We, members of the Andover Jewish community, want to address the faculty, trustees, and broader Andover community about our deep disappointment in the administration’s derogation, hypocrisy, and failure to uphold Andover’s core values over the past month. We are profoundly hurt by the lack of action and disagree with Dr. Kington’s defense of neutrality, published in The Phillipian on October 20, 2023.
Andover’s lack of response and statements to anti-semitism, both now and in the past, contributes to Jewish students feeling unwelcome. In the past two years alone, Andover has made at least 8 public statements in response to major events. Andover has taken a stance on civil rights issues, foreign wars, and countless other major events, yet never anti-semitism. Let us remind the school that they failed to publicly speak out against the anti-semitism of the Charlottesville riots of 2017 and the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting of 2018.
Now, we are told that under a new policy, Andover will refrain from making as many statements as in the past. Yet, the first and only time we are aware that this new policy has been enforced is now, as Andover again refrains from commenting on acts of anti-semitism.
Even under the administration’s new policy, however, we contend that it is still fitting for a school statement on the October 7th Hamas attack and rising anti-semitism around the globe. As detailed by our Chief Communications Officer, Ms.Tracy Sweet, in the Spring 2023 issue of Independent School, the following questions must be answered by a committee before recommending a statement to the Head of School:
To this, we argue yes. Andover alums and family members were unaware of the campus response, but they trusted the school with the care of their children. At several points, parents have been unsure about the safety of their kids, a reflection of anti-semitism at other institutions. Beyond that, a targeted attack against Jews — an extreme minority — affects the Andover Jewish Community. To say it does not denies the antisemitic intentions of the attack. If any ethnic minority group faced a day of mass execution anywhere in the world, it would deeply affect that minority group everywhere in the world, including our campus. The administration is heavily mistaken if they do not believe Jewish students, faculty, and alumni were affected by the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Several of us had family members or friends who either died or are now in extreme harm’s way.
To this, we argue yes. We believe this falls under our value of Knowledge and Goodness: the union of intellect and integrity to guide and prepare students for a lifetime of learning and application for the greater good. It is under this value, that we equip our students with the tools to stand up against hate, racism, and bigotry around the world. We believe the school is equally compelled to guide students to stand up against anti-semitism. Part of that guidance is taking a stance. Let us remind Dr. Kington of his words in his Investiture speech in the Spring of 2022, “I believe that an essential part of that education is the ideas, including ideas that some of us may find to be odious. I don’t aim for a false notion of neutrality. I am not neutral on many controversial issues, especially those that are tied to our values and our mission. For those issues, in particular, we as an institution should not strive to be neutral.” Why is Dr. Kington neutral now? He also said, “I want…this school [to] change and constantly aspire to become better, to remain relevant and to lead in a changing world.” Are we to infer that Dr. Kington believes in leading through silence, or that he has given up on his vision for this school and our values, not a year and a half later?
To this, we argue no. To the contrary, we believe that it is the lack of a school response that has instead silenced teachers. Without direction or permission from the administration, many have voiced frustration, not knowing what is acceptable to discuss in their class. Beyond the classroom, we add that this is not about the geo-political issues of Israel/Palestine, but Hamas. Hamas’ attack was one of anti-semitism, supported by their charter to kill Jews around the world. To argue students, faculty, or staff would feel their opinions unwelcome would be to openly welcome anti-semitism on our campus.
In answering these questions, under Andover’s new policy, a statement is warranted. But what is the true value of making a statement, and what was the administration’s true intention behind this new policy? It is a shame that Dr. Kington believes Andover has been “pressed” to make statements in the past, rather than making them because it was the right thing to do. It is also a shame that he feels a statement denouncing anti-semitism would be “superficial,” implying the school has no intention of addressing its own history of anti-semitism. Saying a statement has no substance without action is a copout for taking action itself.
We believe that there is another reason for the new policy, one which Ms. Tracy Sweet alluded to, but did not mention directly, “no matter what a school says or does not say, someone will disagree with its statement… reactions range from thoughtful disagreement to alumni threatening to withhold donations because they do not support the school’s stated position.” As we look around at other secondary and higher education institutions, we see a myriad of responses to public statements, some of which do include either student protests or pulled donations. Therefore, we conclude that Andover chooses to not make a statement now, not because of any policy, but out of fear of a negative response. To that, we are deeply disappointed. To refrain from speech for fear of backlash is not leading, but cowering, and it certainly does not align with our school’s core values. As a school devoted to educating youth from every quarter, Andover should not stand idly by in the face of anti-semitism and violence.
We also believe that Dr. Kington’s words at ASM, and future plans to use ASM to engage with students, are flawed and insignificant. Unlike an official statement, ASM does not reach the majority of faculty, families, or alumni. It is important to educate and make the school’s stance clear to not just students, but our entire community. To the Jewish faculty, know that in these times we grieve with you and that you are always welcome to join current students at Friday Shabbat.
To restate, it is not in anger but in sorrow that we recognize, through the school’s silence, Andover is not supporting its Jewish community. In your first letter to the Andover community Dr. Kington, you wrote, “I will try to learn from all of you. [And] With your help, I will try to learn from my mistakes.” We ask Dr. Kington that you learn now, amend the new policy, and make a statement.
We call now for a statement of support to our wounded community. We call not for the school to take a side on the geo-political issue of Israel and Palestine, but for a condemnation of Hamas and rising anti-semitism around the globe. We call for an end to this false notion of neutrality.
Signed By,
Mason Spahn ’24, Sinan Muratoglu ’24, Sam Baum ’23, Jackson Hersom ’27, Hank Ferguson ’25, Sebastian Vermut ’27, Theodore Berman ’25, Max Herbison ’25, Ellah Kotlarsky ’27, Layla Shmuylovich ’26, Sima Schmuylovich ’21, Yury Shmuylovich ’90 P ’19, ’21, ’26, Irina Shmuylovich P ’19, ’21, ’26, Ethan Weinstein ’23, Gavin Spencer ’26, and Bryce Shufro ’22
