The logo for the University of California. Photo: Google Images.

JNS.org – Twelve pro-Israel organizations on Tuesday thanked the University of California (UC) system for affirming a policy that prohibits bringing anti-Semitic materials into classrooms on its campuses.

The groups previously wrote a letter to UC President Janet Napolitano regarding the intent of the UAW 2865 union—which represents all of the UC system’s graduate student instructors, tutors, and readers—to hold a vote among its members on support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.

“While we support the right of every member of UAW 2865 to exercise his or her freedom of speech outside of the instructional setting, we are greatly concerned that these union members, who are responsible for instructing undergraduate students on nine UC campuses, will bring their unscholarly, politically motivated, and anti-Semitic propaganda and advocacy into UC classrooms, where it certainly does not belong,” the pro-Israel groups in August.

UC Provost Aimee Dorr addressed the groups’ concerns in a letter last month, affirming, “The University’s position as to the conduct of ASEs (academic student employees) in the classroom is rooted in its academic policies, including the UC Regents Policy on Course Content, referenced in your [August] letter. We will ask the campuses to remind all the ASEs about these policies and their obligation to adhere to them.”

The pro-Israel groups wrote in an Oct. 7 letter to Dorr, “Your actions will go a long way towards ensuring that all students experience a safe and effective learning environment consistent with the high academic standards of the University of California.”

Groups signing the letter included the AMCHA Initiative, Americans for Peace and Tolerance, Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, Hasbara Fellowships, Institute for Black Solidarity with Israel, Lawfare Project, Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, Simon Wiesenthal Center, StandWithUs, and the Zionist Organization of America.