University Of Michigan DEI Director Fired Over Antisemitic Remarks

College students protest on University of Michigan campus

An administrator with the diversity, equity, and inclusion office at the University of Michigan was terminated after being accused of making antisemitic comments. The administrator, Rachel Dawson, was alleged to have made derogatory remarks about Jewish individuals during a conversation at an academic conference on diversity and equity.

Accusations against Dawson included statements such as 'The university is controlled by wealthy Jews' and 'We don’t work with Jews. They are wealthy and privileged and take care of themselves.' Additionally, she was accused of claiming that Jewish people have no genetic connection to the land of Israel.

Dawson's attorney denied these allegations, stating that her client did not make any antisemitic comments. Despite this, the university decided to terminate Dawson due to her behavior being deemed inconsistent with her job responsibilities and showing poor judgment.

Allegations included claims of Jewish privilege and lack of genetic connection to Israel.

Dawson accused of making derogatory remarks about Jewish individuals.

University terminated Dawson despite denial of antisemitic comments.

The incident has sparked controversy amid escalating tensions between the university administration and pro-Palestinian students. The university faced backlash over planned cuts to its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, further intensifying the situation.

An investigation conducted by an external law firm supported the initial allegations against Dawson, although the exact remarks could not be definitively confirmed due to lack of concrete evidence.

The accusations stemmed from a conversation Dawson had with two professors at a conference, where she reportedly stated that her office did not work with Jewish students because they were privileged and did not require assistance.

Dawson's attorney criticized the university's handling of the situation, claiming that it set a dangerous precedent and failed to consider important contextual factors. The university's decision to terminate Dawson has raised concerns about its approach to addressing such issues.

Amidst these developments, the university is also dealing with reports of Jewish individuals being targeted, including incidents of vandalism and harassment. The campus community is facing challenges related to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, with protests occurring before a recent Board of Regents meeting.