University of California, Irvine’s (UCI) Jewish community is supported by a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In March 2024, numerous professors across California – including at UC Irvine – demonstrated against antisemitism by camping in their offices to raise awareness.

The following months saw increased tensions when, in May 2024, anti-Israel activists protested for BDS. These protesters barricaded a lecture hall and set up an encampment, leading to class cancellations and criminal charges against some participants.

In March and June 2024, wanted posters of Jewish professors and staff members were posted around campus.

In October 2024, “F*** Jews" was written on a white board in a residence hall at UCI. That same month, about 200 anti-Israel UC Irvine students and faculty marched around the campus with an effigy of Chancellor Howard Gillman on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, calling for an end to the Jewish state and UC divestment from companies affiliated with Israel or American weapons manufacturing.

In November 2024, an Apartheid Wall on campus displayed the message "Intifada," and featured a picture of Leila Khaled, a leader of the U.S.-designated terrorist group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

University Policies and Responsive Action

In 2022, UCI, under Professor Matthias Lehmann, launched the "Confronting Antisemitism" fellowship. This initiative, supported by UCI’s Office of Inclusive Excellence, engaged undergraduates in understanding antisemitism through workshops and outreach activities.

In February 2024, UCI Chancellor Gillman participated in a public panel discussion with ADL on antisemitism on campus.

In Spring 2024, student protestors violated several university policies, leading to interim suspensions and arrests of over 40 individuals. The university later announced that 40% of those arrested were not students.

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.