The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

The campus has experienced several acts of antisemitic or anti-Israel vandalism in recent years, including the targeting of the Hillel building in March 2024 and the burning of an Israeli flag outside a restaurant when Jewish fraternity members were inside in February 2024. Graffiti with white supremacist symbols was also found outside of a Jewish sorority house during last year's High Holidays.

The campus’ Palestine Solidarity Committee has also held regular protests and tried to disrupt pro-Israel events on campus and in the broader community.

In October 2024, a man driving near a Jewish fraternity at the University of Texas, Austin, harassed a passerby wearing a Star of David necklace by calling out and holding a penny out of his car window. When asked if he was being antisemitic, the man replied, "Hell yeah I'm being antisemitic" and attempted to grab the passerby.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University has spoken out repeatedly against antisemitic vandalism, condemning it and saying it will discipline those responsible. The University also removed two teaching assistants in November for misusing school resources by sending political messages to students on a university communications platform. This prompted student protests that the university said “crossed the line of acceptable behavior” and violated campus rules, including protesters entering a private office and preventing an official from leaving. As a result of these incidents, the University launched an investigation and sanctioned four students.

Protestors at the April 2024 encampment reportedly refused to comply with repeated requests by the university for them to remove their tents.  These students also allegedly sent threats to the University. In response, UT Austin and partner law enforcement agencies quickly removed the encampment and made 79 arrests (45 of those arrested were not affiliated with the university). Weapons confiscated from protestors reportedly included guns, mallets and chains.

Many of the students facing post-encampment disciplinary proceedings were offered deferred suspensions, but only if they accepted responsibility for their actions and agreed to follow the school's policies in the future.

In advance of the 2024-25 academic year, the University of Texas made systemwide changes to its Speech, Expression and Assembly rules, added the state’s definition of antisemitism to its free speech policy and officially prohibited the system from adopting political or social positions unrelated to campus operations.

In September 2024, the University held an educational session on “Islamophobia and Antisemitism in an Era of Polarization.” In October 2024, university officials prevented anti-Israel protestors from delivering a pro-BDS letter to the president.

Commendations

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

The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

The campus has experienced several acts of antisemitic or anti-Israel vandalism in recent years, including the targeting of the Hillel building in March 2024 and the burning of an Israeli flag outside a restaurant when Jewish fraternity members were inside in February 2024. Graffiti with white supremacist symbols was also found outside of a Jewish sorority house during last year's High Holidays.

The campus’ Palestine Solidarity Committee has also held regular protests and tried to disrupt pro-Israel events on campus and in the broader community.

In October 2024, a man driving near a Jewish fraternity at the University of Texas, Austin, harassed a passerby wearing a Star of David necklace by calling out and holding a penny out of his car window. When asked if he was being antisemitic, the man replied, "Hell yeah I'm being antisemitic" and attempted to grab the passerby.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University has spoken out repeatedly against antisemitic vandalism, condemning it and saying it will discipline those responsible. The University also removed two teaching assistants in November for misusing school resources by sending political messages to students on a university communications platform. This prompted student protests that the university said “crossed the line of acceptable behavior” and violated campus rules, including protesters entering a private office and preventing an official from leaving. As a result of these incidents, the University launched an investigation and sanctioned four students.

Protestors at the April 2024 encampment reportedly refused to comply with repeated requests by the university for them to remove their tents.  These students also allegedly sent threats to the University. In response, UT Austin and partner law enforcement agencies quickly removed the encampment and made 79 arrests (45 of those arrested were not affiliated with the university). Weapons confiscated from protestors reportedly included guns, mallets and chains.

Many of the students facing post-encampment disciplinary proceedings were offered deferred suspensions, but only if they accepted responsibility for their actions and agreed to follow the school's policies in the future.

In advance of the 2024-25 academic year, the University of Texas made systemwide changes to its Speech, Expression and Assembly rules, added the state’s definition of antisemitism to its free speech policy and officially prohibited the system from adopting political or social positions unrelated to campus operations.

In September 2024, the University held an educational session on “Islamophobia and Antisemitism in an Era of Polarization.” In October 2024, university officials prevented anti-Israel protestors from delivering a pro-BDS letter to the president.

Commendations

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