Office of the President

Task Force on Antisemitism and Islamophobia

Link to Download PDF Report Link to download the plain text version of the report

Dear campus community,

Last year, a Joint Presidential and University Senate Task Force on Antisemitism and Islamophobia was created to provide guidance, recommendations and counsel on a strategy to confront antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus. Weeks later, we announced the Task Force’s membership, which included UMD students, faculty and staff. The task force members were nominated by campus colleagues and selected in partnership with the University Senate. We are grateful for the commitment by all to this essential work.

The task force was charged with examining current university policies and practices to identify areas for improvement in combating and mitigating hate-bias incidents related to antisemitism and Islamophobia. It also was asked to understand the dynamics of such incidents, to evaluate the effectiveness of existing preventive measures and to propose actionable strategies. The task force was asked to consult with members of the campus community, student leaders and campus religious leaders.

Our co-chairs Maxine Grossman, associate professor and director of the Joseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies, and Shibley Telhami, the Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development, led a group of individuals who represent varying viewpoints and backgrounds and delivered a report to the university.

Care and compassion resonate throughout the final report, which University Senate Chair Jordan Sly and I share with you today. The intention of the task force to recommend steps for measurable improvement for our campus community cannot be overstated. This focus has now yielded findings and recommendations that will allow us to further promote safety, discourse and a sense of belonging on campus.

We share the powerful words of our task force co-chairs to honor the work and effort of all members:

“We were proud to co-chair this group of scholars, practitioners, students and concerned campus citizens,” said Grossman. “Every one of us brought complicated personal identities, and often-conflicting viewpoints to our discussions, even as we sought context and understanding with a deep sense of shared humanity.”

“The professionalism and focus on the collective good of our community exhibited by our task force members were of the utmost importance, as everyone worked with a constructive spirit across our differences,” said Telhami. “Our work took place during a time of pain and suffering for many, as documented spikes of antisemitism and Islamophobia in our country and beyond took place. We knew we had work to do to put our university first and create an environment that protected the safety of all community members equally, while also protecting free speech and leaning on our educational mission to advance mutual understanding.”

We hope you will read through the findings and recommendations, as transparency and accountability are paramount in creating the community we want to be. These are indeed thoughtful and actionable recommendations. The President’s Office has assigned units and departments to explore each of the recommendations and consider an implementation plan.

Thank you to each of you for reporting any instances of antisemitism or Islamophobia when you see it or hear it. We also thank you for your shared commitment to growing a campus that is TerrapinSTRONG.

Sincerely,Darryll J. PinesPresident, University of Maryland, College Park

Jordan SlyChair, University of Maryland Senate

Link to Campus Email from the University President Announcing the Creation of the Task Force

Charge Summary:

The Task Force is charged with examining current university policies and practices to identify areas for improvement in combating and mitigating hate-bias incidents related to antisemitism and Islamophobia. Its mission includes understanding the root causes of such incidents, evaluating the effectiveness of existing preventive measures, and proposing actionable strategies. The work of the task force shall include consultation with members of the campus community, student leaders and campus religious leaders, including Rabbi Ari Israel from UMD Hillel, Rabbi Eli Backman from UMD Chabad, Imam Tarif Shraim from the Center for Muslim Life and Father Conrad Murphy from UMD Catholic Student Center.

Membership

Co-chairs

Maxine GrossmanAssociate Professor and DirectorJoseph and Rebecca Meyerhoff Program and Center for Jewish Studies

Shibley TelhamiAnwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development and a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher

Faculty, Staff, and Community Members

James BondDirectorOffice of Student Conduct

Stephanie ChangAssistant Vice PresidentOffice of Diversity and Inclusion

Jen GartnerDeputy General CounselOffice of General Counsel

Hassan IbrahimClinical ProfessorRobert H. Smith School of Business

Doron LevyProfessor and ChairCollege of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences

Sahar Mohammed KhamisAssociate ProfessorCollege of Arts and Humanities

Arie KruglanskiDistinguished University ProfessorCollege of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Major Michael LeadbeterCommander of Support Services BureauDepartment of Public Safety

Yelena LuckertDirector of ResearchTeaching and Learning, University Libraries

Keira MartoneAssociate DirectorDepartment of Resident Life

James McShayAssistant Vice President for EngagementDivision of Student Affairs

Ayala Nuriely KimelLecturerCollege of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences

Korey RothmanSenior Lecturer and Director of CivicusCollege of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Yasmeen Faroqi ShahProfessorCollege of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Saul SosnowskiProfessorCollege of Arts and Humanities

Peter WienProfessorCollege of Arts and Humanities

Zeena ZakhariaAssistant ProfessorCollege of Education

Undergraduate and Graduate Student Members

Kemi Abdulrasaq BusariDoctoral studentMerrill College of Journalism

Emily DevoreUndergraduate studentSchool of Public Policy

Adam GhannoumUndergraduate student and President of the Muslim Student AssociationCollege of Information Studies and Robert H. Smith School of Business

Reni KazaUndergraduate studentCollege of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences

Daniel SatterthwaiteDoctoral studentCollege of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Stone SchwartzUndergraduate student and President of the Jewish Student UnionA. James Clark School of Engineering

Imaan ShikohUndergraduate studentSchool of Public Policy