Joint Presidential and University Senate Task Force Report on Antisemitism and Islamophobia

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,