The University of Connecticut (UConn) hosts an active Hillel and Chabad and has Jewish Greek life on campus.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In February 2022, a dispute at UConn’s Homer Babbidge Library involved an argument over fliers critical of Israel, which escalated when a student used antisemitic insults, calling another student a “f***ing Zionist.”

In October 2023, at an anti-Israel rally, a speaker stated, "From this day on no more condemning Palestinian resistance. We need to be revolutionary. We need to be unyielding. We need to be relentless. The tides of freedom have turned and it's important now more than ever that we speak up against public perception.”

In April 2024, 25 people were arrested and charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct at an anti-Israel encampment on campus. That same month, anti-Israel protesters harassed Jewish students participating in and working at Hillel's weeklong Israel Fest.

In September 2024, a planned meeting between the administration and the student group UConnDivest was canceled after the group disseminated antisemitic imagery targeting the university president. That same month, at an anti-Israel rally organized by UConn Divest, protesters displayed fliers depicting the university’s president, who is Jewish, with devil horns.

Jewish students have also reported incidents where posters of kidnapped Israelis were removed overnight, posters were posted on campus advocating for the freedom of Palestine by any means necessary and social media posts advertising a talk by a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre received antisemitic comments.

University Policies and Responsive Action

UConn has a Campus Climate Committee composed of administrators – including a campus antisemitism expert – from across the University working to maintain a safe, inclusive, and supportive campus environment for students, faculty, and staff.

The University’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion promotes the IHRA definition of antisemitism and provides educational resources on antisemitism. Additionally, the university offers a "Why the Jews? Confronting Antisemitism" module designed to educate students about antisemitism and its impact. In the last 3 years, over 3,500 students have completed this course.

The University also has numerous partnerships and exchange programs with Israeli institutions and, in the aftermath of the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, UConn collaborated with donors and established the ‘UConn-Israel Partners Fund’ to seed projects that further build UConn-Israel connections. The University similarly maintains strong relationships with Hillel and Chabad and has collaborated with various external Jewish organizations.

In response to heightened tensions, UConn updated its protest policies in August 2024. The Outdoor Activities Policy now explicitly bans camping, temporary encampments, and disruptive behaviors such as blocking building access and using amplified sound without approval.