The University of Florida has the largest number of Jewish undergraduate students in the country – 6,500 Jewish students, who comprise 19% of the undergraduate student population; the 2,900 Jewish graduate students make up 14% of the graduate student population. There is a Hillel, Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations and the Bud Shorstein Center for Jewish Studies.

What’s Happening on Campus?

There have been incidents at the University of Florida before and after October 7. In the fall of 2022, antisemitic messages, including ones invoking singer Kanye West, were displayed via laser projection outside TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville during the Florida-Georgia football game.

The campus Chabad was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti last November, and antisemitic chalking and streamers have also been seen on campus, allegedly perpetrated by extremist activists affiliated with Goyim Defense League and NatSoc Florida groups.

A teaching assistant was banned for three years in November after allegedly vandalizing a flag outside the Alpha Epsilon Pi house that said the fraternity “stands with Israel.”

The school has also hosted controversial speakers over the years, including white nationalist Richard Spencer. The administration, however, had a strong response to Spencer renting space at the University, spoke out fervently, and demonstrated support for Jewish student groups and Jewish campus leaders.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University issued a strong statement from President Ben Sasse in the days following the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks. 

Following repeated calls for protestors to remove an encampment established in April 2024, the University called in the police, leading to the arrests of several students. The University subsequently released a decisive statement: "The University of Florida is not a daycare, and we do not treat protesters like children. They knew the rules, they broke the rules, and they’ll face the consequences.”

Commendations

On June 18, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to the University of Florida for its swift action to address campus encampments.