A UCLA alumna explains why she is disappointed that her alma mater isn’t taking a stronger stance against anti-Semitism.
___
I suppose for a school whose leaders of worship are personified by the likes of John Wooden, Bill Walton, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the game of basketball has been the religion more than any other. In a dramatic turn of events, during a student council board appointment meeting February 10th, 2015, the UCLA student body was forced to leave the pews of Pauley Pavilion to face a disconcerting development—which speaks to a much larger issue on campuses nationwide.
♦◊♦
In the spring of 2003, I anxiously awaited an important day–the day that I could check on whether I had been accepted to UCLA online (yes, we had websites back in 2003)! When the clock struck the intended hour, I nervously logged in, filled out my name and application number, and waited. A few minutes later I received my digital letter and it started with a “Congratulations.” That day is forever etched in my mind because UCLA was my number one choice.
To this day, I relish the fact that I attended and graduated from UCLA. Education, in any form, is something that can never be taken away from you… and for that it is king.
I imagine Rachel Beyda felt similar feelings of joy, pride, and excitement upon her acceptance to UCLA. UCLA is rich with opportunities to get involved whether it be with the PanHellenic community, sports, academia, or religious or ethnic organizations. So it should come as no surprise that an educated female co-ed became involved in communities that were relevant to her Jewish background. Adding these activities to your lifestyle not only shows character, but an interest in enriching your network and relationships.
Once word broke that Rachel Beyda’s Jewishness was brought into question, a national story broke out–since when has someone’s religion been called into question and used as a caveat to not appoint them to a board or a job?
|
On March 6th, 2015 a story broke with Beyda at the center. She had applied to be an appointed justice to the Judicial Board of the Undergraduate Students Association Council—a type of college Supreme Court. During her interview, she was asked if her association and activeness in the Jewish community would hinder her from having an unbiased point of view while serving on the board. After the questions progressed and the meeting remained on the record, the night innocuously ended–or so they thought. Once word broke that Rachel Beyda’s Jewishness was brought into question, a national story broke out–since when has someone’s religion been called into question and used as a caveat to not appoint them to a board or a job?
I don’t recall Barack Obama being asked during a formal presidential debate about whether his African American heritage and involvement in the black community would prevent him from governing the US in an unbiased way. (In fact, he was heralded as the first African-American to be elected to President.) I don’t recall Hillary Clinton being asked if being a female would be a hindrance in her role as Secretary of State. I don’t recall Sheryl Sandberg being asked if her plight as a feminist and voice for women in the workplace would make her unsuitable for a high powered role at Facebook. No, none of these questions were asked, at least not within the mainstream, because if they were, it would be egregious. So why are those ethnicities or associations so obviously off-limits, but calling someone’s Judaism into question is not?
♦◊♦
So for a public and prominent university like UCLA to impose such judgment and hate upon a Jewish woman applying to serve in a public office is truly unforgivable. It is a form of prejudice. UCLA always seemed like an incredibly diverse and open campus, one that celebrated different cultures, religions, races, and ideas. There was never a day that you wouldn’t walk down Bruin Walk (a central thoroughfare) without noticing that different campus organizations were cozily set up next to each other to chat with the public.
It seems to me that the current board members are not interested in appointing other members whose opinions may not align with theirs. Perhaps they have forgotten that they live in a nation where differences of opinions and notions are celebrated and recognized.
|
I believe these pointed questions about Beyda’s faith were veiled attempts at spreading anti-Israel sentiment. This is all too familiar on campuses these days. Just a few months prior to this incident, the USAC council voted on a divestment resolution–basically not to support any American companies that divested in the Gaza Strip, which ultimately was labelled as a divisive stance against Israel. Anecdotes like these are backed up by the official data: According to the Trinity College and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, 54 percent of self-identified Jewish students at 55 American colleges experienced anti-Semitism during the first six months of the 2013-2014 academic year.
Because the questioning (of Beyda’s faith) – which was spearheaded by General Representative Fabienne Roth and continued by Nedeen Sadeghi-Movahed – seemed too easily legitimized, it raises the questions of those individuals’ biases. It seems to me that the current board members are not interested in appointing other members whose opinions may not align with theirs. Perhaps they have forgotten that they live in a nation where differences of opinions and notions are celebrated and recognized.
As a UCLA alumna and Jewish female, I am appalled at the behavior exhibited by my alma mater and its presumption that such untoward and discriminatory questioning could even be entertained and potentially held against someone seeking a board membership or job. Eventually the board deliberated and a faculty advisor finally spoke up and mentioned that being a member of Jewish organizations was not a conflict of interest. Shame on this board and shame on the advising faculty for letting this get to that point. I still cherish my education at UCLA and feel this is an institution that, in time, can make this right.
Pic: Flickr – “UCLA’s Powell Library”/Justin Kern
Ah, but was anti-Semitism REALLY the issue here? What the criticism is in effect is whether Ms Beyda can show due objectivity/impartiality on matters pertaining to the Arab/Israeli conflict. Similar criticisms have been made about Catholics( Al Smith and JFK respectively), German Americans in the run up to the US entry into both World Wars, Cuban American exiles(esp in Miami) vis a vis the Castro regime, Irish Americans vis a vis the NI “Troubles”. And in my own country(UK) during the NI “Troubles”, repeated claims (admittedly made by Irish Republicans and nationalists) that certain judges(both in the province and the… Read more »
“What the criticism is in effect is whether Ms Beyda can show due objectivity/impartiality on matters pertaining to the Arab/Israeli conflict. ”
It’s telling that of the four who voted against her initially, two were Muslim and one was a European, both groups which have historically and recently displayed animosity towards Jews. Do you question whether the two Muslims already on the panel have biases on the Arab/Israeli conflict?
“So it should come as no surprise that an educated female co-ed became involved in communities that were relevant to her Jewish background.” I’d need to find out what these groups advocated and what her relationship with them was in order to formulate an informed opinion. There are many people who equate opposition to Israel as being anti-Semitic. I suspect that there are people within the Jewish community who equate being Jewish with being a supporter of Israel. I think it’s ironic that comes in the backdrop of Israel’s opposition to including the Palestinian territories into the International Criminal Court.… Read more »
I was accused of Anti-Semitism simply for questioning foreign aid to Israel. I also feel the same about Iraq, Afghanistan and every other country it goes to. Does that make me a racist?
Hmmm, no mention of Muslims, Islamic Fascism and the alignment of the Progressive Left and Regressive Islam. Three of the students who initially rejected Beyda were Muslim, and Roth was of the Progressive Left.
Time for Ms. Adelson to take off her politically correct glasses and call a spade a spade in terms of the takeover of her alma mater and that of many other college campuses in the U.S. by the Jew- and Christian-hating Left.
A really hard-hitting, deconstructive critique of the situation. You are proud of who you are. And I am proud of you!