In a recent op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Steven Davidoff Solomon, a corporate law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, made an assertive plea to future employers. He asked them to reconsider hiring some of his students, whom he alleges harbor antisemitic sentiments.
Solomon's concerns emerged in the wake of a controversial decision by several campus groups to ban pro-Israel speakers from their events.
Solomon Speaks Out
Solomon, who is an advisor to the Jewish Law Students Association, noted in his piece that while he generally finds his students to be engaged and well-prepared, some have shown discriminatory behaviors and attitudes towards Jews.
"My students are largely engaged and well-prepared, and I regularly recommend them to legal employers," he wrote. "But if you don't want to hire people who advocate hate and practice discrimination, don't hire some of my students."
The crux of the issue arises from a decision by nine campus groups to adopt a bylaw that would prohibit speakers who support Zionism, Israel, or the occupation of Palestine. Drafted by Berkeley's Law Students for Justice in Palestine, the rule aimed to curtail the spread of Zionist beliefs and ensure "the safety and welfare of Palestinian students."
In response, Solomon said in his op-ed, "It was rightly criticized for creating 'Jew-free' zones." Adding to his argument, the professor emphasized the significance of Jerusalem in Jewish history and identity, saying, "For millennia, Jews have prayed, 'next year in Jerusalem,' capturing how central the idea of a homeland is to Jewish identity." He contended that these campus groups, by excluding Jews, were indulging in antisemitism and dehumanizing Jewish people.
The controversy deepened when an additional 11 student groups adopted the same bylaw. Solomon expressed disappointment in their decision, emphasizing that these groups did not include Jewish law students in the bylaw discussions and seemed to single out Jewish aspirations for a homeland.
While this debate raged on the UC Berkeley campus, the issue of Israel and Palestine remains a point of contention worldwide. Palestinians often advocate for their homeland and reprieve from what some human rights organizations describe as an "open-air prison" in Gaza due to the blockade by Israel. This context adds layers to the debate about student stances at Berkeley.
Accountability in Hiring
Yet Solomon, connecting the larger geopolitical issues with campus sentiments, noted that the actions and attitudes on campus towards Jews contributed to a broader adverse stance against Jews in academia. He directly linked such attitudes to tragic events like the recent Hamas attack on Israeli civilians.
"The student conduct at Berkeley is part of the broader attitude against Jews on university campuses that made last week's massacre possible," Solomon asserted. He urged employers to exercise diligence during the recruitment process, holding students accountable for their beliefs and actions.
"If a student endorses hate, dehumanization, or anti-Semitism, don't hire him. When students face consequences for their actions, they straighten up," Solomon wrote.
Similar controversies have surfaced at other academic institutions. For instance, the president of New York University's student bar association faced significant backlash, even losing a job offer from the law firm Winston & Strawn, after sending out a newsletter accusing Israel of various crimes.
In conclusion, Solomon implored other legal employers to be discerning in their hiring processes, emphasizing the responsibility companies have: "Do you want your clients represented by someone who condones these monstrous crimes?"
As the larger conflict continues between Hamas and Israel, universities and colleges globally are becoming arenas for passionate debates and contentious stances, reflecting the complexities of the larger geopolitical issue.
