Thanks so much, Massmom (and everyone who answered). I think a lot of my concern is that some students have become involved in the obnoxiously strident and (IMHO) anti-semitic “Students for Justice in Palestine”; the group says it’s ‘only’ for BDS but the rhetoric and chants at their demonstrations/events show otherwise.
I really just want her to be able to go to class and meet without going through a gauntlet of anti-semitic protesters outside classrooms (if it comes to that - and I think it will some day), anti-Israel posters in the student center and photos of dead children in the dining room. I realize I’m exaggerating somewhat, at least with the first one, but there’s no point in going to a school that has an anti-Israel/anti-Zionist poster or sign every time you turn around. I don’t think Wellesley will end up like that, I’m just a little leery at the lack of support.
Also, my daughter is just not interested in political issues, the Arab-Israeli conflict, etc. at all. I don’t think she’d be happy in a place where the majority of students were into political issues a lot (and Wellesley also has the transgender issues), although you never know.
I was happy to read that there’s a tradition of discourse instead of shouting and that posters have gone up for other serious and non-serious matters.
My DD really likes Wellesley and considered applying ED (I think I wrote that already), I actually encouraged her to apply ED before all this happened but she didn’t want to. As long as she’s not surrounded by a hostile population - and from everything I’ve read here, she won’t be - it’s still one of her and my top choices.
I tend to be sensitive on this issue because I’ve been through some extremely negative things because of my pro-Israel position (which I"m pretty quiet about anyway - I’m far from a 'flaming activst), to the extent that police were called. As well, last year the school was found to have violated the law in retaliating against my daughter for something I was blamed for, but actually didn’t do or even know about. It’s a really bad situation that I don’t think will end well for someone, and I don’t intend for that someone to be me.
Well now I’ve figured out the root of my probably over-concern in just a few paragraphs! (actually, it should have been obvious to me). What should I work on next? World hunger, peace, Boston’s Olympic bid? : - )