(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) The University of California is considering a proposal that would require high school students to take an ethnic studies course in order to be admitted to one of their several universities, Campus Reform reported.
In protest, nearly 2,000 people have signed a petition calling the requirement “dangerous.”
The petition states that the ethnic studies curriculum, which was developed by a “faculty working group,” includes supporters of a “liberated” version of the course. The “liberated” course has material that was considered to be “highly politicized and anti-Semetic.”
Eli Nelson, a Jewish student at the University of California San Diego, said he was “disgusted” by the anti-Semetic materials and does not believe the course should be a requirement.
“As the grandson of Holocaust survivors I am appalled that the University of California adopt such a dangerous and irresponsible curriculum,” Nelson said.
The “liberated” course work was inspired by the Liberated Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum Coalition. Some of the authors of the first draft also wrote the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, which was rejected by the California State Board of Education.
Petitioners said this curriculum will “incite bigotry and hatred” against Jewish students, and cited studies that show the use of anti-Jewish sentiments lead to an increase in attacks against Jewish students.
The first draft, which was struck down by Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, was pushed by the authors in a 2020 campaign aimed at the State Board of Education. The board rejected the draft amid public outrage.
Newsom refused to sign the bill, saying it was “highly politicized” and “overtly antisemetic.”
“[The draft is] offensive in so many ways, particularly to the Jewish community,” Newsom said. “[It will] never see the light of day.”
