WASHINGTON, D. C. – U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno has called on all Ohio’s 14 public universities to establish comprehensive plans to combat campus antisemitism.
“Jewish Americans are under attack in this country.” Moreno declared in a letter to presidents of the universities sent this month. He cited statistics that indicate 2024 saw the highest number of United States antisemitic incidents in almost 50 years.
Comparing recent attacks on Jews to episodes during the run-up to World War II in 1939, Moreno’s wrote that “the violence against Jews must stop,” and suggests that universities consider adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
The IHRA definition states: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” The definition includes various examples of contemporary antisemitism, including denial of the Holocaust, stereotypical allegations about Jewish power, and certain criticisms of Israel, though it notes that “criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”
The IHRA definition, however, has faced criticism from some civil liberties organizations and academic groups. Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have raised concerns that the definition could restrict free speech on campus, particularly regarding criticism of Israeli government policies. Some scholars argue that certain illustrative examples accompanying the definition have been used to conflate legitimate political criticism with antisemitism, potentially chilling academic discourse about Middle East policy.
In March, the U.S. Department of Education announced it is investigating 60 universities nationally, including Ohio State and University of Cincinnati, for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination.
In response to the education department announcement, an Ohio State University spokesman told the Lantern student newspaper that the university “condemns antisemitism and has no tolerance for acts of hatred or violence.”
University of Cincinnati released a statement after the announcement that said it doesn’t tolerate “any form of discrimination or harassment, including that based on shared ancestry such as antisemitism,” WOSU reported.
Moreno’s letter called IHRA definition a tool that “provides clarity on what constitutes antisemitism and can serve as a tool on campus to help combat hate crimes and foster a safer environment for Jewish students.”
He requested that university presidents respond within ten business days of receiving the letter, answering two specific questions:
What measures do they plan to take or have already taken to address what he termed “the unacceptable and disgusting rise in antisemitism”?
How do they plan to protect students’ safety while on campus from antisemitism and other religiously motivated crimes?
“As the senior United States Senator for the state of Ohio, I want to make sure that university leaders are doing all they can to ensure students are free not only to learn on college campuses but also to feel safe while doing so, regardless of their religion,” Moreno stated in the letter.