Stanford University Investigates Instructor for Holocaust Downplaying and Targeting Students
A Stanford University instructor has been removed from teaching duties after allegations emerged of downplaying the Holocaust and singling out students based on their backgrounds and identities. The incident occurred during a heated discussion on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has not only heightened tensions in the Middle East but also sparked concerns among Jewish communities in the United States.
Although the instructor, who is not a faculty member, has not been named, CNN has attempted to seek their comment on the matter. According to reports, the incident left several students shaken up and concerned about potential backlash or bullying on campus. Rabbi Dov Greenberg, executive director of Stanford’s Jewish community center, expressed his worries about the affected students, stating that they felt marginalized, attacked, and isolated.
During the controversial discussion, the instructor apparently attempted to justify the actions of Hamas and shockingly asked the students how many Jews were killed in the Holocaust. To their horror, the instructor then asserted that more people had been killed by colonizers than in the Holocaust. The situation escalated when the instructor allegedly asked some students, based on their backgrounds, to physically move to the back of the class, drawing a disturbing parallel with the treatment of Palestinians by Israel.
The incident unfolded in two sessions of a mandatory class called College 101, with a total of 18 students present. Jewish student leaders reported that the instructor specifically asked Jewish students to raise their hands, separated them from their belongings, and suggested they were simulating what Jews were doing to Palestinians. Such targeted actions and comments left the students traumatized and frightened, resulting in their inability to push back against the instructor at the time.
This incident is not an isolated event at Stanford University, as earlier this year, a hate crime investigation was launched when an antisemitic drawing was found on a Jewish student’s dorm room door. Additionally, swastikas and offensive graffiti have been discovered on campus, signifying a troubling rise in antisemitism.
Stanford University has taken these allegations seriously and is conducting a thorough investigation into the matter. The institution is actively committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all students. As this distressing incident continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address antisemitism and promote open dialogue and understanding on college campuses.
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