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Campus Incidents
After a 17 percent decrease in 1998, the number of anti-Semitic
incidents on college campuses in 1999 dropped even more dramatically,
to 60, a decrease of 30 percent. This represents the fewest number
of such incidents since 1989, and a decrease of more than 50 percent
over the past five years. This was reflected in the marked decrease
in certain kinds of anti-Semitic activity which had been directed
at college campuses in the past, such as an anonymous document entitled
"Anti-Semitism Found" mailed to professors at as many as 16 different
colleges and universities around the country in past years. There
was also a decrease in the number of invitations issued to well-known
racist speakers to appear on college campuses in 1999.
However, one troubling phenomenon that persisted on campuses in
1999 was the Holocaust-denying advertisements, opinion pieces -
and on two campuses - a longer insert, by Bradley Smith and the
Committee for Open Debate of the Holocaust. Seventeen college newspapers
across the country (9 less than in 1998) ran such pieces in 1999.
For 10 years, Smith has attempted to place Holocaust-denial material
in campus newspapers. It should be noted that, in some instances,
the editors of the newspapers may not have fully realized the anti-Semitic
nature of Smith's propaganda. However, most editors and faculty
advisors of the college papers and administration officials from
the schools where the ads were printed, subsequently issued strong
apologies, and refused to print any further Holocaust-denial material.
However, the responses from administration officials at a few of
the colleges where the ads appeared were less forthcoming, ranging
from no statement at all to a weak statement of regret.
For further detail on campus incidents:
Campus Anti-Semitism 1999
Listing of Reported 1999
Campus Incidents.
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