UCI Jewish Student Leaders Strongly Support Chancellor Drake

Jewish student life thrives on campus, despite misinformation from outside organizations

Press release issued by Anteaters for Israel, Hillel: Jewish Student Union, Alpha Epsilon Pi, and Epsilon Phi.

* * *

IRVINE, CA - In lieu of recent controversy over the limits of free speech rights at UC Irvine, we, the Jewish student leaders, stand by the UCI Administration in their efforts to protect First Amendment rights, as well as promote the free exchange of ideas. Chancellor Drake’s appearance at the national Hillel Summit in Washington DC this week exemplified the University’s true commitment to “imagining a more civil society.” We are honored, as the greater Jewish community should also be, by Drake’s unrelenting commitment, as he repeatedly condemns hate speech in all forms, and emphasizes that it has no place on any University campus.

Over the past few months, off-campus organizations have issued allegations that the UCI Administration has failed to properly address issues of anti-Semitism, arguing that Jewish students are consistently victims of physical threat. As representatives of the larger active Jewish community on campus, we challenge this claim and extend an open invitation to any outside organization(s) who wishes to experience Jewish student life at UCI first-hand. We are confident that their visit to our University, under the current administration, will reveal today’s reality: Jewish students are physically safe and secure on our campus.

With four active Jewish and pro-Israel organizations on campus, Jewish life is thriving more than ever. Over the past four years, the Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, has grown by over 100% and is now 71 members strong. Hillel’s weekly Shabbat dinners, which in years past struggled to attract a measly twenty students, now reach peaks of over one hundred students.

The reality is that verbal anti-Semitism spurred by controversial student groups unfortunately continues to exist on campus. However, Jewish student life is able to expand and prosper due to the constructive approach taken by Hillel Foundation of Orange County and Jewish Federation, in conjunction with the support of UCI Administration.

Isaac Yerushalmi
President, Anteaters for Israel

Michelle Eshaghian
Co-President, Hillel: Jewish Student Union

Billy Ravel
Co-President, Hillel: Jewish Student Union

Rambod Peykar
President, Alpha Epsilon Pi (Zeta Tau Chapter)

Talia Hassid
President, Epsilon Phi

* * *

Please contact Isaac Yerushalmi at iyerushalmi@gmail.com for interview requests or information.