The Israel-Palestine Conflict and Combating Related Discrimination on Campus

In light of increasing acts of race-based hatred and violence locally and worldwide, Smith College has compiled this page to make explicit the college’s antidiscriminatory policies related to race, religion, national origin, and shared ancestry as applied to antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Outlets on Campus

Smith provides many outlets for community members to learn about antisemitism and Islamophobia and address related discrimination.

Learn

Students can take advantage of Smith courses that help further understanding of the context in which the current conflict in Israel and Palestine is occurring, offered by departments that include anthropology, government, history, Jewish studies, Middle East studies, philosophy, psychology, religion, sociology, world literatures, and others.

Other programming is also being developed to help us learn, bring us together, and provide opportunities to express ourselves in new ways. To see a current list of what’s happening, check out Fostering Connections.

Report

What to do if you learn about or experience an act of antisemitism or anti-Muslim or anti-Arab racism: 

  • If you have concerns regarding physical safety, call Campus Safety at 413-585-5555.
  • Report acts of antisemitism or Islamophobia to Campus Safety at 413-585-5555 or the Northampton Police Department at 413-587-1100. 
  • Report violations of college policies by contacting the Office for Civil Rights Compliance and Title IX.
  • Report acts of discrimination through Ethicspoint.

Find Support

Center for Religious & Spiritual Life:

Matilda Cantwell, Director of Religious & Spiritual Life and College Chaplain
Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer, Interim Jewish Student Adviser
Kim Alston, Muslim Student Adviser and Program and Communications Manager

Students can reach out to Counseling Services.

Employees can reach out to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

A weekly supportive space is provided on Wednesdays from 12–1:30 p.m. in Helen Hills Hills Chapel Bodman Lounge for Jewish students to explore Israel/Palestine and react to the current climate, facilitated by Interim Jewish Student Advisor Rabbi Bruce Bromberg Seltzer (please be in touch to join this group).

Every Friday, Fall 2024
Jummah, 12:30 p.m., Off Campus
The CRSL invites students to join us for Jummah at the Hampshire Mosque in Hadley. The group will meet in front of the Helen Hills Hills Chapel at 12:25 pm. The van will leave campus by 12:30 pm and return to campus no later than 2:30 pm. Remember to bring a prayer rug and complete your ablution beforehand. There are extra prayer rugs in the Blue Room, if you need one! Sponsored by the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. To RSVP, email crsl@dos5.net.

SCJC Shabbat, 5:30 p.m., Kosher Kitchen, Jordan House
Celebrate Shabbat with Smith College’s Jewish Community every Friday evening. Please email scjc@dos5.net for more information. All students are welcome.

Our Principles and Addressing Conflict

Over the course of the fall 2023 semester, President Sarah Willie-LeBreton has written multiple letters affirming five key principles of the college with respect to preventing, stopping, and redressing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination on campus:

Some acts of antisemitism and Islamophobia are also crimes or violations of civil laws. Smith College strictly prohibits all forms of antisemitism and Islamophobia. 

Antisemitism includes acts of violence, discrimination, harassment, and hatred against a person or persons who are, or who are perceived to be, of the Jewish faith or ethnically Jewish.
Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias include acts of violence, discrimination, harassment, and hatred of Muslims and Arabs and those perceived to be Muslims or Arabs.