Fall 2024 Commendation

On October 30, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to Michigan State University for the recent actions and policies implemented by the administration to combat antisemitism on their campus. For more details on these policy updates, click here and for the commendation letter click here.

Background

Michigan State University has 3,500 Jewish undergraduate students, representing 9% of the undergraduate student population, and 500 Jewish graduate students, comprising 5% of the graduate student body. MSU has the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies, Hillel and Chabad.  

What’s Happening on Campus? 

There have been a number of incidents at MSU following the October 7 Hamas attack, including several anti-Israel incidents associated with Students United for Palestinian Rights, which is an officially recognized student group. In November, an Israeli flag was torn down and stolen from the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house.

In October 2023, an image of Hitler was broadcast during a trivia quiz displayed on the jumbotron during a football game. Earlier this year, students called upon the MSU Board of Trustees to divest the University’s assets from Israel. 

Prior to Hanukkah last year, a university employee reportedly told students who staff residence hall front desks that menorahs would be displayed in certain dorms and requested students to come forward if they felt “trauma.” When a non-Jewish student suggested to the university employee that menorahs are religious symbols and should not produce a traumatic response, the employee reportedly dismissed the conversation, saying “I don’t take sides.”

The sukkah erected by the Michigan State Hillel was vandalized by two intoxicated students in 2019. 

University Policies and Responsive Action 

Following the football game incident, the University placed an employee on paid leave pending investigation.

Although MSU does not have a school-wide definition of antisemitism, the Serling Institute for Jewish Studies has developed a guide on antisemitism, which cites the IHRA Definition. 

MSU’s Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion hosted a “Conversations on Antisemitism and Islamophobia” event series in spring of 2023. In addition, the Institute’s faculty teach a series of courses on Jewish and Israeli studies as well as antisemitism and anti-Muslim symposia and workshops.

The Serling Institute - along with other Jewish organizations - has supported the University DEI Strategic Planning Committee in developing robust university religious observance policies.

*On April 11, 2024, Michigan State University was graded an "F"; in light of new information or events, the grade was changed to a "D" on June 18, 2024.