To the editor: What are they educating at UCLA lately? Clearly not historical past, free speech, civil engagement of various viewpoints or empathy (“UC Regent Jay Sures condemns UCLA student government for criticizing Israeli hostage event,” April 24).
On April 14, in observance of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), the campus Hillel introduced Omer Shem Tov to UCLA to speak about his experiences. Shem Tov, now 23, was kidnapped from the Nova music competition in Israel by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, and was held hostage in Gaza for 505 days.
Hamas’ Oct. 7 bloodbath was a microcosm of the Holocaust: Jewish civilians, together with youngsters, have been kidnapped and slaughtered en masse by members of a corporation that had the aim of the annihilation of Jews in its founding documents. There are additionally numerous harrowing reports alleging that Hamas used rape and sexual violence as a weapon on that horrible day and during the hostages’ captivity.
Displaying respect for the reminiscence of the Holocaust and studying in regards to the horrors of Oct. 7 ought to be issues of easy human decency. But as an alternative of lauding the chance to be taught and have interaction, members of the UCLA pupil authorities, apparently with out the coed president’s information and with out giving correct discover, condemned Hillel for the occasion.
Your complete Board of Regents ought to be a part of Jay Sures in condemning this motion — which was antisemitic in impact if not in intent — as being antithetical to UCLA’s mission.
Stephen A. Silver, San Francisco
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To the editor: As a citizen, UC graduate, guardian of a UC pupil and a UC college member, I ponder why Regent Sures considers it dignified or defensible to assault UC undergraduate college students for his or her political statements. Regent Sures apparently considers criticism of Israel worthy of censorship and the harshest condemnation.
Do readers know that a number of UCs together with UCLA, owing to stress from Regent Sures, have suspended pupil teams defending Palestinian rights? UCLA indefinitely banned College students for Justice in Palestine as a pupil group, amongst other actions towards pro-Palestinian activism, but Sures can’t abide pupil council criticism of the type of pro-Israel occasions he favors. Defenders of Palestinian rights are censored and unvoiced, and loud defenders of Israeli army coverage demand exemption from criticism.
Some free speech, some educational freedom, some college. Sures’ selective outrage is a shame to UC.
Michael Provence, San Diego
This author is a professor of Center East historical past at UC San Diego.
