Bloomington, Indiana — After a series of antisemitic incidents occurred on Indiana University’s campus, Sen. Todd Young spoke against the recent acts that are now being investigated as crimes on Monday.
He met with dozens of Jewish students on campus.
The antisemitic comments targeted Jewish fraternities and students online. According to the university, the situation is “disgusting.”
You can now find mezuzahs, which are a common Jewish symbol on doors across campus. “We need to continue to be a pluralistic country and we’ll have some fits and starts but we need to take this very, very seriously,” said Young to a group of students.
Rabbi Sue Silberberg is the executive director of Helene G. Simon Hillel Center on IU’s campus.
According to Silberberg, this year on campus has been one of the toughest she’s ever experienced.
Jewish students have dealt with virtual and verbal harassment, and have even had important Jewish symbols like the mezuzah destroyed and stolen, Siberberg said.
“It would be serious for anyone to have that ripped down because it’s something we’re commanded to put on the doorposts of our house, and for a college student, this is the first time that they have created their own home. You come to college and you’re here to create your own home and it takes both pride in being Jewish, but it also takes a lot of courage to put that mezuzah on your door,” Silberberg said.
According to Young, that kind of hate has no place on a college campus, especially one in Indiana.
“These things have happened for generations and that’s no reason to get content. In fact, you need to remain vigilant. That’s why I’m here, to send a message. We can’t be desensitized to these acts and statements that are hateful. We need to let people know, especially during these challenging times with domestic politics and all sorts of challenges overseas, it’s important that Americans stay unified,” Young said.
