As a Jewish student and a major in Women and Gender Studies (WGS) at Syracuse University, I am deeply disturbed by the recent actions of our department chair, Professor Himika Bhattacharya. An email sent out to students under her leadership demonstrated an alarming level of antisemitism, inciting hate rather than promoting understanding about the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The email failed to condemn the heinous acts committed against Jewish people by Hamas.

This incident has made it clear that the WGS department's values are not aligned with those of its students, who believe in peace, justice, and respect for all communities. It is disheartening to realize that this department seems to ignore and devalue the ongoing hate and violence against Jewish people both in the Israel-Palestine context as well as nationally within the US.

This act is not just offensive but also goes against Syracuse University's commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students. As per the FBI’s 2019 Hate Crime Statistics report, 60.2% of religiously motivated hate crimes were targeted towards Jews. This statistic underscores how crucial it is for educational institutions like ours to stand firmly against antisemitism. This makes it even more alarming that such behavior comes from someone who holds a position of authority within our university.

We believe in freedom of speech and academic freedom, but promoting hatred or bias based on religion or ethnicity should never be tolerated within educational institutions. We demand immediate action from Syracuse University - starting with removing Professor Himika Bhattacharya from her position as chair of the WGS program due to her irresponsible behavior, which has caused harm within our community.

It's time for Syracuse University to hold its faculty accountable for their actions and ensure they uphold values that promote inclusivity rather than division or hatred. Please sign this petition if you believe in creating a safer learning environment free from discrimination or prejudice at Syracuse University. By signing this petition, you are standing up against antisemitism and supporting an inclusive learning environment for all students at Syracuse University. Please sign this petition today!