Back to campus: A fearful time for Jewish students at Cal Poly

The back-to-school season is an exciting time, when everything is new and filled with opportunity.For Jewish college students at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, though, the thrill of the new year is tinged with fear. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is supposed to protect students, including Jews, from discrimination based on “race, color, or national origin.” But not all minorities are created equal in the eyes of university administrators.Cal Poly takes charges of racism seriously — as well it should.

Charges of antisemitism — not so much. As the executive director of the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, I run the LIAT Fellowship, a leadership program for Jewish college students, which brings me in contact with many students from some of our country’s best universities.While many have positive campus experiences, there is a constant refrain: There is no point in filing Title VI complaints against bad actors, because it’s a waste of time. The case of Adira Fogelman is an example.She is a rising senior at Cal Poly.

A few months ago, she testified before the United States Commission on Civil Rights about her personal experience with antisemitism on campus.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story In one incident, Adira requested that the history department offer a pro-Israel perspective to balance out anti-Zionist speakers invited to a department event.The department chair mocked her, comparing her request to a balanced debate about the Holocaust or racism.

She filed a “Bias Incident Report” with the Office of Student Affairs, but she never heard back. In another case at Cal Poly, a university professor joined a mob of students protesting against an Israeli speaker on campus.The professor chanted...