In Support of Our Jewish Community 2022-23 In Review

Antisemitism is a persistent and evolving form of hatred that affects Jewish communities worldwide — and it is not absent from university campuses, including UC Davis. Acknowledging this reality is essential to addressing it. UC Davis is committed to fostering an environment where Jewish students, staff and faculty feel safe, respected and able to express their identity and culture without fear of discrimination or harassment.

Establishing Institutional Infrastructure

In September 2022, UC Davis launched the Addressing Antisemitism website, establishing a centralized, public-facing framework for reporting pathways, education and institutional accountability.

The site clarified university policies, reaffirmed commitments under the Principles of Community and provided guidance for members of the campus community seeking support or information. Its launch marked a significant step in formalizing a sustained and transparent institutional approach.

We are grateful for the collaborative input on the original page provided by Sheri Atkinson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Life, Campus Community and Retention Services, UC Davis; Rachel Darling, Executive Director of the Hillel at Davis and Sacramento; Naomi Greenspan, Director, Improving the Campus Climate Initiative, Academic Engagement Network; Rivka Keith, President, Student Board, Hillel at Davis and Sacramento; Ari Kelman, Professor, Department of History, UC Davis; Carly Klinger, Student and member of Aggies for Israel, UC Davis; Dylan Marks, Graduate Student, UC Davis School of Law and member of Jewish Law Student Association; Arina Nisanova, Graduate Student, UC Davis School of Medicine and member of Jewish Medical Student Association.

During this same period, UC Davis continued maintaining and updating Free Speech Resources, which provide guidance on First Amendment rights and campus policy at a public institution.

Academic Programs and Public Scholarship

During and before the 2022–23 academic years, UC Davis hosted programs examining antisemitism in historical, contemporary and comparative contexts.

Programs within and before this reporting period included:

• Diversity in the Jewish Community, presented by the Hillel Student Board of Davis and Sacramento as part of 2023 Principles of Community Week, "Connecting as a Community" (March 1, 2023)
• Antisemitism: How to Be an Ally Against Hate, presented by the Hillel Student Board of Davis and Sacramento (February 8, 2023)
• "Between Race and Religion: Reflections on Jews, Race, and Antisemitism," presented by the UC Davis School of Law as part of its Racial Justice Speaker Series 2022-23 (March 1, 2023)
• “Recovered Voices,” James Conlon, Artistic Director and Conductor, presented by the Mondavi Center, this was a unique Colburn School of Music program that encourages greater awareness and more frequent performances of music by composers whose careers and lives were disrupted—or worse—during the years of the Nazi regime in Europe (April 11, 2023)
• International Holocaust Remembrance Day blog featuring the director at Hillel House commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 5, 2022)
• Latino/Jewish Forum on Immigration, sponsored by The Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region and the Jewish Community Relations Council (April 4, 2018)

These programs reflected engagement across the UC Davis Jewish Studies Program, the UC Davis Department of Religious Studies, the School of Law and student organizations including Hillel House UC Davis and Sacramento.

Leadership Communications

During and before this reporting period, university leadership issued communications addressing antisemitism and campus climate.

• Chancell-ing: Hate is the Virus We’re Fighting Now (February 2023)
• UC Davis Chancellor May Condemns Antisemitic Graffiti Found in Residence Hall (October 2022)
• Standing Together Against Hate (September 7, 2022)
• Davis Enterprise, “Davis leaders condemn white supremacist hate incident”  |  August 29, 2022
• Joint Statement From Division of Student Affairs and Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by Vice Chancellors Renetta G. Tull and Pablo Reguerín  (February 17, 2022)

These communications reaffirmed the Principles of Community and emphasized that acts of hate and discrimination are inconsistent with university values.

Jewish American Heritage Month and Cultural Visibility

The 2022–23 academic year included expanded visibility of Jewish history, culture and student life across university communications channels.

• Chancellor May recognizes Jewish American Heritage Month (May 2023)
• Jewish American Heritage Month Book Recommendations (Dateline feature) 

Programming and Resources Archives

To support transparency and provide a comprehensive historical record, additional documentation from this period is included as appendices:

• Additional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming and resources
• Additional Student Affairs programming and resources
• Examples of additional Strategic Communications content

Continuing the Work

The 2022–23 academic year represents the first full academic year following the launch of the Addressing Antisemitism website. It reflects foundational work in institutional communication, scholarship, cultural recognition and infrastructure development.

Addressing antisemitism requires sustained attention and principled leadership, and this report documents one year within that broader, ongoing commitment.