Evanston Township High School student Niamh O’Brien has some advice for a new group forming at the school to counter antisemitism and islamophobia in the wake of the war in Gaza.
“Communication is key,” she said. “That could be really good with this new group. I think it sounds amazing. It’s taking the two maybe slightly different ends of a spectrum we have right now and bringing them together in a really good unifying sort of way. I’m glad people are setting this up.”
ETHS administrators announced the formation of the Working Group to Combat Anti-Jewish, Anti-Muslim, and Anti-Arab Racism on the school’s website on March 1. It says the group will review ETHS activities, processes and practices before presenting its recommendations for responding to racism targeting those groups to School District 202 Superintendent Marcus Campbell.
“Our goal is to ensure that ETHS not only responds to incidents or allegations of discrimination, but also takes proactive steps to advance inclusion for Arab, Palestinian, Israeli, Muslim and Jewish community members and devise strategies to combat Islamophobia and antisemitism at our school,” Campbell said in a letter on the ETHS website.
The letter stated the working group wants to hear from students, staff, families and community members to ensure all voices are heard.
The working group, made up of students, staff and community member, will convene from March through May 2024. More information regarding the goals of the group and “the important work that lies ahead” can be found on the ETHS website.
“It’s kids thinking about it and not adults…it’s more effective,” said 15-year-old ETHS student Kenji Stallings. “I hope that it does work and that anti racism does happen. It brings awareness to kids. I would hope they go somewhere where more voices can hear them, like Ted x.”
Campbell said in recent months the school has been busy responding to and drawing on the experiences of students and staff and has sought external partnerships to inform the school’s approach to issues within the broader framework of ETHS’s commitment to fostering a school culture where “all individuals feel safe, respected, and valued.”
ETHS recently hosted guest speakers from the local community at an All-Staff Meeting where, according to the letter, they shared “valuable insights into the impact of recent developments in Israel and Gaza on students, staff, and families within our community.”
It also says the professional development session aimed to foster a deeper understanding of Palestinian, Jewish and Israeli identities and to address the rise of anti-Semitism and Islam phobia, with the overarching goal of strengthening the school’s ability to support students and colleagues who identify with various groups.
“I’m not sure it can work,” said 14-year-old ETHS student Tyler Thompson. “I know a lot of kids at school who don’t care about a lot of things and they don’t listen.”
Despite her concerns, Thompson said she’s glad the school is giving the new group a try.
“I feel like if you can get 15 people who might care, that might possibly start something if they spread it around,” she added. “It could get out to other people in the world. I would probably tell them to say ‘stop the hate.”’
The letter from Campbell said the working group will engage in broad collaboration and consultation with the ETHS community over the course of three months.
“With these current events it’s easy for people to pick a side,” said O’Brien, 17. “I have a lot of friends in the Palestinian solidarity group as well as people in the Israeli club. There’s a lot of students who feel really strongly about current events and what not.”
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.
