(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- When the Northwestern Wildcats appear in the Las Vegas Bowl this weekend, a nationwide organization will be starting a six-figure TV ad campaign accusing the Evanston-based university of "tacitly endorsing the climate of fear and intimidation for Jews on campus."
"Northwestern University. Endorsing antisemitism?
"Student and faculty groups at Northwestern resoundingly support Hamas terrorism."
That's how one TV ad begins. It’s sponsored by the non-profit group Alums for Campus Fairness.
"There's been a lot of -- across the country and at Northwestern -- a lot of vitriol and antisemitism and intimidation of Jewish students, where many are worried about wearing a yarmulke or a Star of David necklace or anything that shows they're Jewish,” explains Avi Gordon, executive director of the New York-based Alums for Campus Fairness.
He said Northwestern President Michael Schill has been "wishy-washy” during this period.
The TV ads urge Schill to adopt a formal definition of antisemitism and to combat antisemitism on campus.
A Northwestern spokesman characterized the group financing the ads as an “unaffiliated advocacy group” and denied its message.
“… President Schill has been outspoken condemning antisemitism and the terrorist attack on Israel and has taken several proactive steps to address antisemitism on campus, including the establishment of the President’s Advisory Committee on Preventing Antisemitism and Hate,” the spokesman said.
“Northwestern does not tolerate antisemitism or discriminatory acts against any members of its community. Northwestern will not stand idly by as outside groups push false narratives to harm the University and our community.”
The campaign begins with digital ads set to run during Northwestern’s Las Vegas Bowl Game and television ads in Chicago are slated to begin at the beginning of 2024 as students return to campus.
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