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University of Massachusetts Amherst
SARIS - Student Affairs Research, Information and Systems
Anti-Semitism Survey (F97-G)
Executive Summary: Jewish students who were surveyed experienced a variety of anti-Semitic behaviors at UMass, the most common of which are stereotyping and "put-down" jokes from other students, anti-Semitic graffiti, and defaced Jewish activity posters. Over one-third know people at UMass who make anti-Semitic statements. Over two-thirds said they would intervene directly if they witnessed another student being verbally harassed. Almost four-fifths said that they would be likely to report harassment if they experience it. Hillel is the most likely recipient of those reports. Three-quarters believe that others would come to their aid if they were being harassed, and almost as many know harassment may be a civil rights violation punishable by law. Half know there are mechanisms at UMass to deal with harassment, and 70% are confident in the University’s ability to respond effectively. Over two-thirds of students report little or no difficulty celebrating Jewish holidays at UMass. Comparisons with 1991 and 1994 survey results indicate an overall decrease in anti-Semitic behaviors and in the perception of an anti-Semitic environment at UMass.
On Wednesday, November 12, 1997, Project Pulse conducted a telephone survey of Jewish undergraduates for the Office of Human Relations. Similar surveys were conducted in October of 1991 and November of 1994. Both of those previous surveys sampled both Jewish and non-Jewish undergraduates and were focused, at least in part, on comparing the responses of the two groups. Only the responses from the Jewish students to the 1991 and 1994 surveys are used here for comparison to the 1997 responses.
In the latest survey, Pulse interviewers attempted to contact 766 undergraduate students who were self-identified as Jewish according to the University’s database. Of these, 477 were successfully contacted and 379 (79.5%) agreed to be interviewed. Table 1 displays the final disposition of the sample and Table 2 provides a demographic summary of the respondents. The response rate for the survey was 49.5%.
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Table 1: Final Disposition
of the Samples, 1991, 1994, 1997
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1991
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1994
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1997
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N
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% of Total
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% of Contacted
|
N
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% of Total
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% of Contacted
|
N
|
% of Total
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% of Contacted
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| Response Rate (in & cooperated |
219
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46.5
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83.0
|
202
|
45.5
|
82.8
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379
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49.5
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79.5
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| In, declined interview |
45
|
9.5
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17.0
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42
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9.5
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17.2
|
98
|
12.8
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20.5
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| Not in |
207
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43.9
|
199
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45.0
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289
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37.7
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|||
| Totals |
*471
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
**443
|
100.0
|
100.0
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***766
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
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* Excludes 37 sampled students with unobtainable
phone numbers. |
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Table 2: Demographic
Summary of the Respondents, 1991, 1994, 1997
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1991
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1994
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1997
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| First-year |
30.1%
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38.8%
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36.5%
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| Sophomore |
23.1%
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25.9%
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25.3%
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| Junior |
19.9%
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19.9%
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18.7%
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| Senior |
26.9%
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15.4%
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19.5%
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| Female |
61.6%
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58.7%
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58.6%
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| Male |
38.4%
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41.3%
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41.4%
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| Live on campus |
68.8%
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78.1%
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71.9%
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Respondents in the 1997 survey were asked the extent
to which they think anti-Semitism exists on the UMass campus. Just over one-fifth
of those surveyed (21.6%, n=77) feel it exists “to a very little extent,”
34.6% (n=123) say it exists “to a little extent,” 39.4% (n=140) “to
some extent,” 3.4% (n=12) “to a great extent,” and 1.1% (n=4)
“to a very great extent.” A comparison incorporating the 1991 and
1994 survey results shows a statistically significant decrease in the extent
of anti-Semitism that Jewish students perceive on the UMass campus (see Figure
1).
The next battery of questions asked students whether they had personally experienced
various kinds of anti-Semitic behaviors at UMass. Over two-thirds (66.2%, n=237)
reported that they have experienced other students “stereotyping, making
negative remarks about or telling jokes that 'put down' Jewish people”
(see Figure 2). Over half (50.2%, n=181) have observed anti-Semitic graffiti
and just under one-third (32.8%, n=117) have seen defaced Jewish activity posters
(see Figure 3). Almost one-fourth (22.8%, n=82) have
been harassed by other students (see Figure 4). One-fifth (20.0%, n=72) have
experienced stereotyping by instructors (see Figure 2),
and one-sixth (17.7%, n=64) have experienced “negative remarks being made
by students about Jewish people in the classroom which were not challenged by
the instructor” (see Figure 5). Other anti-Semitic behaviors, although
less common, have also been part of some respondents’ UMass experience.
A comparison incorporating the 1991 and 1994 results shows statistically significant
decreases in stereotyping behaviors by students and by University staff (see
Figure 2), in the defacing of Jewish activity posters (see Figure 3), in threatening
or derogatory calls or mail (see Figure 5), in hearing negative remarks about
Jewish people going unchallenged by class instructors (see
Figure 5), and in harassment of students by students (see
Figure 4).
Over one-third of the sampled students (35.4%, n=127) reported that they know people at UMass who make anti-Semitic statements. This proportion has decreased significantly since 1991 (see Figure 5).
Students were asked how they thought they would respond to incidents of anti-Semitism.
They were asked “if you witnessed one or more students making derogatory
remarks about Jewish people or otherwise verbally harassing a student because
they assumed she or he was Jewish, what would you do first?” Over two-thirds
of students (68.8%, n=245) said that they would intervene directly, 11.8% (n=42)
that they would do nothing, 7.0% (n=25) that they would try to find others to
help, 6.5% (n=23) that they would report the incident, and 5.9% (n=21) offered
other answers.
If faced with anti-Semitic behavior, students report that they would be most likely to complain about it to Hillel (27.7%, n=96), the UMass Police Department (15.0%, n=52), the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Office (13.3%, n=46), or the Dean of Students Office (10.7%, n=37). Women are more likely than men to consider taking their concerns to Hillel (31.8% v. 21.9%), the Equal Opportunity and Diversity Office (16.4% v. 8.9%), or the Office of Human Relations (8.0% v. 5.5%), while men are more likely to consider reporting to the Dean of Students (13.7% v. 8.5%), the Amherst Police (8.2% v. 2.0%), or the Residential Education or Housing Offices (4.8% v. 2.5%, c2=20.09, p=.0173) (see Figure 6).
Figure 6. Offices or agencies to which students would report
anti-Semitic harassment (1997)
A comparison of the results of the 1991, 1994, and 1997 surveys shows that Hillel
has remained the most likely recipient of reports of anti-Semitic behaviors
(see Figure 7).
Almost four-fifths of students (79.3%, n=280) say that they would be very or somewhat likely to report anti-Semitic harassment directed at themselves, with 83.6% of the women and 73.3% of the men saying that they would do so (p=.0289). About three-quarters of respondents (73.7%, n=260) feel it is very or somewhat likely that others would come to their aid if they were experiencing such harassment on campus. Comparison with the results of the 1991 and 1997 surveys indicate that Jewish students are increasingly confident that others would come to their aid if they were being harassed on campus.(see Figure 8).
Seventy percent of the respondents (n=252) were aware that many forms of harassment are considered violations of a person’s civil rights and are punishable by fines or imprisonment. Comparison with results from the 1991 and 1994 surveys indicates an increase in awareness in 1994, while the 1991 and 1997 results are essentially identical (see Figure 9).
Only half of the students surveyed (49.6%, n=177) were aware that there are formal and informal mechanisms in place at UMass to deal with complaints of anti-Semitic harassment. Also, 70.3% of respondents (n=244) described themselves as very or somewhat confident “in the University’s ability to respond effectively to specific incidents of anti-Semitic harassment.” A larger proportion of men than women (76.9% v. 65.7%, c2=8.34, p=.0395) feel confident in the University’s ability in this regard. Student confidence in the University’s ability to deal effectively with anti-Semitic harassment is negatively correlated with class year: 82.1% of first-year students, 74.2% of sophomores, 59.7% of juniors and 54.4% of seniors expressed themselves as “very confident” (p=.0000).
Comparisons incorporating the results of the 1991, 1994 and 1997 surveys show that Jewish students have become significantly more confident over time in the University’s ability to respond effectively (see Figure 9).
Figure 9. Awareness of anti-Semitic harassment support mechanisms (1991, 1994 and 1997)
The next group of questions dealt with issues related to the celebration of religious holidays. Students were asked how many of their instructors, either in class or on the syllabus, addressed the issue of missing classes or exams to observe religious holidays. Just over two-thirds of students (67.5%, n=243) reported that it is not at all difficult or not too difficult for them to celebrate Jewish holidays at UMass, while 24.4% (n=88) find it somewhat or very difficult and 8.1% (n=29) reported that they do not celebrate Jewish holidays. Four-fifths of students (80.2%, n=288) said that they have never felt uncomfortable informing a professor that they would be missing class to observe a Jewish holiday.
Comparison with the 1991 and 1994 surveys shows that the proportion of Jewish students who are uncomfortable with this issue has decreased significantly over time (see Figure 10).
Almost half of respondents (47.8%, n=172) said that anti-Semitism has been discussed
in their classes, and two-thirds (68.9%, n=248) have discussed it with friends
outside of class. Comparison with the previous surveys shows that a larger proportion
of the students surveyed in 1994 had discussed anti-Semitism, both in classes
and informally with friends, than in either 1991 or 1997 (see Figure 11).
More than two-fifths of the respondents (45.0%, n=161) reported that they have
taken a Judaic Studies course at UMass (see Figure 12). Slightly over one-half
of the women surveyed (51.4%) have taken such a course, compared to 35.8% of
the men (p=.0034). Over four-fifths of respondents (81.4%, n=293) described
themselves as very or somewhat knowledgeable about Jewish history and culture,
and nearly the same proportion (79.9%, n=286) said they are very or somewhat
interested in learning more in this area. Women are more likely than men to
be interested in taking a Jewish Studies course (85.6% v. 71.8%, c2=15.59,
p=.0014).
Comparison with the results of the 1991 and 1994 surveys indicates that significantly fewer Jewish students now feel knowledgeable about Jewish history and culture, while the proportion who are interested in learning more about the subject has remained essentially static (see Figure 12).
Figure 12. Indicators of Jewish cultural involvement and historical background
Discussion
With very few exceptions, the pattern that emerges
from a comparison of the 1991, 1994, and 1997 surveys is one of decreases in
anti-Semitic acts on the UMass campus, and a corresponding increase in the comfort
level of Jewish students. A few anomalies should be noted. In 1991 and 1997,
approximately 70% of respondents reported being aware that certain kinds of
anti-Semitic harassment are considered violations of a person’s civil rights;
in 1994, 77% of respondents reported awareness. The high water mark in terms
of students discussing anti-Semitism either in their classes or with friends
outside of class also was 1994. One possible interpretation of these data is
that awareness of and discussion about anti-Semitism increased as a result of
the popularity of the movie Schindler’s List, which came out in 1993 and
was widely shown in high schools as well as commercially. On-campus speakers
on diversity issues, including a visit to the UMass campus by the controversial
figure Louis Farrakhan in February 1994, may also have heightened discussion.
The second pattern of note is that more Jewish students report individual anti-Semitic
behaviors than describe themselves as having been harassed, suggesting that
students often do not interpret certain behaviors as harassing.
-- Meg Kluge
