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San Diego university investigated for Islamophobia over email condemning Oct. 7
The letter, condemning Hamas attacks, is being probed for not considering ‘emotions’ of Muslim students
January 5, 2024 14:57
By, Ben Clerkin
1 min read
The letter, condemning Hamas attacks, is being probed for not considering ‘emotions’ of Muslim students
January 5, 2024 14:57ByBen Clerkin, Ben Clerkin
San Diego State University is being investigated for Islamophobia after sending an email condemning the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The Department of Education is investigating if the college responded appropriately to allegations of student discrimination in the wake of the email.
Adela de la Torre, the university’s president, sent the heartfelt message two days after the terror attack.
She wrote: “What is being reported is heartbreaking. We have heard from SDSU community members who have family, close friends and colleagues in the region. Many have spent several terrifying days praying for their safety. Some have not had those prayers answered.
“We cannot express to you the depths of emotion and anguish we have felt and encountered since Saturday.
“We are grieving for all those who are suffering in the wake of this outburst of violence. We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, any act of violence, especially those against innocent civilians.
“We are deeply struck by the sheer scale of the loss of life – of innocent Israelis, Palestinians, and countless others. We also recognize that this follows a long history of loss of life of civilians in this region.
“It is our utmost priority that SDSU respond by setting a different tone – one of compassion, learning and dialogue, and, above all, empathy for what our campus community may be experiencing.
“To be sure – understanding that the events from this weekend will affect members of our diverse campus in different ways, we are writing to share our encouragement to utilize the support services available to all our students, faculty and staff.”
A spokesman for the university said: “The email, which you can read in full online, does not promote hate or racism.
“Student Affairs and Campus Diversity team members have and continue to reach out to individual students, advisors and student organizations who have been impacted by the violence in Israel and Gaza.”
While the person or group who made the complaint has not been disclosed, the university’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine has been critical of the email.
It has said the university: “failed to acknowledge the emotions and well-being of its Palestinian and Muslim students.
“The lack of acknowledgment and condemnation of the settler-colonial state of Israel that has inflicted apartheid, genocide, and ethnic cleansing upon the Palestinian people.”