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"As Jews around the world celebrate Passover, we are instructed to relive the experiences of our ancestors that left Egypt 3000 years ago as if we were the ones crossing the Red Sea. We are also individually encouraged to treat every day as if we are leaving our own personal 'Egypt,' whether 'leaving Egypt' means passing a difficult class, prioritizing one's mental or physical health, or overcoming a significant personal challenge in your life. Today, the Jewish community at the University of Minnesota has succeeded in this endeavor. United, the entire Jewish community — Minnesota Hillel, Chabad U of M, SSI, AEPI, and Sigma Alpha Mu — succeeded at defining antisemitism on our campus. I am proud and thankful for the support of this coalition of Jewish student organizations and the support of each and every single individual that voted 'yes' in support of our cause. SSI at the University of Minnesota looks forward to a safe and inclusive environment for all students and are excited to see the way in which the IHRA definition of antisemitism will help to make this possible." Oren R. | SSI President, University of Minnesota
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University of Minnesota · 2021 Student Poll
Should UMN adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism?With Jewish Americans making up just 2.1% of the U.S. population yet accounting for 58% of anti-religious hate crimes in 2019, Minnesota Hillel asked students whether campus administrators should have a clear, internationally recognized framework for identifying and addressing antisemitism. |
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In April 2016, the Minnesota Student Association voted 37-30 to amend a divestment resolution targeting Israel, removing all references to specific companies and countries. The final amended resolution passed 45-18-7.
This decisive defeat of the BDS movement at the University of Minnesota marked the second defeat in under two months. The campaign was led by UMN United, a student coalition assembled by Students Supporting Israel alongside Minnesota Hillel, JCRC, the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, and the broader Jewish community. University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and 80 members of the Minnesota Legislature also lent their voices in opposition to divestment. |
STUDENT REMARKS |
"Tonight, the Minnesota Student Association (MSA) declared loud and clear that it will not allow minority groups to be marginalized by one-sided resolutions. We are proud of the student leaders who spoke out against the divisive divestment campaign, and in favor of a truly inclusive campus. Over the course of two and a half hours of debate, the true aims of the divestment resolution became abundantly clear. We proposed an amendment to the divestment resolution removing references to specific companies, countries, and regions. The amendments were adopted by a vote of 37-30 and the resolution with our amendments passed 45-18-7. We are fully in support of financial transparency and socially responsible investments for our University, but we refuse to endorse a resolution with ties to a global movement (BDS) that advocates for the destruction of Israel. We've said all along that divestment targeting Israel is extremely divisive, a fact that was painstakingly evident at tonight's Forum. We thank each and every person who contributed to the UMN campaign. We open the door for collaboration and unity on campus into the future." UMN United Statement · April 2016
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