December 1, 2021
Dear President Folt, Provost Zukoski, and Chairman Caruso,
We, the undersigned faculty, wish to register our dismay about ongoing open expressions of anti-Semitism and Zionophobia on our campus that go unrebuked. The silence of our leadership on this matter is alienating, hurtful, and depressing. It amounts to tacit acceptance of a toxic atmosphere of hatred and hostility.
In the Spring and Summer of 2021, USC student Yasmeen Mashayekh in the Viterbi School of Engineering, posted multiple statements on Twitter and other social media outlets including:
We refrain from judging whether this student's speech is protected by the First Amendment and whether her behavior requires disciplinary action. Likewise, School officials should determine what to do about her appropriation of the title: "DEI Senator for the Engineering School." We leave it to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to determine whether such views fit into USC culture and its stated commitment to build a diverse and inclusive environment.
We write this letter to call on USC leadership to publicly and explicitly rebuke Yasmeen Mashayekh for her offensive behavior and to distance USC from her hateful statements. Repeated threats of murder and harm based on race, religion, ethnicity, country of origin, gender, sexual orientation, etc. are not acceptable discourse, even in the context of heated debates on difficult political issues. The absence of explicit condemnation amounts to tacit endorsement. This is a slap in the face to USC students, staff, and faculty who are Jewish and to anyone who supports the right of the State of Israel to exist. A public statement is needed immediately given the continuing instances of anti-Semitism and Zionophobia on our campus.
In August 2020, several of us signed an Open Letter concerning personal attacks against Rose Ritch, a USC undergraduate. She resigned as vice president of USC’s undergraduate student government because of intense abuse she endured due to her Jewish-Zionist identity [3]. In August 2021, another Open Letter called your attention to an inflammatory and misleading online "Statement," that USC’s Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies publicly endorsed [4]. This endorsement has not been rescinded. We await action.
We ask you to voice a public, explicit and specific condemnation of Ms. Mashayekh’s statements. The campus community needs to know the name of the offender and the essence of the offence. We urge you to condemn the hateful content of these statements and to reaffirm that such views are contrary to USC’s values. Most importantly, Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli students, as well as those who support the right of the State of Israel to exist need to hear from our leaders that they are welcome on our campus. Such a statement would not infringe on free speech or take sides in political dispute. It is a call for character and dignity. It is overdue.
Respectfully,