Teacher Tea
Zero Tolerance: Hamilton College Suspends Student Over Anti-Semitic Remarks
According to “Hamilton College Student Charged After Admitting He Posted Anti-Semitic Remarks,” published on Syracuse.com and written by Jon Moss, a Hamilton College student, Adyn S. Brenden, was arrested and charged with first-degree aggravated harassment after admitting to posting anti-semitic remarks on campus. The remarks were found written on art canvases. Brenden was issued an appearance ticket and suspended from the college pending a dismissal hearing. There were no other reported threats to students or staff.
Such behavior can create a hostile and unsafe learning environment for not only the Jewish students who are directly targeted by it; anti-semitism is part of a larger web of bigotry that can lead to the normalization of bullying and discrimination, which negatively impacts students both academically and emotionally. Teachers are in a critical position when it comes to promoting tolerance and respect in their institution, and they must find ways to communicate a unified front.
What exactly is driving the rise of anti-semitism on college campuses? Hillel International estimates that anti-semitic incidents have increased ten-fold on college campuses over the past year. Educators can focus on where students are being influenced, and by whom, in order to start dissecting this issue.