Drexel University has the Perelman Center for Jewish life, which serves as the campus Hillel, a Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

In December 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced it had opened a Title VI investigation of Drexel for allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus.

In August 2024, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights entered into a resolution agreement with Drexel University, outlining a series of actions the University must take to address antisemitism on campus.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In October 2023, mezuzot were stolen from the doorposts of two dorm rooms. In January 2024, a message glorifying Hitler was found on a classroom whiteboard, and in the aftermath of October 7, a women’s bathroom in an academic building was defaced with antisemitic graffiti.

In September 2024, the Drexel University Chabad house was vandalized with graffiti that read "Free Palestine stop arming genocide." In October 2024, at an anti-Israel rally celebrating the anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, protesters held flags depicting Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the military wing of Hamas and the logo of the US State Department-designated terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

University Policies and Responsive Action

Drexel has a longstanding practice of speaking out and condemning antisemitic incidents on campus.

Drexel’s Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture staff have participated in antisemitism training. The University provides security for the Perelman Center for Jewish Life, and the chief of police is regularly in communication with Hillel and other Jewish campus groups. Drexel addresses instances of antisemitism through enforcement of its Discrimination, Harassment, and Bias Incident Prevention Policy.

In May 2024, the University, after setting up barricades, released a statement calling for a newly-established encampment to disband. In response to an encampment, classes were also moved online to minimize disruption to the educational process. The encampment was thereafter disbanded quickly.

The university developed new activism guidelines ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. Additionally, the University has recently hosted an interfaith session focused on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate with over 120 faculty and staff members; organized ADL antisemitism in the workplace trainings; and has participated in numerous external programs aimed at fostering an inclusive campus climate for Jewish students. Drexel is also currently in the process of developing programming with an external partner to provide in-depth antisemitism education.

In 2024, Drexel launched an External Review focused on improving institutional responses to issues related to discrimination and harassment, including antisemitism, under Title VI. The University has also improved its incident reporting mechanism and provides education and training to all students on how to report discrimination and harassment. 

Drexel University has the Perelman Center for Jewish life, which serves as the campus Hillel, a Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

In December 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced it had opened a Title VI investigation of Drexel for allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus.

In August 2024, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights entered into a resolution agreement with Drexel University, outlining a series of actions the University must take to address antisemitism on campus.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In October 2023, mezuzot were stolen from the doorposts of two dorm rooms. In January 2024, a message glorifying Hitler was found on a classroom whiteboard, and in the aftermath of October 7, a women’s bathroom in an academic building was defaced with antisemitic graffiti.

In September 2024, the Drexel University Chabad house was vandalized with graffiti that read "Free Palestine stop arming genocide." In October 2024, at an anti-Israel rally celebrating the anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, protesters held flags depicting Abu Obaida, spokesperson for the military wing of Hamas and the logo of the US State Department-designated terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

University Policies and Responsive Action

Drexel has a longstanding practice of speaking out and condemning antisemitic incidents on campus.

Drexel’s Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture staff have participated in antisemitism training. The University provides security for the Perelman Center for Jewish Life, and the chief of police is regularly in communication with Hillel and other Jewish campus groups. Drexel addresses instances of antisemitism through enforcement of its Discrimination, Harassment, and Bias Incident Prevention Policy.

In May 2024, the University, after setting up barricades, released a statement calling for a newly-established encampment to disband. In response to an encampment, classes were also moved online to minimize disruption to the educational process. The encampment was thereafter disbanded quickly.

The university developed new activism guidelines ahead of the 2024-25 academic year. Additionally, the University has recently hosted an interfaith session focused on antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate with over 120 faculty and staff members; organized ADL antisemitism in the workplace trainings; and has participated in numerous external programs aimed at fostering an inclusive campus climate for Jewish students. Drexel is also currently in the process of developing programming with an external partner to provide in-depth antisemitism education.

In 2024, Drexel launched an External Review focused on improving institutional responses to issues related to discrimination and harassment, including antisemitism, under Title VI. The University has also improved its incident reporting mechanism and provides education and training to all students on how to report discrimination and harassment.