An anti-Semitism debate has erupted at Stanford University.

Campus Reform reports.

Stanford student senate erupts in anti-Semitism debate

“[The resolution] says: ‘Jews controlling the media, economy, government, and other societal institutions’ [is] a fixture of anti-Semitism that we [inaudible] theoretically shouldn’t challenge. I think that that’s kind of irresponsibly foraying into another politically contentious conversation. Questioning these potential power dynamics, I think, is not anti-Semitism. I think it’s a very valid discussion.” [snaps] –Gabriel Knight ‘17, ASSU Senator

During Tuesday’s ASSU Senate meeting, a Stanford senator running for reelection argued that it is not anti-Semitic to question whether Jewish people control the media and banks. He apologetically clarified twenty minutes later that he understood how the “Jewish community could be offended by that”. However, he added that declaring this statement – which has been used to persecute Jews for centuries – to be unambiguously anti-semitic remained a “political statement” of which the Senate should be wary. Two prospective Senate candidates, Elliot Kaufman and Matthew Wigler, have since called for Senator Knight’s stepping down as a candidate for next year’s Senate.