A cocktail definition for antisemitism mixed by La Trobe University
Melbourne’s La Trobe University has combined the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) definitions of antisemitism.
Martin Building, LaTrobe University Photo: Wikipedia
The combination has not totally met the expectations of The Jewish Community Council of Victoria.
President Daniel Aghion told J-Wire: “While we welcome La Trobe University’s commitment to eliminating all forms of discrimination and to reviewing its internal processes around responding to antisemitism, we regret that it has rejected, in part, the Victorian Jewish community’s own preferred definition of antisemitism.
The IHRA working definition of antisemitism, including its definitions, has been officially endorsed by the affiliate organisations of the JCCV, the peak representative body for the Victorian Jewish community. It is also the preferred definition of AUJS, the JCCV affiliate which represents Jewish university students.
It is very disappointing that the JCCV was not consulted by La Trobe University. If we had been, we could have explained that the IHRA definition of antisemitism has not been found to hinder freedom of speech and that the Jerusalem Declaration does not enjoy broad support in the Jewish community.”
In a statement, the university points out: “Following extensive consultation and as part of La Trobe University’s commitment to eliminating all forms of discrimination while upholding free speech and academic freedom, the University will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism but without its eleven examples, and will adopt the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism (JDA) as guidelines.
The University considers the adoption of the definitions and guidelines in this way will best support academic freedom and reasonable political debate. The University has also committed to a review of its internal processes around responding to antisemitism.
La Trobe University condemns all forms of discrimination, including racism, and we offer support to everyone who has experienced discrimination. At the same time, we uphold our obligation as a public institution to preserve free speech and academic freedom across our campus network.
Additionally, the University will explore the adoption of definitions of other forms of discrimination, including Islamophobia, as part of the development of an overarching anti-racism strategy. This is in addition to an existing range of University policies and procedures around anti-discrimination.
A university who has allowed muslim prayers, as well as leaflet distribution and Palestinian ‘info’ desks in the centre courtyard for years.. This is no surprise