World Arts and Cultures (WAC) at UCLA prides itself on establishing a community that embraces diversity. However, within the halls of Kaufman, the home of WAC, laid a more sinister display. Laden in the central walkway for all eyes to endure was propaganda calling for the destruction of Israel and endorsing Hamas. I was drawn to WAC for its firm commitment to the beauty in diversity. But, as a Jewish WAC student, I feel that my major no longer represents me, as it displays material calling for the annihilation of my loved ones.
The terror attacks on October 7th have polarized the UCLA campus community. Lack of conversation swarms the halls, misinformation spreads like wildfire, the blaming game has become routine, and the narrative of the student community has shifted from friends to perceived rivals. Students lack the protection and nuance to engage with their peers. With WAC being built on the promise of inclusivity for all students, respect for all nationalities, and support for the free exchange of perspective and difference, I believed that my major would not succumb to the wider campus ideology. WAC provided a space for dialogue. As WAC prompted the embrace of all cultures, I believed that my Jewish identity would be met with respect and openness. However, the undertaking of my required senior project has cemented my fears and proven that WAC has succumbed to non-academic hysteria that has been rooted in the institution.
For context, senior projects are a staple in the WAC curriculum. These projects often serve as a reflection of what was learned in WAC and where we see ourselves in the future. Students can think big, be creative, and step out of the box. Like all projects, they should express student identity, belief, and belonging, but not at the expense of other cultures, people, or places. This year was different. The Rainbow Lounge in Kaufman Hall, a communal common area for all students to coexist, displays a project titled “People’s Gallery For a Liberated Palestine,” where antisemitic imagery is disguised under the mask of “subjective” artwork. To quote the student project directly, the “People’s Gallery for a Liberated Palestine” aims to highlight “visual stories characterized by armed revolution, the 2024 Student Intifada, revolutionary icons such as Ghassan Kanafani and Leila Khaled, and personal diasporic narratives with relation to “October 7, 2023” through a series of artworks written in English and Spanish. Further, the students include that “there exists no middle ground, no discussion of a two-state solution, and no denouncement of Western-backed identity-based labels during the righteous move to free Palestine actively led by Hamas during this phase of liberation.” For a major that prides itself on cultural diversity and inclusion, one can only imagine the horror on the faces of countless Jewish students when they saw this display.
One image featured in the project is called “El Pueblo Palestino Vencera” which translates to “the pueblo of Palestine will win” in English. Illustrated within this piece is the burning of the Israel Flag, serving as the ultimate call for the destruction of the Jewish state of Israel. With so many of my WAC friends being Jewish and Israeli, this display begs the question of how Israeli students are meant to feel safe within the major.
Adam Thaw, a Jewish, Israeli WAC student offers such a perspective. “It was the first day of class. Albeit, on Zoom. The palpable feelings of excitement still could be felt through my video screen. I was a giddy freshman who was beginning ‘the best four years’ at my dream school, what could go wrong? World Arts and Cultures 1 ‘Introduction to Culture’ was a course meant to inspire and uplift the artists within our excited minds. We began our discussions on culture and coloniality when the teacher proudly exclaimed that ‘I banned a dance troupe from performing in WAC because they were Israeli.’ It was at that moment, I knew exactly how I was made to feel. Not even an hour into my first college class, I was being taught that I, as the son of an Israeli whose family moved here for a better life, was made to feel less than from the beginning of my higher education experience.”
Like Adam, so many Jewish and Israeli WAC students are taught from day one of entering the major, that Israel is a place to be frowned upon.
Another image featured in the project displays the words “Zionism is Terrorism.” Zionism, as defined by Israelis and Jews worldwide, is the movement in favor of Jewish people having the right to a homeland and for Israel to have the right to exist. It is a movement that argues for a two-state solution, with both Israelis and Palestinians coexisting. Equating the movement for Jewish people to have a homeland with the idea of terrorism, is incredibly dangerous and ahistorical. It calls for the murder of 7.2 million Jews who live in Israel. Terrorism is what happened on October 7th when Israeli hostages were killed, kidnapped, and brutally violated by Hamas. Calling Zionism terrorism is antisemitic under the International Holocaust Remembrance Definition of antisemitism, which argues that “calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion” is incredibly unlawful.
Another shocking image was called “Al-Thawabet: Principles of Palestinian Liberation and Resistance.” Al-Thawabet refers to a set of rules and guidelines that ensures a “Free Palestine” by “any means necessary.” The rules postulate that “armed fighters are at the center of the Palestinian struggle and form the army of the protective force for the gains of Palestinian people.” Since 2006, Hamas has been the sole governing body over the Palestinian people. The “armed fighters” in question is Hamas, claiming that the atrocities of October 7th were justified in the name of resistance. The inverted red triangle, a Hamas symbol used to mark their targets and the green bandana, a common article of clothing worn by Hamas members, is also featured in the image. Despite using their own people as human shields and brutally terrorizing Nova Festival goers, the students idolize Hamas, portraying them as protectors and freedom fighters. The artist leaves no room for interpretation as they explicitly celebrate Hamas. The piece further claims that “the true Palestinian capital is Al-Quds.” Al-Quds means Jerusalem, denying Jewish Indigenous ties to the holiest site in Judaism.
The project also depicts Leila Khaled, a plane hijacker, as “heroic.” Khaled is a leader of the PFLP, a designated terrorist organization and promotes armed struggle against Israelis, including civilians. Glorifying Khaled, a terrorist who targeted Israelis and other civilians, in a senior project is despicable and outright outrageous.
By allowing projects into common spaces that perpetuate antisemitic ideology, WAC proved that it does not protect its Jewish students. Students from all different majors have access to the common space, further causing harm to Jewish students. Students will see this project and embrace it as truth because the WAC department approved its display. Senior projects that focus on the elimination of Israel, glorifying plane hijackers, and praising terrorists are entirely unacceptable and unacademic. Hamas made it clear that their goal is the worldwide annihilation of Jews, as they indicated in their original charter. The argument that “art is subjective” may be true for some cases, but the line between “subjective” and “intentional” becomes blurry when the symbols used and graphics chosen blatantly call for harm against a group of people. There is nothing subjective about burning an Israeli flag, depicting an upside-down red triangle, Hamas green headbands, and depicting Hamas as freedom fighters. WAC was supposed to protect all students, treat them equally, respect all viewpoints, and embrace differences. They missed the mark on Jewish students. How are Jewish and Israeli WAC Majors supposed to feel protected by their faculty and peers when students in their classrooms are praying for their downfall? Why does WAC allow students to claim terrorists who want to kill Jews as warriors? We will never understand.
Rhetoric against Israel and Jews is not only fueled on social media, it is taught at UCLA.
Image provided by author, Hailey Zill.
The views expressed in this post reflect the views of the author(s) and not UCLA or ASUCLA Communications Board.
