The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has heightened tensions and contributed to an increase in hate crimes and discriminatory incidents on campuses across the nation. The current political climate has also silenced important discourse, profoundly impacting faculty, staff, and students.

This Grand Rounds Speaker Series provides a safe and inclusive forum for sharing diverse perspectives and fostering collective reflection.

Featured Speaker: Kenneth Stern

Director, Bard Center for the Study of Hate – Human Rights Project at Bard College

Kenneth Stern will explore:

• The nature of antisemitism and its implications.

• How the interdisciplinary field of hate studies enhances our understanding.

• Whether antizionism constitutes antisemitism.

• The role of emotional empathy, intellectual curiosity, academic freedom, and free speech in addressing hate.

Following the main session, an in-person only small group discussion will provide an opportunity to delve deeper into these topics.