The Algenmeiner, which calls itself the fastest growing Jewish newspaper in America, has issued a list of the 40 worst colleges for Jews in 2016, ranking the UMass campus as 26th worst.
AMHERST -- The Algenmeiner, which calls itself the "fastest growing Jewish newspaper in America," has issued a list of the "40 worst colleges for Jewish students, 2016," ranking the UMass campus as 26th worst.
According to the website, the list is intended "to draw attention to the problem of rising hostility faced by many Jewish students on campus today."
The Algenmeiner said it hopes the response to the list "will be aspirational and prompt university administrators and other interested parties to give serious consideration to what can be done to ameliorate the condition of Jewish students, wherever they are enrolled."
Columbia University in New York was number one on the list.
In a statement, university spokesman Edward F. Blaguszewski challenged the ranking. "UMass Amherst has long had an active and vibrant Jewish student community that is a valued part of the rich and diverse campus culture," he said, citing groups such as Hillel House, Chabad House and recognized student organizations.
Those groups, Blaguszewski said, "play an important role in creating a caring, supportive climate for Jewish students at UMass Amherst."
In calling out UMass, the newspaper pointed to the Graduate Employee Organization's April 2016 vote passing "an anti-Israel divestment resolution, while rejecting measures condemning antisemitism." The measure passed with 95 percent voting in favor, according to a statement by the organization at the time.
The Algenmeiner's entry on UMass also claimed "both students and faculty members continue to promote BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) on campus."
The site mentions a professor who allegedly sought stickers to place on Sabra hummus and other products that read, "This product supports Israeli apartheid, don't buy."
The entry also mentioned incidents in which swastikas were reportedly found in campus bathroom stalls, as well as a March hacking case in which flyers bearing swastikas and white supremacy messages were sent to printers and fax machines at a number of universities and colleges, including UMass.
"Some UMass Jewish students have complained of the lackluster response on the part of the administration to such expressions of hatred," according to the The Algenmeiner's post.
Both Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy and the Student Government Association condemned the anti-Semitic acts, and the chancellor opposed the graduate union vote.
Last February after three were swastikas were found on campus, the chancellor sent an email condemning the vandalism. He said he was saddened and angry by what occurred.
"This sort of cowardly act of hatred and intimidation is unacceptable and inconsistent with our campus values of tolerance and inclusion," he said at the time.
"Through its Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, the university works to foster mutual understanding and respect among students through dialogue, bridge-building activities and educational programs," Blaguszewski said in his statement.
Tufts University in Medford came in at number 23 on the list, while Harvard University came in at 33.
MIT and Brandeis made the list of the top 15 best schools for Jews. MIT in Cambridge was ranked third and Brandeis in Waltham the fourth best.