Thread by @MiriamElman

.@TheAENetwork is disappointed that @GavinNewsom @CAgovernor saw fit to ignore the Academic Senate @calstate, the university’s governing board, & scores of faculty, students, alumni 👨‍🎓 👩‍🎓 who favored a more inclusive, flexible (& cheaper for CA taxpayers!) alternative plan ☹️

https://twitter.com/latimes/status/1295673798826627072

Our organization fielded an Open Letter, signed by nearly 120 faculty across @calstate opposed to #AB1460, which represents a narrow understanding of ethnic studies pushed by “purists” & excludes Jews, women, LGBTQ as historically marginalized groups. 2/

We noted that AB1460 is unwarranted legislative interference into the academic independence of @calstate. A very good alternative proposal would have provided a more comprehensive & contemporary interpretation of ethnic studies & social justice, giving students greater choice! 3/

At a time when #Antisemitism is rising in 🇺🇸, an Ethnic Studies graduation requirement should provide students @calstate w/the tools to understand & confront this danger. But by excluding #Jewish Studies from Ethnic Studies, unfortunately the AB1460 model fails to do so 😩 4/

For weeks, faculty, students, and civil rights & American-Jewish orgs opposed to #AB1460 were repeatedly cast and demoralized as bigots standing against the movement for racial justice. This vilification was truly #shameful 😢
FYI @AJCGlobal @ADL @StandWithUs @AMCHAInitiative 5/

As @calstate implements this new (very expensive!) Ethnic Studies requirement on 23 campuses, our CSU faculty members will be closely monitoring the rollout & will work to ensure that the course curriculum doesn’t incite hatred & harm, esp. against #Jewish-#Zionist students! /end