With over 1,700 signatures in just 3 days, we are ready to move forward!  You may already be aware of a letter supported by numerous UMD and national organizations calling for steps similar to those outlined in our Open Letter to the Chancellor.  (You can read that letter here:  13899 - Google Docs) When we meet with university leadership, we need to be absolutely clear what we are asking them to do.  Therefore, where there is overlap between the Open Letter and the students’ letter, we are modifying Open Letter language to use the students’ words.

A summary of changes to the letter are highlighted below.  As you will see, our message is unchanged, but if you do not wish to include your name on this modified letter, you may click here to have your name removed: Email Removal Form (google.com)

Thank you for your continued support.  We look forward to providing you with more updates soon.  In the meantime, please continue to share!

Jewish Terps Alumni Network

PS you have not already signed up for our general mailing list, you can do so here: Jewish Terps Alumni Network (JTAN) Programming Survey (google.com)

Summary of changes

Recommendation 1: 

Original Text: Establish clear policies specifically related to the rising calls for violence against Jewish students. 

New Text: Create an Antisemitism Task Force centered around Executive Order 13899

Recommendation 2:

Original Text: Adopt the clear definition of antisemitism that is laid out in the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Definition and use it to determine if a call for violence is being raised. 

New Text: Comply with existing anti discrimination laws that protect jewish students, including Title VI and EO 13899, and use the definition referenced in the executive order to determine if a call for violence is being raised. 

Recommendation 4:

Original Text: Expand the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and senior leadership to include a Jewish voice:

New Text: Educate students, faculty, and administrators about antisemitism utilizing Executive Order 13899. 

Recommendation 6: 

Original Text: Take steps to ensure the consequences for failing to respect these guidelines are known by the entire University of Maryland community. 

New Text: Ensure comprehensive policies and a robust process for responding to antisemitism in accordance with Executive Order 13899

Recommendation 5 will be discussed as  part of Recommendation 1

Original Text: Establish guidelines for protests to ensure the campus environment remains respectful.  

We will continue to call for Recommendation 3: Establish guidelines for faculty that protect academic freedom while also holding faculty accountable to a standard of academic integrity.