Should being Jewish be taken into consideration for those wanting to serve in student government?
Apparently, yes, if you’re at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Meet Rachel Beyda, a second-year economics major at U.C.L.A. was was nominated for a spot on the student council’s “Judicial Board” and was straight-up asked during her confirmation interview if her religious beliefs would prevent her from having an “unbiased view” on matters that come before the board:
https://twitter.com/KirstenPowers/status/573840147915079682
Academia – you've really got to address this problem http://t.co/eHeMFOyWMV – anti-semitism on UCLA campus. NYT article by @adamnagourney
— Dana Perino (@DanaPerino) March 6, 2015
What does putting a Jewish sophomore from Cupertino on a UCLA student council board have to do with Israel, exactly? http://t.co/SFnDaiFbNv
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) March 6, 2015
From the New York Times:
It seemed like routine business for the student council at the University of California, Los Angeles: confirming the nomination of Rachel Beyda, a second-year economics major who wants to be a lawyer someday, to the council’s Judicial Board.
Until it came time for questions.
“Given that you are a Jewish student and very active in the Jewish community,” Fabienne Roth, a member of the Undergraduate Students Association Council, began, looking at Ms. Beyda at the other end of the room, “how do you see yourself being able to maintain an unbiased view?”
“Given that you are a Jewish student and very active in the Jewish community,” Fabienne Roth, a member of the Undergraduate Students Association Council, began, looking at Ms. Beyda at the other end of the room, “how do you see yourself being able to maintain an unbiased view?”
Wow. Would they dare ask that of a black candidate? Or a LBGT candidate? OR a Hispanic candidate? We know the answer to that.
Anti-Semitism in Europe? It's here at UCLA. Why isn't UCLA leadership taking a stronger stand against this bigotry? http://t.co/ceB9OPz7CR
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) March 6, 2015
Wow. in Los Angeles. Tale via @adamnagourney In U.C.L.A. Debate Over Jewish Student, Echoes on Campus of Old Biases http://t.co/pNL7Me8myW
— jennifer steinhauer (@jestei) March 6, 2015
Charges of anti-Semitism are overused, usually against Israel's critics. But this sure seems raw anti-Semitism http://t.co/MCSbqTggDi
— Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) March 6, 2015
Liberal colleges have tolerated anti-Semitism for decades. This is the shocking result: http://t.co/1FhiefHv8k
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) March 6, 2015
Now it’s nice to see this bipartisan condemnation, but is this anything new?
Mainstream media wakes up to BDS-Anti-Semitism connection http://t.co/CAiCpfZTag
— Legal Insurrection (@LegInsurrection) March 6, 2015
Answer: No.
It really is just the latest step in the anti-Israel “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” (BDS) movement that we’ve been reporting on for years:
Reporter brands Scarlett Johansson an ‘utter tw*t’ over SodaStream deal
Harvard president orders investigation into boycott of ‘microaggressive’ SodaStream machines
‘Defender of Israel’ Ellen DeGeneres vilified for ‘apartheid SodaStream’ giveaway
Pet Shop Boys singer smacks down BDS bullies: Israel not an apartheid state
Palestinian activists turn on Red Hot Chili Peppers
Except this time they were caught. On tape. And now in the New York Times.
Update — 1:45: It really is an old story, as in the NYT is just reporting on it now:
.@LegInsurrection So NYT got around to reporting it almost a month after you did? ha!
— Nurit Baytch (@NuritBaytch) March 6, 2015
Yep! Legal Insurrection posted on this almost a month ago now. And here’s a link to the video of the interrogation:
@KirstenPowers the video http://t.co/yP2NU5w0lJ
— Legal Insurrection (@LegInsurrection) March 6, 2015
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