At St. Jerome’s University, we steward each student’s unique talents, nurture their ability to think critically and inspire them to become lifelong learners who seek knowledge and truth, act with compassion and advocate for human dignity for all. St. Jerome’s offers courses in Honours Arts and Honours Arts and Business, and students graduate with a University of Waterloo degree.
- Generous entrance scholarships
- Earn a Waterloo degree
- All 28 Arts majors are eligible for co-op
- Small class sizes - over half of all first- and second-year courses have fewer than 30 students
- Individualized wellness, stepped-care, wrap-around approach to mental health and student advising dedicated to St. Jerome's co-registered students.
- Central residence location on the Waterloo Campus
- All you can eat meal plans
Events
Legal Studies Seminar - Defending Jews from the Definition of Antisemitism
This article, forthcoming in UCLA Law Review, examines the legal debate surrounding antisemitism in the context of Israel criticism, challenging definitions that equate such criticism with antisemitic speech. It argues that current legal definitions impose a narrow, Zionist-centric view of Jewish identity, harming both Palestinian advocacy and Jewish pluralism. Jewish identity is inherently diverse and contested, with this ongoing debate viewed as a vital feature of Jewish tradition.
The article traces the evolution of antisemitism's legal definition, focusing on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition. To counter the harms of this definition, the article proposes a novel legal framework, arguing that criticizing Israel can be an exercise of religious freedom for many American Jews and that antidiscrimination laws should protect Jews targeted for their political positions.
Reinterpreting U.S. constitutional protections to safeguard the plurality of Jewish identities offers a new understanding of religious liberty that allows Jewish communities—and potentially other groups—to determine how religion and politics intertwine in their identities.
About the seminar series:
The Joint Legal Studies Seminar Series features biannual seminars showcasing a range of legal studies scholarship. The series is hosted by the Departments of Sociology and Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo and St. Jerome's University.
Amir Hussain | A Muslim Theologian Teaching at a Catholic University
January 9, 2025
Gary J. Adler Jr. | How Catholics Govern: Examining the Religiosity and Policy Preferences of Local Government Officials
Catherine Clifford | From Vatican II to a Synodal Church
From Vatican II to a Synodal Church
Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ | Cherished Belonging - The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times
Cherished Belonging - The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times