigations prompt division
and distrust. George Washington University faced
its own investigation days after clearing a professor
of antisemitism allegations brought against her by
pro-Israel groups.

And the University of California, Berkeley saw
an investigation opened into its law school after
the Brandeis Center’s founder, a former Trump
administration official, alleged in an op-ed that it was
propagating “Jew-free zones” because an alliance
of student groups at the law school pledged not to
invite Zionist speakers. The Jewish dean of the law
school vehemently denied the charge. ■
THE PERFECT FIT.

With hundreds of custom designs for showers or tubs, a one-day
install † and a lifetime warranty ‡ ... it’s no wonder 2 million happy
customers have trusted Bath Fitter with their bath remodels.

Contact us today to book your FREE consultation!
24 SPECIAL OFFER
MONTHS 0% INTEREST *
OUR BENEFITS
One-Day Install †
TUB-TO-SHOWER CONVERSIONS
TUB LINERS
Easy to Clean
Seamless Wall
Lifetime Warranty ‡
TUB & SHOWER REPLACEMENTS
1-855-786-0400 | bath-fitter.com/local24
† ‡
Tub-to-shower conversions and fiberglass replacements typically require a two-day installation. Lifetime warranty valid for as long as you own your home. *Offer ends 7/31/23. All offers apply to a complete Bath
Fitter system only, and must be presented and used at time of estimate. Minimum purchase required. Terms of promotional financing are 24 months of no interest from the date of installation and minimum deposit.

See representative for details. Qualified buyers only. May not be combined with other offers or applied to previous purchases. Valid only at select Bath Fitter locations. Offers and warranty subject to limitations.

Fixtures and features may be different than pictured. Accessories pictured are not included. Plumbing work done by P.U.L.S.E. Plumbing. MD MPL #17499, NJ MPL #10655, DE MPL #PL-0002303, MD MPL #82842,
VA MPL #2710064024, IA MPL #18066, OH MPL #37445, WV MPL #PL07514, MI MPL #8111651. PA HIC #PA017017, NJ HIC #13VH03073000, WV HIC #WV053085, MD HIC #129346, VA HIC #2705155694, MD HIC
#122356, VA HIC #2705096759, IA HIC #C112725, WV HIC #WV038808, MD HIC #129995, VA HIC #2705146537, DC HIC #420213000044. Each Franchise Independently Owned And Operated By Bath Saver, Inc,
LLC, Iowa Bath Solutions, LLC, Ohio Bath Solutions, LLC, Mid Atlantic Bath Solutions, LLC.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 15