As reported in The CJN, Jewish students feel ever more  threatened by anti-Israel, anti-Semitic rhetoric and, of late, even menacing behaviour.

The chilling, ugly anti-Israel scene at Vari Hall, followed by the potentially dangerous mob siege of Jewish students in the Hillel lounge, were the latest, if most frightening, tugs of the university toward low and shameful standing.

In response to those events, York’s president, Mamdouh Shoukri, issued a statement in which he urged students to respect one another. “It really is time for the student leaders at the organizational and club level to consider the effects of their actions on their fellow students. Every student at York has the right to go about their activities free from intimidation or disruption to their academic lives.” York’s vice-president for students, Rob Tiffin, added: “Students have a right to study in an atmosphere of personal safety, mutual respect and tolerance from other students – especially, student organizational and club leaders. No one should feel singled out based on their political beliefs.”

These views are commendable, high statements of purpose and and protection.

But they are a bare-bones minimum that comprise merely the floor on which all college and university structures in a free and democratic country must stand.

To be more than slogans, however, these floorboard statements must be propped up. They must be enforced and reinforced, constantly, diligently and unfailingly.

The floor at York University is crumbling.

Many Jewish students are not able “to go about their activities free from intimidation or disruption to their academic lives.” They are indeed “singled out based on their political beliefs.”

Jewish community leaders have rightly demanded of the university’s administration that it ensure that student codes of conduct are strictly followed. Where codes are lacking, they should be toughened. Where legitimate complaints under the codes are hindered or blocked, they should be expedited.

The atmosphere at York will likely become even more polluted with noxious anti-Israel hatred during the singularly vile Israel Apartheid Week. Tyler Shipley, spokesperson for CUPE local 3903, which represents contract faculty and teaching assistants at York, has announced that his union will try to get the university to cut its ties with Israel.

York’s administration is being tested by bigotry’s advance guard, which singles out only the Jewish state and wishes to see it disappear from among the family of nations. They must not fail that test.