University of Maryland, College Park has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

There have been multiple incidents of antisemitic chalking and graffiti at Maryland, including chalking that said “there is only 1 solution, intifada revolution.” In fall 2023 students reported that others said, "As soon as we get rid of these Jews, we will free Palestine" about a competing intramural flag football team.

In April 2024, at an anti-Israel sit-in, protesters displayed the logo of the U.S.-designated terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

In September 2024, four visibly Jewish students were harassed while walking to the campus Hillel by an individual who said, "F*** you Jews" and "Christ is king, f*** you Jews, you killed Jesus." That same month, a car parked in front of a Jewish sorority house displayed the message "Hamas responding to never-ending crime against Palestinians."

In October 2024, an individual shouted "From the river to the sea" and "Free Palestine" at a Jewish person attending a vigil for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

In November 2024, the University of Maryland student government did not advance a resolution that called on the University to withdraw investments from certain companies affiliated with Israel. This was the second time that calls for divestment were rejected by the student government.

University Policies and Responsive Action

President Darryll Pines issued two statements after October 7, immediately condemning the Hamas attack in October and ensuring the safety of Jewish students on campus, and in November, the University condemned acts of discrimination and all forms of hate and made clear that students would be held accountable for violations of the code of conduct. Maryland also increased campus safety measures and created a Joint Presidential and University Senate Task Force to provide “guidance, recommendations and counsel on a strategy to confront antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus.” Maryland also reminded students of the online system to report hate-bias incidents that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion implemented in 2018 and charged campus leaders to create educational programming to address antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias.

Members of the school’s chapter of SJP planned to host an event on October 7 – the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel – to mourn those killed in Gaza. In September 2024, citing security concerns, the University announced that all student-sponsored events on October 7 would be cancelled and only allow school-sponsored events would be announced. However, in October 2024, a federal judge ruled that the University cannot block students from holding the event.

In November 2024, the Joint Presidential and University Senate Task Force on Antisemitism and Islamophobia released a report detailing their recommendations for the administration, underscoring the need for additional training, cultural programming and mental health resources.

In addition, in response to Student Government Association considerations of divestment from Israel, the administration has always responded with the following statement: "Any Student Government Association debate of the proposed BDS resolution will be conducted and led by students, and the outcome will have no bearing on university policy or practice."

University of Maryland, College Park has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

There have been multiple incidents of antisemitic chalking and graffiti at Maryland, including chalking that said “there is only 1 solution, intifada revolution.” In fall 2023 students reported that others said, "As soon as we get rid of these Jews, we will free Palestine" about a competing intramural flag football team.

In April 2024, at an anti-Israel sit-in, protesters displayed the logo of the U.S.-designated terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

In September 2024, four visibly Jewish students were harassed while walking to the campus Hillel by an individual who said, "F*** you Jews" and "Christ is king, f*** you Jews, you killed Jesus." That same month, a car parked in front of a Jewish sorority house displayed the message "Hamas responding to never-ending crime against Palestinians."

In October 2024, an individual shouted "From the river to the sea" and "Free Palestine" at a Jewish person attending a vigil for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

In November 2024, the University of Maryland student government did not advance a resolution that called on the University to withdraw investments from certain companies affiliated with Israel. This was the second time that calls for divestment were rejected by the student government.

University Policies and Responsive Action

President Darryll Pines issued two statements after October 7, immediately condemning the Hamas attack in October and ensuring the safety of Jewish students on campus, and in November, the University condemned acts of discrimination and all forms of hate and made clear that students would be held accountable for violations of the code of conduct. Maryland also increased campus safety measures and created a Joint Presidential and University Senate Task Force to provide “guidance, recommendations and counsel on a strategy to confront antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus.” Maryland also reminded students of the online system to report hate-bias incidents that the Office of Diversity and Inclusion implemented in 2018 and charged campus leaders to create educational programming to address antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias.

Members of the school’s chapter of SJP planned to host an event on October 7 – the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel – to mourn those killed in Gaza. In September 2024, citing security concerns, the University announced that all student-sponsored events on October 7 would be cancelled and only allow school-sponsored events would be announced. However, in October 2024, a federal judge ruled that the University cannot block students from holding the event.

In November 2024, the Joint Presidential and University Senate Task Force on Antisemitism and Islamophobia released a report detailing their recommendations for the administration, underscoring the need for additional training, cultural programming and mental health resources.

In addition, in response to Student Government Association considerations of divestment from Israel, the administration has always responded with the following statement: "Any Student Government Association debate of the proposed BDS resolution will be conducted and led by students, and the outcome will have no bearing on university policy or practice."