ADL DOCUMENTS ITS DEVELOPMENT IN AMERICA'S UNIVERSITIES AND PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR COMBATING EXTREMISM

New York, NY, September 8, 1997...A new Anti-Defamation League (ADL) report documents incidents of anti-Semitism on American college and university campuses and provides guidelines to aid faculty, staff and students in combating extremism. Schooled in Hate: Anti-Semitism on Campus has been shared with presidents of all colleges and universities in the United States.

"In recent years, campuses have become a new proving ground for the tactics of all manner of extremists, forcing some colleges and universities onto the frontline in the fight against extremism and anti-Semitism," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "Racists and demagogues have ably exploited schools' commitment to free speech, cloaking their propaganda in the guise of academic freedom. Schooled in Hate: Anti-Semitism on Campus helps those who oppose racism and discrimination to unhesitatingly and effectively use their own right of freedom of speech in a productive manner."

The report provides an overview and a detailed list of anti-Semitic incidents on campus and examines the Holocaust denial movement, anti-Semitism among student groups, and anti-Zionism as anti-Semitism. The League offers recommendations for maintaining a tone of civility on campus by demanding and enforcing a policy of zero tolerance towards all forms of bigotry including extremist speakers on campus, Holocaust-denial advertisements, racist vandalism and graffiti, intimidation and harassment. Because each case is different and needs to be handled individually, ADL staff are available to work with students, faculty, staff and administration on campuses where acts of hate have occurred or are threatened.

Among those to whom the report will be sent are the deans of students affairs, Hillel directors, campus ministry/chaplains and college newspaper editors.

Schooled in Hate: Anti-Semitism on Campus is available on the World Wide Web at www.adl.org.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.