Arizona lawmakers have approved legislation aimed at combating antisemitism in public schools and colleges, marking a bipartisan push to establish new standards for addressing hate-based conduct in the state’s education system.
The bill, House Bill 2867, also known as the Antisemitism in Education Act, received final approval from the Arizona House and now awaits the signature of Governor Katie Hobbs. Sponsored by Representative Michael Way (R-LD15), the measure bars the promotion of antisemitic views in classrooms and on public college campuses, while outlining a formal process for investigating and disciplining violations.
“Arizona’s students and teachers deserve to learn and work in an environment free from antisemitic hate,” said Rep. Way following the bill’s passage. “This bill ensures schools are places of learning, not battlegrounds for political indoctrination.”
The legislation applies to public K–12 schools, community colleges, and state universities. It prohibits educators and administrators from promoting antisemitic conduct or language, coercing students to support antisemitic viewpoints for grades or academic advancement, and using public funds for programs that include antisemitic instruction or training.
Violations are first to be reported to a school or college official, who must investigate and take corrective action within 30 days. Appeals can be escalated to a local school board or the Arizona Board of Regents. Legal action in court is permitted only after all administrative avenues have been exhausted.
HB 2867 is based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, a standard also recognized by the U.S. Department of State. The bill includes explicit protections for teaching about Jewish history, the Holocaust, and the State of Israel. Supporters say the measure does not interfere with First Amendment rights.
The legislation aligns with the House Republican Majority’s broader efforts to confront hate and promote public safety within state institutions.“The Legislature has done its job. The public supports this,” said Rep. Way. “Now it’s up to the governor to do hers and show that Arizona won’t tolerate antisemitism in public education.”
Representative Way, who represents Mesa, Queen Creek, and San Tan Valley, has made combating antisemitic threats in education a legislative priority. The bill’s bipartisan support suggests growing consensus among lawmakers that additional safeguards are needed in light of recent national and international events that have sparked increased concerns over antisemitism on college campuses and in school settings.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Governor Katie Hobbs has named a new student regent to the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR).
The newest student regent, Felipe Garcia, is a Tucson native and rising junior studying political science and creative intelligence and innovation at the University of Arizona (UofA). Garcia will replace Arizona State University (ASU) student David Zaragoza.
“Felipe Garcia is committed to ensuring Arizona’s public university students succeed, and I am proud to appoint him to the Arizona Board of Regents,” said Hobbs. “As a student at the University of Arizona, Felipe will be an effective voice, working to ensure that students are represented in university decisions and they have regular updates and communications from the Board’s perspective.”
“On behalf of the board, we commend Governor Hobbs on her thoughtful selection of Felipe Garcia, an outstanding University of Arizona undergraduate, to be Arizona’s newest student regent,” said ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata in a statement. “Student regents serve as a crucial voice in shaping policies that directly impact students. Felipe’s perspective and dedication will be invaluable, and we eagerly anticipate his contributions to our work.”
Garcia is also a “Courage Fellow” with the gun control organization Giffords. Courage Fellows receive six months of gun control advocacy training.
Garcia formerly served on the Arizona Model United Nations, UofA’s Associated Students, and the Governor’s Youth Commission. Garcia also served as a youth commissioner for Hobbs’ Commission on Service and Volunteerism.
“I am incredibly honored to be chosen by Governor Hobbs to represent Arizona students,” said Garcia in a press release from the governor’s office. “I am excited to work with the Board to be a valuable resource for Arizona’s public universities.”
Student regents serve two-year terms; in their first year, student regents sit as non-voting members. The other student regent on the board to serve alongside Garcia is Northern Arizona University (NAU) student Jadyn Fisher. Like Garcia, Fisher was appointed with a background in gun control activism. Fisher organized a protest at her middle school to advocate for gun control and remember school shooting victims.
Last month, Zaragoza and Fisher opted to meet only with the Democratic members of Congress during their inaugural National College Attainment Network (NCAN) Leadership Summit: Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and Congressman Greg Stanton. The pair discussed federal financial aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), federal Pell Grants, and student mental health.
Zaragoza and Fisher were both nominated to ABOR by Hobbs.
The two student regents have convinced ABOR to dedicate more time and resources to mental health. Zaragoza and Fisher were integral to establishing ABOR’s Mental Health Workgroup. The workgroup will lead campus-wide listening sessions at the state’s three public universities to determine how the institutions can improve on their mental health initiatives and tailor them to students.
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The Arizona Board of Regents held special board and committee meetings last week. And despite a year of scandal and serious allegations, Arizona State University (ASU) President Michael Crow received a significant pay increase along with a contract extension.
For those who’ve been keeping up with the news regarding ASU over the past year, scandals included:
Given all of the above, one might expect that university leaders would face a reckoning from the Arizona Board of Regents, but they would be wrong.
According to AZCentral, Crow will now receive a base salary of $892,500, around a 7% increase over his last contract, and the new agreement will keep him with the university until June 2029.
The ASU President has also received an additional $305,000 in bonuses for meeting goals laid out for him by the board. According to the report, these goals included “launching a training center to support the semiconductor industry in the state and creating a strategic plan to implement AI at the school.” He was also up for an additional $35,000 if the university exceeded a 10% enrollment growth goal over 2021 numbers, which ASU missed.
🚨Election Interference: 70,000 Arizona State students received a text from the Kamala Harris campaign which is data from the Arizona state database and should be confidential!
As reported by The College Fix, College Republicans at ASU called for an investigation into possible election interference when “70,000 Arizona State students received a text from the Kamala Harris campaign which is data from the Arizona state database and should be confidential!”
Carson Carpenter, president of College Republicans at ASU, told the outlet that the group had confirmed that the text message from Kamala Harris’ failed campaign was sent to “students from [all] Arizona universities,” including ASU, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona.
The group asked, “If Kamala Harris has access to all of Arizona college students’ phone numbers, what ELSE do they have?”
In an emailed statement to College Fix, an ASU Spokesman told reporters on condition of anonymity, “Under Arizona Public Records Law, ASU’s records are public unless there is a specific confidentiality requirement.”
“While most student records are confidential under [the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act], FERPA exempts from confidentiality ‘directory information,’ which includes contact information. ASU is therefore required to release student directory information upon request.”
State Representative Jake Hoffmann posted to X that he would be launching a full Senate investigation into the matter, which he called, “a MAJOR security breach!”
He added, “I’m receiving lots of evidence from many Arizona public university students who received unsolicited text messages promoting Kamala Harris for president that appear to have come from Arizona universities illegally providing their personally identifiable information to her campaign. This seems like yet more election interference in Arizona, which is why my investigation for the Arizona Senate has already begun.”
Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs and Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne serve on the board as ex-Officio members. However, neither were present for the meeting or took part in the vote to approve Crow’s contract. According to the annotated meeting agenda, the vote to approve was unanimous with seven of the twelve voting members present, “Regents Mata, Goodyear, DuVal, Penley, Pacheco, Brewster, Archuleta, Stein, and Zaragoza voted in favor. None opposed and none abstained.”
The regents are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. With the exception of the Governor, Superintendent, and two student members, they serve 8-year terms.
In the meeting agenda and annotation, no mention is made of the ongoing controversies that have rocked ASU in 2024.
A new leader has been selected for one of Arizona’s major universities.
On Friday, the University of Arizona and the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) announced that Dr. Suresh Garimella had been appointed as the school’s 23rd president.
Dr. Garimella is currently the president of the University of Vermont, and he was previously at Purdue University as its Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships.
The incoming president’s career fate was sealed with a unanimous vote from the members of ABOR.
“I am honored to be chosen by the board as the next president of the University of Arizona,” said Dr. Garimella. “I have long admired the U of A and its stature in the state of Arizona and far beyond. The institution demonstrates the best qualities of a land-grant university with exceptional leadership in research and health sciences, highly acclaimed faculty and staff, and a diverse student population comprised of the best and brightest from around the world. There are tremendous opportunities in front of us and I look forward to collaborating with U of A students, faculty, staff and alumni to build upon our strengths as an institution and continue to lead in excellence here in Tucson and around the world.”
“Dr. Garimella is student-focused and considers himself first and foremost a faculty member. With a 35-year career in higher education, Suresh is engaging, a great listener and a collaborative leader,” said ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata. “Wildcats are part of our state’s DNA and Dr. Garimella has shown he is the right leader at the right time to heal and grow Arizona’s land-grant university.”
Dr. Robert C. Robbins currently serves as the university’s president, which he has held since 2017. Earlier this spring, Robbins announced his plans to step away from the school at the end of – or before – his term in office.
“I join our University of Arizona family in welcoming Dr. Garimella to Tucson,” said President Robbins. “His experience as a president at a public university and as an esteemed professor, researcher and published author will serve him well in his new role. In the weeks ahead, I look forward to partnering with Dr. Garimella and assisting him with the transition in any way possible. The U of A will be in good hands for years to come.”
According to the press release issued by the Arizona Board of Regents, “Dr. Garimella received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, his M.S. from The Ohio State University, and his bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The University of Arizona is getting a new president.
University President Robert C. Robbins told the Arizona Board of Regents on April 2 that he will step down by the end of his current contract as soon as his successor is ready.
“After significant consideration and personal contemplation, I informed the regents this morning that I will step down as president of the University of Arizona after fulfilling the terms of my current contract,” Robbins said in a statement. “When a new president has been appointed by ABOR and she or he is prepared to start sooner than the end date of my contract, I will ensure a smooth transition to my successor and step aside earlier.”
Robbins has served as president since 2017. He has been under fire over the last six months because of the university’s $177 million deficit.
“The University of Arizona has and will continue to tackle the more pressing challenges of our time,” Robbins said. “And it is time to begin to think about what is next for the university, and I will continue to serve the institution with pride and work with ABOR to ensure a smooth transition at the appropriate time.”
Arizona Board of Regents Chair Cecilia Mata said the board plans to start a national search for the 23rd president of the university soon, and Robbins will serve as president until his successor is ready to start. His current contract expires June 30, 2026.
As president, Robbins oversaw the creation of the new Center for Advanced Molecular and Immunological Therapies, as well as the largest fundraising campaign in the university’s history, Fuel Wonder, which has raised $2.2 billion toward the $3 billion goal.
“The University of Arizona has a long-standing reputation as an elite public research university – one with a rich tradition of service and a leader in advancing new frontiers and making remarkable discoveries,” he said.
Robbins said this is a difficult but necessary decision. He said he has no doubt the university is in good hands.
“It has been a true honor to lead the University of Arizona for so many years, particularly during a time of transformational change in higher education and with challenges in the world around us,” he said. “I am proud of the many advancements we made together in elevating the institution, by enhancing the student experience; by attracting and retaining world-class faculty and staff; by increasing our research funding and philanthropy; by achieving significant milestones in science, astronomy and medicine, among many other disciplines; by engaging our indigenous tribes and rural communities; and by improving the lives of Arizona residents and the global community.”
Mata said the board appreciates Robbins’ dedication to UA’s mission and values.
“He has built a legacy of commitment to student access and success, as well as advancement of the university’s land-grant mission,” she said. “President Robbins implemented a strategic plan focused on the opportunities and challenges presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. His keen ability to weave together the biological, digital and technology sectors to further advance the mission of the university has led to exceptional accomplishments.”
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
