Syracuse University has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

Before and after October 7, there have been multiple incidents of antisemitic graffiti at Syracuse.

In November 2023, more than 200 protesters participated in a “Shut It Down for Palestine” event on campus. During the protest, one speaker criticized Syracuse for allowing Hillel and Athletes for Israel to hold events in support of Israel and named other Jewish organizations who had co-sponsored the events as being “complicit” and accused them of “directly promot[ing] the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.”

In January 2024, Syracuse University Faculty for Justice in Palestine released a “Statement of Solidarity in Opposition to the Repressive Climate on US Campuses.” The statement rejected a University administrator’s assertion that the term “intifada” was threatening and could be interpreted as advocating for the genocide of Jewish people. University officials called the faculty statement “reprehensible behavior” for putting students, based on their identity, at risk of harassment and potential violence.

In February 2024, a group of Syracuse students and parents submitted a report to the U.S. House of Representatives alleging the University is turning “a blind eye to antisemitism.”

In August 2024, a student at Syracuse University was harassed by an individual who said, "Look behind you, it's Hamas."

University Policies and Responsive Action

The Syracuse administration has spoken out against antisemitism, including in the aftermath of October 7, making clear that advocating for the genocide of Jews would violate the University’s codes of conduct. A University administrator also made clear that the term “intifada” constituted “advocating for genocide.”

Syracuse cancelled a November 2023 event featuring Rabab Abdulhadi, an associate professor at San Francisco State University, due to safety concerns. Abdulhadi appeared to justify Hamas’ actions on social media and has been criticized for her praise of convicted terrorists, including Rasmea Odeh and convicted PFLP hijacker Leila Khaled, members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a U.S. designated terrorist organization.

In late April 2024, anti-Israel protestors established an encampment on campus, and subsequently refused requests to clear out their tents before disbanding in mid-May.  The University arrested an individual with a prior felony conviction who had been staying at the encampment despite being unaffiliated with the University.

The University has several leadership groups on campus dedicated to combatting discrimination and harassment and creating a respectful, safe and welcoming environment for all. Additionally, to foster an inclusive campus climate for Jewish students, the University has organized a voluntary antisemitism training for students (in partnership with the Bias Response Team), a Jewish-Muslim Dialogue Fellowship, a Board of Trustees Special Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and a series of events regarding the on-going war in the Middle East. 

Syracuse University has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

Before and after October 7, there have been multiple incidents of antisemitic graffiti at Syracuse.

In November 2023, more than 200 protesters participated in a “Shut It Down for Palestine” event on campus. During the protest, one speaker criticized Syracuse for allowing Hillel and Athletes for Israel to hold events in support of Israel and named other Jewish organizations who had co-sponsored the events as being “complicit” and accused them of “directly promot[ing] the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.”

In January 2024, Syracuse University Faculty for Justice in Palestine released a “Statement of Solidarity in Opposition to the Repressive Climate on US Campuses.” The statement rejected a University administrator’s assertion that the term “intifada” was threatening and could be interpreted as advocating for the genocide of Jewish people. University officials called the faculty statement “reprehensible behavior” for putting students, based on their identity, at risk of harassment and potential violence.

In February 2024, a group of Syracuse students and parents submitted a report to the U.S. House of Representatives alleging the University is turning “a blind eye to antisemitism.”

In August 2024, a student at Syracuse University was harassed by an individual who said, "Look behind you, it's Hamas."

University Policies and Responsive Action

The Syracuse administration has spoken out against antisemitism, including in the aftermath of October 7, making clear that advocating for the genocide of Jews would violate the University’s codes of conduct. A University administrator also made clear that the term “intifada” constituted “advocating for genocide.”

Syracuse cancelled a November 2023 event featuring Rabab Abdulhadi, an associate professor at San Francisco State University, due to safety concerns. Abdulhadi appeared to justify Hamas’ actions on social media and has been criticized for her praise of convicted terrorists, including Rasmea Odeh and convicted PFLP hijacker Leila Khaled, members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a U.S. designated terrorist organization.

In late April 2024, anti-Israel protestors established an encampment on campus, and subsequently refused requests to clear out their tents before disbanding in mid-May.  The University arrested an individual with a prior felony conviction who had been staying at the encampment despite being unaffiliated with the University.

The University has several leadership groups on campus dedicated to combatting discrimination and harassment and creating a respectful, safe and welcoming environment for all. Additionally, to foster an inclusive campus climate for Jewish students, the University has organized a voluntary antisemitism training for students (in partnership with the Bias Response Team), a Jewish-Muslim Dialogue Fellowship, a Board of Trustees Special Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and a series of events regarding the on-going war in the Middle East.