(a) The General Assembly finds that:(1) A historic rise in antisemitic violence, harassment, and discrimination has occurred at institutions of higher education across the United States, targeting Jewish students;(2) In April 2024, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation found that the number of Federal Bureau of Investigation investigations into antisemitic hate crimes tripled in the months after October 7, 2023;(3) According to a recent Gallup poll, eighty-one percent (81%) of Americans now see antisemitism as either a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem, up from fifty-seven percent (57%) two (2) decades ago;(4) Acts of antisemitism on institution of higher education campuses undermine the educational and social fabric of our educational institutions; and(5) Promoting understanding, tolerance, and respect for all students and institution of higher education employees is imperative.
(1) A historic rise in antisemitic violence, harassment, and discrimination has occurred at institutions of higher education across the United States, targeting Jewish students;
(2) In April 2024, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation found that the number of Federal Bureau of Investigation investigations into antisemitic hate crimes tripled in the months after October 7, 2023;
(3) According to a recent Gallup poll, eighty-one percent (81%) of Americans now see antisemitism as either a “very serious” or “somewhat serious” problem, up from fifty-seven percent (57%) two (2) decades ago;
(4) Acts of antisemitism on institution of higher education campuses undermine the educational and social fabric of our educational institutions; and
(5) Promoting understanding, tolerance, and respect for all students and institution of higher education employees is imperative.
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to require all institutions of higher education to address and prohibit antisemitic discrimination at institution of higher education campuses in the same manner that institutions of higher education would address and prohibit any other form of discrimination prohibited by law, including without limitation discrimination on the basis of race.