Sounding Off:

Your article equating the actions of UC Irvine’s Muslim Student Union with those of pro-Israel groups couldn’t be more off base (“Islamic group defends student protest,” Feb. 17).

The MSU regularly sponsors speakers and programs on campus that promote vicious falsehoods about Jews and Israel.

Just last year, one speaker compared Jews to Satan. In contrast, pro-Israel groups have not promoted bigotry toward Muslims or any other groups. And they haven’t prevented any MSU speaker from expressing his or her views, no matter how hateful or bigoted.

The MSU apparently believes that free speech rights go only one way: Their group should have free reign to do and say what it pleases, and yet also be able to interfere with the right of Israel’s ambassador to express his views and the right of the community to hear them.

As for the Zionist Organization of America’s complaint on behalf of Jewish students under Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act, this was not a “demonstration,” as your article implied. It was a peaceful, legal effort to rectify long-standing campus hostilities that many Jewish students found harmful.

The complaint was investigated, but not “extensively.”

The Office for Civil Rights did not even visit the campus or interview a single UCI official until two years into the investigation, and that was only after the ZOA complained to the agency head about the lack of thoroughness.

There were numerous witnesses with information relevant to the complaint whom OCR wouldn’t interview. When OCR finally issued its decision finding no violation of Title VI, the conclusion was largely based on a legal interpretation, not on the evidence. The decision is still on appeal.

SUSAN B. TUCHMAN directs the Zionist Organization of America’s Center for Law and Justice in New York.