NY lawmakers push for legislation aimed at combatting hate on college campus
The move comes in response to the increasing number of recent antisemitic incidents at colleges and universities as a result of the Israel-Hamas war.
New York lawmakers are pushing for legislation that would make it illegal to take part in hate crimes of any kind on college campuses throughout the state.
The move comes in response to the increasing number of recent antisemitic incidents at colleges and universities as a result of the Israel-Hamas war.
Israel's war against Hamas is fueling strong emotions and threats of violence against Jewish students on college campuses nationwide, including New York state, at Columbia University and Cornell University. Classes at Cornell were canceled on Friday after one of its students was accused of making violent threats against Jewish people.
"We've seen a rise in antisemitism across New York state that is just out of control," says New York State Assembly Member Matt Slater. He says that's why he's throwing his support behind the DSA Act, a recently proposed legislation aimed at stopping hatred and bigotry, including antisemitism, on college campuses.
"And so we've introduced legislation that would require colleges and universities to do antisemitism curriculum, education, reporting. It's very important that we send a strong message that hate has no home in the state of New York," Slater explains.
If it becomes law, the DSA Act would also make institutions of higher learning that don't meet specific requirements ineligible for state funding. It would also require mandatory training for students, faculty and staff and require colleges to annually report their efforts in combatting hate.
