A University of California, Berkeley professor has been living in his office for a week as part of a sleepover protest against school officials who are not doing enough to prevent anti-Semitism and protect free speech on campus. There is.
Ron Hasner, a political science professor at Berkeley for the past 20 years, has been sleeping on a mattress next to his desk in the university’s social science building since March 7.
He told the newspaper that he plans to hold out “as long as necessary” until UC Berkeley leadership addresses rampant anti-Semitism on campus. This comes after a violent mob last month forced Jewish students to evacuate an auditorium where Israeli Defense Force soldiers were scheduled to be deployed. Something to say.
He hasn’t been able to shower for a full week, or 168 hours, since he started protesting, forcing him to use public toilets inside the venue.
But thanks to Zoom, he was able to teach a class on “Middle East Wars” to 100 students, and many people came to see him and offered to support his protests. .
“I thought it would be boring and lonely, but I’ve had students come into my office at any time of the day, which is great,” he told the Post, who often stay late and eat together. He spoke cheerfully about the visitors. .
“It was like a ‘Grand Central’ for students,” he said of the overwhelming show of support.
“My office is getting smellier day by day, but more than a dozen students are coming in.”
He claims he has even been visited by members of the university’s leadership, suggesting that many feel powerless over the crackdown on the student movement, which included the blockade of the historic main gate.
“I know they share my concerns. I know they are concerned about racism in all its forms. I know you don’t like it,” he said.
He said he had three specific requests before departing.
“First and foremost, we are asking the university to open the gates to the campus where anti-Israel students are illegally barricaded,” Hassner told the Post. He spoke while touching the main gate.Activities on campus and blocked by anti-Israel demonstrators For the better part of the last month.
“They are harassing Jewish students. They are admitting some students but not others. They are blocking them, surrounding them, taking pictures of them.” Hasner said.
Second, he asks, “Every time a speaker is threatened or banned from speaking out loud, the university apologizes to them and invites them back.”
“My third request was for the university to provide Islamophobia and anti-Semitism training to all staff and personnel responsible for student safety on campus, because many on this campus Because it turns out they don’t know about students, what students need, what scares students, and what scares students.” They think they’re a threat.” he added.
Assistant at the University of California, Berkeley. Vice President Dan Moguloff told the Post that the university “continues to firmly promote free speech and foster an environment where all members of the community feel able to participate in campus life without fear of harassment.” We are working on it,” he said.
“The administration is committed to combating anti-Semitism.” “I have great respect for Professor Hassner and have discussed his concerns with him,” Mogulov said.
The government’s failure to respond to the activities of student demonstrators culminated on February 26, when activists smashed the glass doors of the Zellerbach Theater. There, a small group of students had gathered to talk about the Gaza war with Ran Bar, an IDF soldier and lawyer. – Jehoshaphat.
Anti-Israel activists hurled slurs at Jewish students and assaulted some of them, some of whom broke windows and broke through doors to enter the building. The students and student organizations involved are being investigated by the university.
“I think it was a huge shock to the university. It’s not normal behavior on Berkeley’s campus,” Hasner said of the incident, calling it an “extreme case” of student activism.
But the most vocal anti-Israel demonstrators make up a small portion of the student body, less than 1 percent of enrollment, he said.
He said about 1% of the 1% are “extremists” who “shock, curse and spit” on both sides.
“New York Post readers won’t believe me when I say this, but 98 percent of Berkeley students don’t care,” Hasner said. “That’s not the only reason they’re on campus. They care about Israel and Jews just as much as they care about Japan. It’s just not on their radar.”
Hassner pointed out that during school strikes across the country in November to protest the war in Gaza, only about 400 Berkeley students showed up to demonstrate out of a total of about 40,000 students.
What’s needed on campuses, he said, is more civil discussion and schools committed to defending free speech.
“We need more dialogue. Universities need to take a more assertive stance on free speech,” Professor Hassner said. “We cannot turn a blind eye to student protests that drown out speakers, intimidate speakers, and intimidate students. Freedom of speech must be protected.”
But until schools comply with his demands, Hasner said he will remain in his office, which he hopes will inspire other educators across the country.
Grocery deliveries have been pouring in from all over the country, and he said it’s more comfortable than he expected. “I probably ate more matzo balls in the past week than I’ve ever eaten in my entire life.”
The professor said he has received messages of support from around the world.
“Giving hope to our students is important, and I hope other teachers across the country do the same,” he said. “I think this could be part of a movement that really encourages people and shows Americans that anti-Semitism is an issue that we all need to fight together.”
