Nevada System of Higher Education Adopts an Antisemitism Definition

NEVADA – Anti-Semitism discussions are on the rise around the country, and Nevada is leading the way.

The Nevada System of Higher Teaching (NSHE) has declared that it will incorporate the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into the state’s anti-bias and anti-discrimination education. In September, the NSHE’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access committee voted unanimously to accept this modification.

Regent Byron Brooks had an important part in the decision, saying that while the policy will not abolish hate and anti-Semitic language, it will provide an official way to confront it.

This is the first time we’ve had a genuine discussion about what this entails, the impact of anti-Semitic speech on our campuses, and the tools required to enable improved student experiences.
The ruling is a watershed moment in the state’s history. Until now, there has been no anti-Semitism policy at NSHE; some former students and now religious leaders have expressed surprise that the matter has taken so long to be handled.

Elliot Malin of Jewish Nevada stated he suffered harassment in college as a member of a Jewish fraternity.

We had golf balls with swastikas hurled at our house when I was a student. People made nasty statements about us, and there were no safeguards in place to protect us.
With over 100,000 students in the states, NSHE officials hope that discussions like this will help students feel comfortable and empowered on their campuses.

Credits: Fox Reno