University of California, Berkeley

Campus Antisemitism Report Card (Beta) > University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

2025
Grade

C

Jump To

2025 Report Card

Publicly Disclosed Administrative Actions Above Expectations
Jewish Life on Campus Excellent
Campus Conduct and Climate Concerns High

University of California, Berkeley has a Hillel, Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations, a Center for Jewish Studies and the Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights initiated a Title VI investigation following reports that several student organizations at UC Berkeley’s Law School adopted a pledge to not invite any speaker who supports Israel or Zionism.

In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened an additional Title VI investigation into allegations of antisemitism at UC Berkeley.

In February 2025, the Department of Education launched an investigation into alleged antisemitic discrimination at UC Berkeley. These matters were opened using the Department's power to launch investigations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

Following October 7, 2023, several anti-Israel rallies on campus featured anti-Zionist rhetoric and support for terror.

In November 2023, Jewish groups sued UC Berkeley for its alleged failure to respond to “unchecked” antisemitism on campus, citing incidents of protesters assaulting a Jewish student draped in an Israeli flag with a metal water bottle, and of a professor cutting class short to rant against Israel.

On February 26, 2024, several students reportedly disrupted an event featuring Israeli lawyer Ran Bar-Yoshafat. There were reports of intimidation, assault and destruction of university property, and campus law enforcement had to escort Jewish students through underground hallways to evacuate the event. Bears for Palestine, a recognized student organization and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) affiliate, promoted the protest with the explicit aim of preventing the program from going forward.

In April 2024, an anti-Israel encampment, dubbed the Free Palestine Camp, was established. Signs at the encampment included ones stating “Hitler would be proud of Netanyahu” accompanied by an Israeli flag image with a swastika in its center, and “Glory to the Martyrs, victory to the Resistance!” “ANTI-ZION ZONE” was allegedly chalked in large letters on the main campus and the word “INTIFADA” was spray-painted near the campus gate. In April 2024, a Jewish student was reportedly punched in the face at the encampment after he refused to stop filming. In May 2024, a pro-Israel student was reportedly physically attacked when documenting the protests and the founder of Students Supporting Israel was reportedly punched in the head and verbally assaulted while waving an Israeli flag.

In October 2024, a van parked on the edge of campus displayed antisemitic and anti-Israel messages and symbols including: "Ashkenazis Europeans," a Star of David inside a swastika and an inverted red triangle, a symbol associated with Hamas. That same month, anti-Israel protesters celebrated the anniversary of Hamas' October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel by dropping a banner from Sather Tower that read “Glory to the Resistance” with inverted red triangle imagery.

University Policies and Responsive Action

In fall 2023, UC Berkeley increased security, using uniformed and plainclothes officers, as well as hiring private security at rallies and protests. Berkeley also reiterated its policy limiting faculty and instructors from using the classroom for political advocacy.

In 2015, UC Berkeley established the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Jewish Student Life and Campus Climate. Berkeley launched the Antisemitism Education Initiative in 2019, and Berkeley has participated in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative.

All students who file complaints with the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination receive a response with information about supportive services.

In March 2024, Chancellor Carol Christ agreed to a list of requests from Jewish professor Ron Hassner following a two-week-long sit-in protest in his office. These requests include ensuring that all students can freely pass through Sather Gate unobstructed, inviting back any speaker whose event had been disrupted or cancelled and funding mandatory antisemitism and Islamophobia training on campus for staff and incoming students.

In response to the encampment on campus, Chancellor Christ stated “I believe that people have the right to protest, even though the protest is violating some of our time, place and manner rules. My stance is — as long as it stays peaceful and is not the site of pervasive harassment of others — to let the protest go on. At the same time, I'm in conversation with the leaders of the protest, trying to figure out how we can move forward."

In August 2024, University of California President Drake launched a UC-wide Campus Climate Initiative to help all UC locations develop campus climate action plans for fall 2024 and beyond. President Drake also issued a directive to all UC campuses to make clear to their campus communities that certain activities – including encampments, masking to conceal identities and restricting free movement – are prohibited. UC Berkeley’s Chancellor, Richard Lyons followed up on the directive stating that harassment and discrimination would not be tolerated. The University plans to develop a systemwide framework for consistency of implementation and enforcement of demonstration and conduct policies.

From the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, UC Berkeley began providing antisemitism education to all new students, leaders of student organizations, and Resident Advisors. Additionally, efforts to promote civil discourse have been made, including via a series of Bridge Builders workshops, a series on Effective Communication Across Differences and a new Berkeley Bridging Fellowship Program organized by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the Center for Jewish Studies.

Other new programs on campus include a year-long Democracy and Dialogue series focusing on media literacy and misinformation, a Healing Justice series and a faculty-specific Teaching and Working in Troubled Times skills course. Berkeley Hillel has also provided multiple resources and workshops for students to learn how to identify and address antisemitism on campus.

Criteria

Above Expectations

Publicly Disclosed Administrative Actions i

Key
Publicly Disclosed Administrative Actions
Above Expectations
Meeting Expectations
Below Expectations
This college was not assessed on the specified criteria.
Full ADL Criteria Details →
Antisemitism included in Code of Conduct and Policies
Clear process for reporting antisemitic incidents
Advisory council to address antisemitism
Clear religious accommodations policy
Mandatory antisemitism education for students and staff
Has an official position against BDS
Publicly condemns antisemitic incidents
Partnerships with Israeli institutions
Conducts surveys to assess Jewish student experiences
Civil discourse initiatives on campus
Clear time, place and manner policies
Participated in program to address antisemitism
Excellent

Jewish Life on Campus i

Key
Jewish Life on Campus
Excellent
Satisfactory
Subpar
This college was not assessed on the specified criteria.
Full ADL Criteria Details →
Active Hillel, Chabad, or other Jewish student organization
Jewish Greek life
Jewish studies program or class
Kosher dining
Interfaith initiatives on campus
School promotes awareness of Jewish holidays
Israel studies or study abroad programs
Rabbi/Jewish educator
Jewish religious services
Jewish alumni group
Jewish staff and faculty group
Partnerships with Jewish organizations
Active pro-Israel group
High

Campus Conduct and Climate Concerns i

Key
Campus Conduct and Climate Concerns
Low to none
Medium
High

*Incident levels reflect the number of incidents relative to the total student population on campus. 'Severe' and 'other' incidents were only counted if they were recorded between April 2024 and December 2024.

Full ADL Criteria Details →
Level of severe antisemitic and anti-Zionist incidents
Level of other antisemitic and anti-Zionist incidents
Level of hostile anti-Zionist student government activity
Level of hostile anti-Zionist student groups 
Level of hostile anti-Zionist staff and faculty activity

University of California, Berkeley contributed information to our assessment.

This page was last updated on Mar 3, 2025, 10:24 am