RICHARDSON, Texas — Wednesday on UT Dallas’ campus, two Jewish students held a news conference.
“Thank you for meeting us and allowing us the opportunity to voice our concerns,” Ofer Turjeman said.
Turjeman is Jewish and Israeli. She was joined by Jewish student Jade Steinberg.
“We have both decided amongst ourselves that it’s incredibly important for our voices to be heard,” Steinberg told reporters.
In their news conference, Turjeman and Steinberg said they support everyone’s right to free speech, including pro-Palestinian students at UTD. But they also told reporters that, since the start of the war, there are some people on campus whose speech has veered into blatant harassment and undeniable antisemitism.
“I’ve been recognized and yelled at around campus. I’ve seen swastikas on campus. I’ve been called a Nazi and the devil. And I’ve seen the number 666 next to a Jewish star,” Turjeman said.
“I have been told, ‘if Hamas does not kill you we will,” Steinberg said. “And that was the breaking point for me…that’s when I realized this is no longer people peacefully protesting, this is no longer protesting a just cause.”
Turjeman and Steiberg said they’ve moved Jewish student events off campus and they have friends who don’t want to come to school.
“It is directly affecting all of us, it is incredibly painful,” Steinberg said. “It makes me not want to go to class, it makes my access to education harder.”
“It is not fair that Jewish students need to decide whether to protect themselves or attend class,” Turjeman added.
Both students say they want the university to develop a clear definition of what is considered antisemitism on campus. They also want their community to hear and stand with them.
“We are globally .2 percent of the world's population,” Steinberg said. “And our voices are drowned out.”
In an email, the university did not specify whether they’re working on a policy to define antisemitism, but a spokesperson did share the following statement:
“The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living and working environment that is welcoming, respectful and inclusive of all members of the university community. Further, we encourage any students who have experienced conduct that could be considered harassment to please reach out to the appropriate campus offices including the Dean of Students, UT Dallas Police and the Office of Institutional Compliance.”