October 15, 2024
Antisemitism and Islamophobia task forces issue final reports, findings and recommendations to UW leadership
Final reports from the University of Washington’s task forces on antisemitism and Islamophobia were released Tuesday. The task forces were established by UW President Ana Mari Cauce on March 7, 2024, with the goal of assessing “how students, faculty and staff are experiencing discrimination or harassment because they are Jewish and/or Palestinian, Middle Eastern or Muslim on our campus, and to what degree they feel the climate is supportive and welcoming.”
The task forces conducted surveys and focus groups to gather information and perspectives and, while not initially requested, both included a set of recommended actions for University leadership’s consideration.
Ed Taylor, UW’s dean of undergraduate academic affairs, served as co-chair of both task forces. The Islamophobia task force was co-chaired by Karam Dana, the Alyson McGregor Distinguished Professor of Excellence and Transformative Research in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences at UW Bothell. The antisemitism task force was co-chaired by Janet Baseman, professor and acting chair in the Department of Epidemiology on the Seattle campus.
“The intent of this joint submission is not to equate antisemitism and Islamophobia,” the co-chairs write in the report’s introduction, “but to acknowledge that this particular moment puts into sharp relief the need to examine both in a shared context, as the present conflicts shine light on issues that impact members of our campus community who have experienced pain, isolation, fear and discrimination.”
Important additional context, the report introduction states, is that both task forces make clear that “antisemitism and Islamophobia have long histories that extend before the events of October 7, 2023. Antisemitism and Islamophobia are multi-layered and multifaceted prejudices that have different histories and present in different ways.” The survey and focus groups were also conducted primarily in May 2024, during the height of an encampment on the UW campus and related protests, counterdemonstrations and increased tension.
The task forces were not expected to — nor did they — verify or confirm the information shared by survey and focus group participants. Instead, they focused on gathering feedback and gaining an understanding of the campus climate, although the results may be limited by the fact that some people declined to participate due to not having time, fearing retaliation or believing that their feedback would not make a difference.
Some broad findings include:
- Survey and focus group participants being distressed by growing signs of perceived antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias in protests, demonstrations and the encampment. These were perceived to have gone beyond the lines of argument and extended to advocating, implicitly or explicitly, for violence.
- Survey and focus group participants being distressed by perceived alienation and lack of support for Palestinian and Muslim community members, feeling that their message and concerns were not adequately heard or addressed.
- Participants in both assessments reported not knowing how to address their encounters of bigotry and not knowing how to have their concerns resolved. There were consistent concerns about enforcement of rules and policies.
Both reports note that the UW “fell short on ensuring all members of our community experience and sense of welcome and belonging. We can and must do better.”
During the 2023-24 academic year, 60% of Jewish students and 92% of Israeli students surveyed said they felt unwelcome on campus at least once based on their Jewish and Israeli identities, with 28% of Jewish students and 75% of Israeli students reporting that this happened frequently. Some 65% of Jewish students and 95% of Israeli students said they felt the need to hide their identity at least once, with 42% of Jewish students and 81% of Israeli students reporting that this happened frequently. Roughly one-third of Jewish students and 70% of Israeli students reported being insulted and intimidated at some point in the year.
During the same timeframe, 80% of Muslim students, 72% of Arab or Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) students, and 78% of Palestinian students surveyed said they felt unwelcome based on their identities at least once, with 35% of Muslim students, 28% of Arab/MENA students, and 33% of Palestinian students reporting that this happened frequently. Some 74% of Muslim students, 69% of Arab/MENA students, and 77% of Palestinian students surveyed said they felt the need to hide their identity at least once, with 40% of Muslim students, 38% of Arab/MENA students, and 50% of Palestinian students reporting that this happened frequently. Roughly half to one-third of Muslim and Arab/MENA students, as well as nearly two-thirds of Palestinian students reported being insulted and intimidated at some point in the year.
A vast majority of students who experienced hostility during 2023-24 reported that it was more severe compared to previous years, including 82% among Palestinian students, 80% among Muslim students, 69% among Arab/MENA students, 74% among Jewish students, and 98% among Israeli students.
Additional survey data for students and employees can be found in the full report at uw.edu/taskforces.
While both task forces offered specific recommendations, some recommendations overlapped, including:
- Clarify and reinvigorate UW’s values: Islamophobia, antisemitism, and anti-Arab, anti-Israeli, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian biases are forms of hatred that have no place within the UW community.
- Review and make clear disciplinary procedures for antisemitic and Islamophobic behaviors.
- Expand learning and education through deep and broad equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging policies pertaining to Islamophobia and antisemitism. They also recommend that faculty, staff and students be provided curricular and co-curricular opportunities for bridging across divides that honors academic freedom, belonging, mutual respect and a pluralist framework that respects those from all backgrounds.
The antisemitism task force developed six recommendations for University leadership to consider, including:
- Establish a University Committee on Antisemitism and Campus Climate to monitor key performance indicators
- Swift and public communication and enforcement of Washington Administrative Codes (WACs)
- Enforce reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions to protect campus safety and academic integrity
- Commit to civil discourse and free exchange of ideas
- Clarify faculty responsibility in safeguarding an educational environment free from discrimination
- Develop antisemitism education for diversity, equity and inclusion professionals, Student Life staff, resident advisers and First-Year Program staff
The Islamophobia task force developed seven recommendations for University leadership to consider:
- Forming a Standing Committee on Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Racism
- Establish a Community Advisory Board to promote meaningful connections between UW leadership and Arab, Muslim and Southwest Asian and North African communities in our region
- Create Spaces for Communities affected by Islamophobia and anti-Arab Racism at UW
- Establish a Liaison Role for Addressing Bias Incidents
- Encourage the formation of affinity groups to support Arab, Muslim and Palestinian identities.
- Development and enhancement of academic programs focused on Islamophobia, Arab politics, and Palestine; cultural awareness and sensitivity trainings
- Diversity through representation in leadership
The full report can be viewed at the task forces’ website.
Contact Victor Balta at balta@uw.edu.
