UC president responds to critical letter by Jewish groups about anti-Semitic acts on campuses

UC president responds to Jewish groups’ letter

BERKELEY, Calif. — University of California President Mark Yudof is responding to a critical letter written by a dozen Jewish and pro-Israel groups about anti-Semitism on UC campuses.

The letter, also supported by 700 UC students who signed an online petition, said the university’s response to recent anti-Semitic acts on campus has many students feeling an “environment of harassment and intimidation.”

Yudof, who is Jewish, said in a statement Tuesday he is concerned and urged the groups to support the university’s newly created Advisory Council on Campus Climate, Culture and Inclusion, which held its first meeting last week.

The panel was created in response to numerous racial incidents on campuses, including the spray-painting and carving of swastikas at several locations on the UC Davis campus.

Information from: Los Angeles Times, www.latimes.com