Open Letter to the President of Cooper Union
On February 27, 1860, Abraham Lincoln stood before a crowd of 1,500 at Cooper Union Hall in New York City. Until he had declared his candidacy for President of the United States, the former one-term Congressman had drawn little attention outside his home state of Illinois.
For as long as any of us can remember, Cooper Union College has been known for its dedication to intellectual freedom. In one unprecedented act of racism and violence against its Jewish students, that golden standard has been tarnished.
The New York Times reported on October 25:
“With the Jewish students and others in the library, a Cooper Union staff member locked the doors after hearing the protesters coming down the stairs. After banging on the doors, the protesters began to bang on a large glass wall that looks into the library.”
These recent events have brought to light a serious issue, which necessitates immediate action. The students who committed these acts of violence weren’t acting alone. There is a hate culture against Jews — antisemitism is a ten dollar word that no longer has any influence; so to call it what it is, racism against Jews has permeated the institution — possibly due to society, faculty members, or social media, but permeated it has, like a festering wound.
We do not know the actual numbers of ‘racists’ against Jews, but we do know that those students felt encouraged by the campus ethos to behave in an enthusiastic and rapacious manner when they ought to have been deeply embarrassed. We do not know exactly why they felt they could act this way with impunity, but we know that they did. Extracting the ‘intel’ suggests there is a level of hate and repression that is alive and well at Cooper Union.
No allusion to the 1930s is required.
The result is unimaginably unsettling for an organization whose dedication to freedom dates back to President Lincoln’s renowned speech, a powerful argument against the expansion of slavery that helped secure his nomination as the Republican candidate for the presidency. Your task at Cooper Union now feels very much the same.
You need to produce a stemwinder of anti-racist, anti-hate speech that reflects the violence done to your Jewish students. You need to move people—your students and faculty back to the center where dialogue isn’t met by violence.
This essay seeks to highlight the significance of creating a welcoming atmosphere for everyone while bringing attention to the horrible incidents against Jewish students at Cooper Union College.
Racism at Cooper Union and Other Colleges
Cooper Union College and other higher education institutions are incompatible with racism in any form. The attack on the Jewish students at the college serves as a sobering reminder that bigotry has no bounds and may creep into even the most progressive environments.
Training and Learning
The ignorance of the past and experiences of Jewish communities is one concerning feature. Jewish students may experience marginalization and unsafety as a result of discrimination and microaggressions brought on by stereotypes and misconceptions. Recognizing that anti-Semitism is a type of racism and that it must be dealt with in the same serious manner as other forms of racism is crucial.
Violence: Its Effects
Any form of aggression, whether verbal or physical, directed towards Jewish students is unacceptable. Violence has no place in an educational setting. The thought of what may have happened if the doors hadn’t been securely locked is terrifying.
Violence has an effect on people beyond its direct victims. It incites a craving for killing among those who are directly responsible for the carnage that occurred in Israel on October 7. Now that the students of this esteemed institution appear to be joining their cause, what might a “Shahid” be thinking? What usually transpires, including retaliation, is now on your conscience. You have prompted that.
This is on you, mate.
Encouraging Tolerance and Inclusivity
Cooper Union College needs to act now to make sure that all students are in a secure and welcoming atmosphere in order to properly handle this problem.
All never meant Non Jews. All means all.
Cooper Union should introduce educational initiatives to increase public knowledge of Israeli history (as well as other cultures; let’s start with the Middle East because it seems to be the least well-taught).
Reporting: The college needs to set up private, transparent procedures for reporting incidents of violence and racism. In order to disclose such instances without fear of retaliation, students must feel empowered.
Faculty: It would be naïve to suppose that the academics and administration do not harbor anti-Israel prejudice and sympathies for Hamas. This needs to be eliminated, or there will be more acts of violence, a decline in donors, and an increase in litigation.
Cooperation with Communities: In order to create connections and provide Jewish students with a sense of community, Cooper Union College should get involved with Israeli and local Jewish groups.
Conclusion: Action is needed to be taken quickly in defense of Jewish students at Cooper Union College. Any kind of racism is incompatible with the values of higher learning and intellectual development.
