April, 2005

To: Officers, Rabbis, Key Contacts
From: IPA
RE: OU Washington Leadership Mission, April 2005 Policy Paper
International Studies in Higher Education Act of 2005, H.R.509

As concern increases about anti-Israel attitudes on campuses across the country, it is clear that an anti-Israel and anti-West ideology pervades Middle East Centers funded under Title VI of the Higher Education Act. This distressing phenomenon undermines support of American foreign policy and security interests.

Title VI of the Higher Education Act provides federal funds to selected international studies in foreign language centers in universities across the country. This was enacted by Congress to help meet vital national needs including training experts for national security and other government service. Unfortunately, far too many Title VI centers fail to serve the basic objectives of the program and many centers commonly exclude scholars who hold other viewpoints. As a result, an anti-American perspective dominates our federally funded centers. Many Title VI centers discourage students from entering US government service or supporting American policy.

The problem is most acute in Middle East studies. Rather than encouraging academic objectivity, Title VI centers have a political agenda. Before September 11th, for example, scholars characterized radical Islamism as a movement for democratic reform. Few focused on Islamist terrorism because that was considered to “reinforce negative stereotypes.” These centers do not produce the kind of realistic depiction and analysis that students, the public, and the government need in order to properly assess the situation in the Middle East. The large influx of Saudi and other politically motivated funds to some of the Title VI Middle East centers casts further doubt on their independence and objectivity.

H.R.509 is meant to address the flaws in the Title VI funding program. This bill provides that international study centers selected to receive Title VI funds would have to demonstrate that their activities advance US national interests and foster debate from diverse perspectives. An independent advisory board would be established to make recommendations to the Secretary of Education and the Congress for improving the Title VI program to ensure that it meets its objectives. H.R.509 would make sure that those purposes for which Title VI tax dollars are provided are served, namely instructing, educating, and training experts for national security and other government service and educating the public on international affairs.

H.R.509 does not proscribe any viewpoint; it simply insists that a wide range of viewpoints be heard. Advisory committees such as would be created under this bill exist in many government programs.

Urge Senators and Representatives to support H.R.509, the International Studies in Higher Education Act of 2005. This would help ensure that Title VI centers would help the US government meet national security and foreign policy needs.

Please contact elected officials and urge them to support H.R.509, the International Studies in Higher Education Act of 2005.

Write to your Senators and Representatives at:

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
Institute for Public Affairs

Mark Bane, Chairman
Nathan Diament, Director
Betty Ehrenberg, Director, International Affairs & Communal Relations

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