Some Charge Anti-Semitism In Non-Renewal of Central Missouri University President

Last month the Board of Trustees of the University of Central Missouri voted 4-3 not to renew the contract of its president, Aaron Podolefsky. Now, according to yesterday's Kansas City Jewish Chronicle, some are asking whether anti-Semitism had anything to do with the Board's decision. Apparently much of the opposition to Podolefsky came from supporters of the University's athletic teams and particularly Gregg Hassler, part-owner and sports director of a local radio station that holds the contract to broadcast the University's football and basketball games. Hassler had already criticized Podolefsky's wife, an attorney, for filing a suit on behalf of six players against the local high school's girls' basketball coach charging discrimination and sexual abuse. Then the day after Podolefsky's ouster was announced, Hassler inaccurately accused him of ending a tradition of having a Christmas tree in the front yard of the President's on-campus residence. It turns out the cedar tree at issue was removed during the prior president's tenure. Those claiming anti-Semitism are pointing to the attitude reflected in Hassler's on-air remarks after the firing:

the thing that really upset me ... was, for years there was a Christmas tree lit at Selmo Park.... He stopped that. I mean I think every religion should be able to celebrate, uh, in their own way, but, I mean we do live in Warrensburg, Missouri. This is America. You know. Let’s bring that back....