Boston University has an on-campus Hillel, a nearby Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations and the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation into Boston University’s handling of antisemitic incidents.

What’s Happening on Campus?

There have been several recent antisemitic incidents on campus, including individuals ripping down posters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. In addition, the Boston and Tufts Universities’ Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters organized an off-campus rally where a protester held a flag for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S. State Department designated terrorist organization. In March 2023, violent death threats on Instagram reportedly targeted a Jewish fraternity at Boston University.

In October 2024, at an SJP anti-Israel rally protesters chanted, “Long live the Intifada,” a slogan commonly used as a call for violence against Israel and the Jewish community. In November 2024, posters were left on campus that read "Student Intifada" with inverted red triangles, a symbol associated with Hamas. In December 2024, stickers resembling Israeli flags with swastikas replacing the Stars of David were placed on campus.

In February 2025, the student government passed a referendum calling for divestment from Israel. The vote was later nullified due to “security and technological issues.”

In March 2025, the BU Student Government held another vote on a divestment referendum, with the referendum to divest from certain companies affiliated with Israel ultimately passing.

University Policies and Responsive Action

In early 2024, the University announced that it was establishing a Working Group on Jewish Life and Addressing Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Harassment, launched a new website with resources and information about filing complaints of harassment or discrimination, and reiterated its commitment to freedom of expression while also making clear that the University will follow up on reports of impermissible actions and will initiate judicial processes or criminal complaints where appropriate. Hillel has also hosted a series of sessions on antisemitism for the 25 deans of the University, and is involved in training students to teach their peers about antisemitism.

In 2024, the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies brought several acclaimed speakers to campus to educate students about antisemitism; developed a new minor in Israel Studies and began teaching a new course on antisemitism; offered multiple sessions of an Israeli-Palestinian conflict seminar; and hosted several student-led gatherings to address and combat antisemitism. Additionally, Jewish Studies faculty at the University have partnered with faculty in other departments to host small gatherings of students with different viewpoints to discuss the campus climate. The Elie Wiesel Center has also obtained a grant in 2024 to develop more courses on antisemitism, which are underway. 

In October 2024, the University launched the “Living Our Values” initiative, aimed at fostering civil dialogue and calling for members of the campus community to treat each other with respect and dignity at all times. As part of this initiative, the University hosted a Town Hall with the chairs of the working group on antisemitism and the working group on Islamophobia, who presented their findings to the community.

The University has also formed a new Bias Review Team, updated the campus events and demonstration policy, launched a new website on community, civility and free speech and engaged an outside consultant to provide training concerning antisemitism, anti-Israeli bias, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian bias. In addition, the University has established a new faculty and staff community network for Jewish and Israeli faculty.

In February 2025, the executive committee of BU’s Board of Trustees categorically rejected requests from anti-Israel protestors to divest BU’s endowment from Israeli companies, and made it clear that no further requests will be considered or discussed.

Boston University has an on-campus Hillel, a nearby Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations and the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In September 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation into Boston University’s handling of antisemitic incidents.

What’s Happening on Campus?

There have been several recent antisemitic incidents on campus, including individuals ripping down posters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. In addition, the Boston and Tufts Universities’ Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapters organized an off-campus rally where a protester held a flag for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a U.S. State Department designated terrorist organization. In March 2023, violent death threats on Instagram reportedly targeted a Jewish fraternity at Boston University.

In October 2024, at an SJP anti-Israel rally protesters chanted, “Long live the Intifada,” a slogan commonly used as a call for violence against Israel and the Jewish community. In November 2024, posters were left on campus that read "Student Intifada" with inverted red triangles, a symbol associated with Hamas. In December 2024, stickers resembling Israeli flags with swastikas replacing the Stars of David were placed on campus.

In February 2025, the student government passed a referendum calling for divestment from Israel. The vote was later nullified due to “security and technological issues.”

In March 2025, the BU Student Government held another vote on a divestment referendum, with the referendum to divest from certain companies affiliated with Israel ultimately passing.

University Policies and Responsive Action

In early 2024, the University announced that it was establishing a Working Group on Jewish Life and Addressing Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Harassment, launched a new website with resources and information about filing complaints of harassment or discrimination, and reiterated its commitment to freedom of expression while also making clear that the University will follow up on reports of impermissible actions and will initiate judicial processes or criminal complaints where appropriate. Hillel has also hosted a series of sessions on antisemitism for the 25 deans of the University, and is involved in training students to teach their peers about antisemitism.

In 2024, the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies brought several acclaimed speakers to campus to educate students about antisemitism; developed a new minor in Israel Studies and began teaching a new course on antisemitism; offered multiple sessions of an Israeli-Palestinian conflict seminar; and hosted several student-led gatherings to address and combat antisemitism. Additionally, Jewish Studies faculty at the University have partnered with faculty in other departments to host small gatherings of students with different viewpoints to discuss the campus climate. The Elie Wiesel Center has also obtained a grant in 2024 to develop more courses on antisemitism, which are underway. 

In October 2024, the University launched the “Living Our Values” initiative, aimed at fostering civil dialogue and calling for members of the campus community to treat each other with respect and dignity at all times. As part of this initiative, the University hosted a Town Hall with the chairs of the working group on antisemitism and the working group on Islamophobia, who presented their findings to the community.

The University has also formed a new Bias Review Team, updated the campus events and demonstration policy, launched a new website on community, civility and free speech and engaged an outside consultant to provide training concerning antisemitism, anti-Israeli bias, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian bias. In addition, the University has established a new faculty and staff community network for Jewish and Israeli faculty.

In February 2025, the executive committee of BU’s Board of Trustees categorically rejected requests from anti-Israel protestors to divest BU’s endowment from Israeli companies, and made it clear that no further requests will be considered or discussed.