A recent Winnipeg Free Press article contained the bizarre headline, “Winnipeg universities earn passing grades on handling of antisemitism.” This characterization was puzzling because most antisemitic incidents in Winnipeg are reported to B’nai Brith Canada, and our evidence paints a completely different picture of life for Jewish students on our city’s campuses.

The WFP piece was based on an analysis by the Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI), a Toronto-based organization, which rated institutions across Canada. AGPI did not contact B’nai Brith, nor did the journalists who reported on the group’s findings.

This oversight is strange considering that B’nai Brith, Canada’s oldest human rights organization, is regularly cited by policymakers and the media for reliable data on hate crimes targeting Jews in this country. In fact, since Hamas’ brutal Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, an antisemitic atmosphere has prevailed at the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg, and their administrations have failed to respond effectively.

One of the most egregious incidents occurred Nov. 24, 2023, when faculty at the University of Winnipeg held a “teach-in” that labelled as “genocide” Israel’s defensive war against Hamas, which started when the terrorists attacked Israel. In addition to savagely murdering about 1,200 innocent civilians, the group also took hundreds captive, and still holds many in tunnels beneath Gaza’s civilian infrastructure.

Despite the objectionable use of the term “genocide,” some lecturers cancelled their classes so that students could attend the event. Several brave students attempted to challenge the inappropriate use of the terminology during the conference, which was livestreamed, but they were muted or removed entirely.

The organizers of the webinar even shared materials insinuating that the horrors of Oct. 7 were perpetrated not by Hamas terrorists, but by Israeli soldiers. None of the faculty in attendance challenged this misinformation.

By failing to act when presenters displayed such dangerous disinformation, the academics in attendance violated university policies. The institution is required to provide a safe and respectful learning environment for students, who are supposed to be able to explore ideas and engage in reasonable debate. The so-called “teach-in” was antithetical to these concepts.

Soon after this outrage, B’nai Brith was told by administrators that the university would conduct an internal investigation. They have yet to share their findings.

AGPI’s report seemingly did not take cases such as this into account. In fact, the researchers appear to have relied largely on media reports. This is not an appropriate methodology for studying the climate of antisemitism on university campuses, especially as many if not most incidents — such as those reported to B’nai Brith — have not been made public, for many reasons.

To correct the record, we are sad to report that Jewish students do not, in fact, feel safe on Winnipeg’s campuses. Some have been yelled at, spat on, and even physically assaulted. Prominent Jewish community members such as the late Israel Asper have been targeted with defamatory posters depicting them as evil monsters simply because of their identity. These sorts of despicable acts led 70 students to write a letter to the administration of the University of Manitoba stating they feared for their safety on campus.

Shamefully, the administration summarily dismissed their concerns. This is critical because AGPI also cited the university’s vociferous denunciations of antisemitism as reason to give the University of Manitoba a B+ rating.

The University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba can, and must, do better. They need to listen to the concerns of their Jewish students and take proactive measures to ensure their safety on campus. Absent significant changes, neither is worthy of a passing grade.

Dr. Ruth Ashrafi is the regional director of Manitoba for B’nai Brith Canada