Kulanu Blog

Thank You to Chapman University President, Dr. Daniele C. Struppa Ph.D

On Martin Luther King Day, the DEI department at Chapman University presented an MLK Community Service Award to the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). Matt Friedman, Regional ADL director for Orange County/Long Beach contacted Chapman University President, Dr. Daniele C. Struppa with concern and protest.  The SJP is the same group whose members have been involved with extreme anti-Israel vitriol for most of the past year, including chalking messages on campus in the fall that claimed that the (rival) student pro-Israel group on campus "loves White Supremacy" and "loves genocide."  In response, Dr. Struppa sent a message to the Chapman community and particularly to the Jewish students and their families, apologizing on behalf of the university for the award to the SJP and stating that some of the actions taken by SJP in recent months “are incompatible with spirit of Dr. King’s approach”.  Chapman University’s DEI office later confirmed that the award had been rescinded. 
 
In gratitude for the action by and the moral compass of Dr. Struppa, your TBS Kulanu Taskforce asked that TBS President, Mike Winston, send a letter of appreciation to him on behalf of the TBS congregation.  Mike Winston’s letter and Dr. Struppa’s statement to the Chapman community can be accessed as follows.

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Learn more about our nationally recognized TBS Kulanu Taskforce and join us to take action against antisemitism in our community at www.tbsoc.com/kulanu