University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

In April 2024, ADL and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law filed a Title VI complaint against the University of Massachusetts Amherst with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) alleging that the university has failed to address the severe discrimination and harassment of Jewish and Israeli students.

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

University of Massachusetts Amherst has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Faculty for Justice in Palestine and the BDS movement are all active at UMass Amherst.

There have been multiple reported antisemitic incidents on campus that have resulted in police activity. SJP held a protest on October 25, 2023, where hundreds of students marched to the Administration Building for a sit-in, demanding UMass Amherst divest from “Israel’s genocide in Gaza.” According to reports, 56 students were subsequently arrested for criminal trespassing.

In November 2023, following a peaceful Hillel-organized event calling for the return of hostages held by Hamas, a student physically attacked a Jewish student, punching them in the head multiple times, after making antisemitic comments. The Jewish student was holding an Israeli flag, which the attacker took, spat on and shredded with a knife. The perpetrator was arrested and barred from returning to campus.

In April and May 2024, two pro-Palestinian encampments were established on the University campus. While the first encampment was said to have ended peacefully, the second resulted in more than 130 arrests.

In November 2024, a swastika was drawn on a white board hanging on the dorm room door of a Jewish student.

University Policies and Responsive Action

UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes sent a message to the campus community on October 10, 2023 condemning Hamas and its acts of terror against Israel. In March 2024, the University brought Standing Together to campus to facilitate a conversation and educate students.

In September 2024, the Campus Demonstration Policy Taskforce (CDPT) published a series of recommendations to refine campus policies and strengthen the work of the Demonstration Response and Safety Team.

The university has reported that it has several high-level groups, councils, and offices, including the cabinet-level Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Incident Response Team, the Behavioral Intervention Team, and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life charged with advancing equity and belonging and combatting all forms of hate; fighting antisemitism is a part of these groups’ missions.

The university is currently exploring developing educational modules on antisemitism and Islamophobia.

University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

In April 2024, ADL and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law filed a Title VI complaint against the University of Massachusetts Amherst with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) alleging that the university has failed to address the severe discrimination and harassment of Jewish and Israeli students.

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

University of Massachusetts Amherst has a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Faculty for Justice in Palestine and the BDS movement are all active at UMass Amherst.

There have been multiple reported antisemitic incidents on campus that have resulted in police activity. SJP held a protest on October 25, 2023, where hundreds of students marched to the Administration Building for a sit-in, demanding UMass Amherst divest from “Israel’s genocide in Gaza.” According to reports, 56 students were subsequently arrested for criminal trespassing.

In November 2023, following a peaceful Hillel-organized event calling for the return of hostages held by Hamas, a student physically attacked a Jewish student, punching them in the head multiple times, after making antisemitic comments. The Jewish student was holding an Israeli flag, which the attacker took, spat on and shredded with a knife. The perpetrator was arrested and barred from returning to campus.

In April and May 2024, two pro-Palestinian encampments were established on the University campus. While the first encampment was said to have ended peacefully, the second resulted in more than 130 arrests.

In November 2024, a swastika was drawn on a white board hanging on the dorm room door of a Jewish student.

University Policies and Responsive Action

UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes sent a message to the campus community on October 10, 2023 condemning Hamas and its acts of terror against Israel. In March 2024, the University brought Standing Together to campus to facilitate a conversation and educate students.

In September 2024, the Campus Demonstration Policy Taskforce (CDPT) published a series of recommendations to refine campus policies and strengthen the work of the Demonstration Response and Safety Team.

The university has reported that it has several high-level groups, councils, and offices, including the cabinet-level Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Incident Response Team, the Behavioral Intervention Team, and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life charged with advancing equity and belonging and combatting all forms of hate; fighting antisemitism is a part of these groups’ missions.

The university is currently exploring developing educational modules on antisemitism and Islamophobia.