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‘Activities that lead to intimidation […] cannot occur again’

Northwestern University will be requiring all returning students to attend training on antisemitism and “other forms of hate” at the beginning of the fall semester.

The Daily Northwestern reports students will take the trainings during “Wildcat Weekend,” according to an email from President Michael Schill.

Faculty and staff also are able to attend, but the email did not note if it was required for them to do so.

The university also will play host to “a set of lectures and panels on antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism as well as the history and politics of the conflict in the Middle East,” the message said.

Schill also pointed to “new” university resources such as the Institutional Diversity and Inclusion Office’s “religious literacy program,” and the Kellogg School of Management’s Center for Enlightened Disagreement.

Regarding the latter, Schill (pictured) had said earlier this year that “our nation is threatened today by the politics of identity and persistent divisions based on region, class, religion and educational attainment,” and that “we increasingly lack the capacity to understand each other and to empathize with people who seem not to be like us.”

Schill’s email also noted changes were made to the Student Code of Conduct and Demonstration Policy such as a “Display Policy,” the details of which will be spelled out next month.

“Activities that lead to intimidation and impede an environment where dialogue and education can flourish cannot occur again,” Schill wrote.

This spring, Schill, along with the presidents of Rutgers and UCLA, faced a grilling from a U.S. House “Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos” panel. A North Carolina congresswoman called Schill’s deal with anti-Israel Northwestern activists — which included “five full-ride scholarships” for Palestinian students, the hiring of two Palestinian faculty, and a residence for “Middle Eastern and Muslim students” — “disgraceful.”

MORE: Northwestern faces subpoena threat after antisemitism advisory board ends

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