On October 6-8th the Student Government Association (SGA) co-sponsored the event “Boycott and Safe Protesting,” targeting and delegitimizing the only state and collective homeland to the Jewish people through a poster exhibit and webinar. The exhibit featured disturbing images promoting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement. The webinar was an affront to Jewish and Zionist ideals and left many Butler students feeling marginalized by our campus community. 

One week later, on October 14th, Butler’s Student Government Association had the opportunity to adopt a resolution that condemned antisemitism. Unfortunately, SGA was not allowed to vote, because administrators from the Office of Student Affairs inserted themselves into the democratic process, imposing an injunction on resolutions 2021-021: “Resolution to Condemn Antisemitism,” and 2021-022: “Resolution to Adopt the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) Definition of Antisemitism.” These resolutions were set to protect Jewish students on campus.

This is not the first time that Jewish students have experienced antisemitism on Butler’s campus. And this is not the first time that Jewish voices have been silenced by the University. We are tired and we are scared. We have a right to feel safe on this campus. 

Call to action: 

We call on our friends, peers, and members of the community at large to join us in signing this petition to hold the Department of Student Affairs accountable for their actions in regard to marginalizing Jewish voices at Butler. We are asking the University to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Definition of Antisemitism to protect Jewish students.