The AMCHA Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to investigating, documenting, educating about, and combating antisemitism at institutions of higher education in America.
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Campus Monitor - University of Michigan Dearborn
Student Voices
Antisemitism Tracker
Total Antisemitic Activity:
To see more information on how AMCHA determines antisemitic activity, click HERE.
To report a concern, click HERE.
| Classification | Date-Description | |
| TARGETING JEWISH STUDENTS AND STAFF: | DENIGRATION; BDS ACTIVITY (CALLS FOR BDS) |
3/16/17 – At a Board of Regents Meeting, Fiana Arbab, the UM-Dearborn Student Government President began an unscheduled discussion over a resolution to divest from Israeli companies. She noted that the student government had “unanimously voted in favor of a resolution to divest from businesses and companies that allegedly violate Palestinian rights.” Arbab said she would be following up with a packet of information about the resolutions the assembly has passed and she encouraged the regents to promote the “principles of equality and justice.” Regent Mark Bernstein (D) thanked Arbab, and then spoke out against BDS calling it an “intellectually bankrupt, morally repugnant expression of anti-Semitism.” In response, during the Public Comments section Dearborn junior Susan Jenin defended the student government’s resolution and asked the board to reconsider forming a divestment committee to investigate investments by the University that may violate Palestinian rights. She claimed, “When we asked to end this funding of human rights violations against our families, we are told we must consider the feelings of privileged student on campus whom this would have no impact on.” She then verbally accosted Bernstein for having said he would “never divest,” stating his “personal interest” and stakes in Israel are “well-documented.” Bernstein asked what “documentation” Jinen was referring to, claiming the meeting marked the first time he had spoken publicly on the matter. Bernstein suggested it seemed the speakers had made the inference that, because he was Jewish, he was unable to view the situation objectively. |
| ANTISEMITIC EXPRESSION: | DEMONIZATION; DELEGITIMIZATION; BDS ACTIVITY (CALLS FOR BDS) |
3/29/17 – The student paper published an opinion piece by SJP members that reiterated SJP support for a recent divestment bill that had passed, stating, “In the resolution we recently passed with the UM-Dearborn Student Government, we listed the corporations that invest in the subjugation of Palestinians through apartheid…As our word spreads, humanity becomes aware of the cruelties that occur by the hands of Israel…At SJP…We condemn the existence of the panoptic Israeli state in Palestine.” |
| DEMONIZATION; DELEGITIMIZATION |
3/22/17 – Mock parking tickets were placed on the windshields of cars in a campus lot, which threatened to tow and demolish the cars. The mock ticket advertised two campus events on “illegal settlements and Israeli apartheid,” hosted by SJP and accused the Jewish state of being a racist colonizer guilty of ethnic cleansing and apartheid. | |
| DELEGITIMIZATION; BDS ACTIVITY (CALLS FOR BDS) |
2/8/17 – UM Divest promoted a divestment petition to the campus community. A delegitimizing sign at an on-campus table promoting the petition read: “Sign the Petition to Divest from Investing in Apartheid.” | |
| DEMONIZATION | 10/31/16 – SJP held a themed bake sale entitled “Zionism is Scary,” that demonized Israel. A display at the event titled “From the Zionist Mind” contained quotes from notable Zionists that were pulled out of context in order to demonize Israeli leaders and Zionism. | |
| BDS ACTIVITY: | BDS VOTE | 3/13/17 – An anti-Israel divestment resolution passed unanimously in the Student Government. |
| CALLS FOR BDS | 2/22/17 – SJP held an event to create pro-divestment signs to display on campus. | |
| BDS VOTE | 4/11/16 – Two anti-Israel resolutions were discussed by the Faculty Senate, and ultimately, voted down. One, an academic boycott resolution, was defeated 31-6-1. The second resolution was a divestment resolution and was voted down 32-5. |
In the News ?
April 26, 2017:
The Jewish News – Muslim student group posts mock parking tickets to promote its views
(Description note, “An issue perhaps more upsetting to Jewish students on campus is that student government meetings are held on Friday night, when many Jewish students are unable to attend. ‘This has been going on for several years,’ Collins said. ‘We contacted the president of the student government about our concerns, and the response was that there were other ways Jewish students could be involved.’ Collins said the Jewish Student Organization would continue to press for changing the meeting time so that Jewish students can participate fully in student government.’”)
April 13, 2017:
The Michigan Journal – Students Receive Fake Parking Tickets Advertising Events on Campus
April 7, 2017:
The Algemeiner – Anti-Israel Parking Tickets Place on Cars at University of Michigan Dearborn
March 29, 2017:
The Michigan Journal – Panoptic Divestment
March 29, 2017:
The Michigan Journal – Divestment: No Place for Hate at Dearborn
February 9, 2017:
Inside Higher Ed – Racist, Anti-Semitic Emails Anger Many at Michigan
February 8, 2017:
The Michigan Daily – Racist and anti-Semitic emails sent to University engineering, computer science students
February 8, 2017:
The Tower – University of Michigan Students Receive Mass Anti-Semitic, Racist Emails
February 8, 2017:
Deadline Detroit – Hate on Campus: UM and FBI Investigate Racist and Anti-Semitic Emails
February 7, 2017:
Michigan Daily – Israeli-Palestine lunches to foster dialogue meets disagreement from executive board
December 19, 2016:
The Algemeiner – Anti-Israel U of Michigan Prof ‘Puzzled’ by ‘Fizzling’ BDS Activism on Campus
February 2, 2016:
The Michigan Journal – Feeling the Bern for Palestine
(Description note, “Probably the most notorious of Sander’s surprising foreign policy views is his support of Israel. While he has equivocated remarking about the “complicated” issue, opting to rehash the “two state solution” argument as both Clinton and O’Malley have put forward, it is concerning that Sanders overly favors the state characterized by illegal occupation, apartheid, and disproportionate use of force—policies indicative of values Sanders allegedly vehemently opposes. He has repeatedly defended Israel’s right to exist, and even defended Israel’s war in summer of 2014, resulting in a heated confrontation between the candidate and an audience at a town hall discussion.”)
March 31, 2014:
The Michigan Journal – Student Government passes divestment resolution (17-5)
(Description note, “UM-Dearborn’s Student Government has called for divestment on four previous occasions: in 2005, 2006, 2010, and 2012.”)
March 17, 2014:
The Michigan Journal – Israeli Aparthied Week showcases Middle East conflict
April 26, 2006:
UM-D Student Government – UMD Student Resolutions on Divestment (Description note, “The UM-D Student Government has passed 2 resolutions on divestment, one in 2005 and one in 2006. Both are posted below.”)
Photo Album - Campus Antisemitism
Source Credit: UM Divest promoted a divestment petition to the campus community where students were offered the ability to sign the petition on campus at the UC stage. A delegitimizing sign at the table read, “Sign the Petition to Divest from Investing in Apartheid.” SJP UMD, (February 8, 2017)
Source Credit: SJP at UM Dearborn, (October 31, 2016)
Source Credit: SJP created a representation of the wall built by the Israeli government. The Michigan Journal (March 17, 2014)
To report antisemitic activity at this or any other campus, you may:
BDS Tracker
3/13/17 – Student Government: PASSED – According to SJP “a resolution to Divest from ethically reprehensible corporations that violate Palestinian rights” passed unanimously in the Student Government (confirmed by Michigan Daily).
4/11/2016 – Faculty Senate: FAILED – Two anti-Israel resolutions were voted down. One, an academic boycott resolution, was defeated 31-6-1. The second resolution was a divestment resolution and was voted down 32-5.
3/1/2014 – Student Government: PASSED – Divestment resolution passed.
2/26/2010 – Student Government: PASSED – Divestment resolution passes.
1/1/2009 – Student Government: PASSED – A resolution calling for the University of Michigan’s Board of Regents to create an advisory committee to examine university endowment’s investments in companies profiting from alleged human rights abuses against Palestinians passes.
9/26/2006 – Student Government: PASSED – Divestment resolution passed.
7/4/2005 – Student Government: PASSED – Divestment resolution passed.
2/22/2005 – Student Government: PASSED – Divestment resolution passed.
2004 – Student Government: PASSED – Divestment resolution passes.
BDS Instigators: Student & Faculty
STUDENT BDS
FACULTY BDS
- Sally Howell
- Brian McKenna