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Introduction
Following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, antisemitism on college campuses has surged, with over 1,400 antisemitic incidents recorded during the 2023/24 academic year. As the influx of incidents continue this fall semester, ADL identified six disturbing trends within the anti-Israel protest movement, including the escalation of violence on campus and the targeting of Jewish institutions. In response to the campus antisemitism crisis, ADL outlined Six Asks to university administrators, urging them to take these critical actions to address the campus antisemitism crisis.
Our Not On My Campus campaign, and in particular the Campus Antisemitism Report Card, has engendered increasing commitment among campus administrators to combatting antisemitism.
Commendations
In advance of the 2024/25 academic year, a number of universities began taking steps to overhaul their policies and strengthen their dedication to protecting Jewish members of the campus community. A number of schools deserve commendation for their efforts. Their commitment serves as a model for how institutions can create safer, more inclusive campuses while confronting the growing tide of antisemitism.
Barnard College
Despite high numbers of antisemitic incidents occurring on campus, Barnard College has both developed and rigorously enforced new policies to address the issues.
Due to conduct violations during the 2023-24 academic year, five students have been suspended for part or all of the 2024-25 academic year, and other students have been put on disciplinary probation. Additionally, in advance of the 2024-25 academic year, campus-wide emails were sent as a reminder of Barnard’s Student Code of Conduct, to reiterate that violations of the code are not acceptable and to share a revised Policy on Safe Campus Demonstrations. Barnard has also formed the Public Order and Protests (POP) team and the Activist Student Support Engagement Team (ASSET) to further ensure that students understand and abide by Barnard’s rules.
A major step taken by the administration has been the review of the Barnard College Expectations for Community Conduct policy, which now also states that “substituting the word ‘Zionist’ as a proxy for ‘Jewish’ or ‘Israeli,’ for example, may constitute prohibited discrimination or harassment against those of Jewish or Israeli origin.” Additionally, all students, faculty, and staff at Barnard are required to complete mandatory Title VI non-discrimination trainings that address antisemitism. In addition to this Title VI training, all new first-year, transfer, and visiting students were required to participate in a training on how to recognize and respond to antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Barnard has also engaged in safety training since the terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, including a June 2024 Barnard Community Safety staff training on effective responses to antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus. In September 2024, the Center for Engaged Pedagogy hosted a workshop for faculty entitled “Pedagogical Supports in Times of Crisis: Manifestations of and Responses to Antisemitism and Islamophobia in the Classroom.”
CUNY System
In September 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul called on the CUNY system to implement recommendations developed by Judge Jonathan Lippman after more than 10 months of investigation into the school’s antisemitism and anti-discrimination policies.
CUNY Brooklyn College
Ahead of and in response to these recommendations, CUNY Brooklyn College has been working on re-assessing their policies to address antisemitism on campus.
In June 2024, members of the administration participated in a weeklong conference offered by the Brandeis University Presidential Initiative to Counter Antisemitism in Higher Education. In addition, prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, the administration also reviewed and strengthened policies covering events, protests and demonstrations on campus; implemented a guidance memo for faculty on academic freedom, classroom conduct and faculty responsibilities under Title VI; and organized regular Emergency Response Team meetings to prepare in advance of campus events.
Further, the University has developed a new orientation training on preventing discrimination, which addresses antisemitism, and includes the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
CUNY Queens College
Similarly, ahead of and in response to the recommendations, CUNY Queens College has been working on re-assessing their policies to address antisemitism on campus.
For instance, in March 2024, the University released an Action Program to Address Antisemitism. In April 2024, the University hosted a “Combating Antisemitism Workshop for Queens College Administrators and Faculty,” a “Combating Antisemitism Workshop for Queens College Students,” a three-session series educating the campus community on how to respond to and address unconscious bias, including antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, and a Dismantling and Combating Hate Conference. The University is also engaged in efforts to assess antisemitism on campus through campus climate surveys and focus groups.
Additionally, at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, President Wu circulated a Welcome Message that specifically stated that antisemitism will not be tolerated on campus and a further message on reporting discrimination. The University is also working with Jewish Community Relations Council Community Security Initiative to improve public safety and was part of the planning committee for the Queens Jewish Community Council’s October 7 commemoration event.
Michigan State University
Michigan State University has also heeded calls to address antisemitism by implementing a number of changes.
In Spring 2024, the University launched a DEI Foundations learning module, which includes discussions of antisemitism and is required for all employees and students. Beginning in July 2024, the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion convened a monthly gathering of colleagues to discuss issues of student safety and support and concerns of campus community members. This group includes representatives from the Hillel Jewish Center, The Michael and Elaine Serling Institute for Jewish Studies and Modern Israel, MSU Police and Public Safety, Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance, and the Division of Student Life and Engagement.
New York University
Despite the prevalence of incidents on its campus, New York University (NYU) has taken a leading role in addressing antisemitism, developing innovative policy approaches that are now being adopted by other campuses.
In August 2024, NYU was the first school to update its Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment policy to explicitly underscore that the use of “code words, like ‘Zionist,” could be considered in conduct violation investigations. In September 2024, the University announced that it would be hiring a Title VI coordinator to ensure NYU’s compliance with issues concerning discrimination and harassment based on race, color and national origin.
In addition, NYU has launched a university-wide mandatory Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment (NDAH) student training that provides a comprehensive overview of NYU’s NDAH policy, including numerous specific examples of conduct that would be considered harassment or discrimination against Jews or Israelis under NYU’s policy. By the time of this publication, almost 80% of the NYU student body has completed the training. NYU is also updating their mandatory employee trainings to cover all forms of discrimination, including making clear that antisemitic harassment or discrimination is prohibited.
NYU has also developed a new learning module, titled Perspectives, in partnership with the Constructive Dialogue Institute, which is mandatory for all first-year students and is designed to equip students with the foundational skills to engage in dialogue across differences.
SUNY Purchase College
SUNY Purchase College has taken significant steps to ameliorate the campus climate. In advance of the 2024-25 academic year, the College published a new “College Commitment to Freedom of Speech” webpage, consolidating and clarifying policies governing free speech, Title VI obligations and existing reporting mechanisms. The College also released a new “Diversity Defined” resource, which states that the College “will not tolerate antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination and harassment” and stands with “with Governor Hochul in rejecting BDS.”
Additionally, alongside the Title VI and anti-bias required training for faculty, all students are now required to complete an anti-bias training titled “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Students.” SUNY Purchase is also developing a specific webpage for antisemitism resources and education, established an Interfaith Council and received funding to create an interfaith prayer, meditation and reflection space.
University of Colorado Boulder
In recent months, the University of Colorado Boulder, and the wider University of Colorado system, have worked on clarifying and developing policies to combat antisemitism on its campus. In June 2024, the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado unanimously passed a resolution condemning anti-Israel protests that took place at the homes of two Regents. Ahead of the 2024-25 academic year, CU Boulder’s Chancellor Schwartz was introduced by President Saliman to a Jewish community advisory group. Additionally, the University of Colorado system recently amended its protected-class definitions webpage to note that it “construes antisemitism, Islamophobia, and caste to be included within the university’s current prohibitions on discrimination or harassment,” defining antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jewish people which may be expressed as hatred.” The updated policy additionally includes language to prohibit conduct that could create a hostile environment based on any protected class.
In alignment with the updated system-wide policy, the CU System Office of Ethics, Risk and Compliance also issued guidance regarding Antisemitic and Anti-Islamic harassment. These updated antisemitism- and Islamophobia-related policies are now reflected in both CU Boulder’s required online course for all first- and second-year undergraduate students and incoming graduate students and the in-person training for incoming students. Similarly, the SkillSoft course for employees has been updated as of September 2024 to include an additional quiz question that relates to antisemitism. The University also now facilitates bystander intervention training.
Furthermore, in October 2024, the CU Boulder SJP chapter was placed in bad standing by the University after reported violations of university policy, meaning the chapter can no longer operate as a recognized student organization.
University of Michigan
Following a number of serious antisemitic incidents in recent month, the University of Michigan administration has been engaged in developing new policies to address the antisemitism crisis on campus.
In July 2024, the Board of Regents clarified that the University itself may now act as a complainant when university policies are violated and submit incident complaints in a similar manner to how faculty, staff and students are able to, including in situations wherein “a student might not feel safe serving as a complainant.” In August 2024, the University announced that they had streamlined the system for responding to discrimination and harassment-related incidents and communicated to the campus community that individuals who violate policies will be held accountable.
The University is also currently developing a mandatory training program regarding discrimination and harassment based on race, color, shared ancestry, ethnicity and national origin. In September 2024, the University administration swiftly condemned an attack on a Jewish student and has since consistently engaged with and provided immediate support to members of the Jewish campus community in the aftermath of incidents.
Critically, in October 2024, the University hired a Title VI coordinator to support the University’s response to reports of discrimination or harassment and ensure compliance with Title VI.
University of Pennsylvania
Confronted with serious antisemitic incidents on campus this academic year and last, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) has taken significant steps to prioritize the protection of Jewish members of the campus community. In May 2024, Penn’s Task Force on Antisemitism and the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community published their final reports, outlining recommendations for addressing antisemitism on campus. These recommendations have informed new training programs, have been circulated to all faculty and have led to the development of a project manager position to oversee the implementation of the recommendations.
Penn also implemented updated security protocols at major campus events and is currently working to integrate recommendations to further enhance the security of religious life centers on campus. Penn continues to provide additional security at 17 centers for campus and religious life, including Penn Hillel, the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, and Jewish Greek organizations. Many Penn public safety officers attended the Law Enforcement and Society: Lessons of the Holocaust (LEAS) program that ADL runs in partnership with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Additionally, in June 2024, Penn adopted new Temporary Standards and Procedures for Campus Events and Demonstrations to ensure expressive activity is appropriately managed. These standards were promoted in the new student orientation and the annual Student Organizational Summit (to which all registered student organizations were required to send representatives). New students were also provided with training focused on antisemitism and protest policies, while a workshop on combatting hate was offered to new faculty. In September 2024, Penn established the Office of Religious and Ethnic Inclusion, a stand-alone office dedicated to administering and overseeing compliance with Title VI. Finally, effective fall 2024, Penn eliminated the existing surcharge for Kosher dining.
Wellesley College
Wellesley College has developed a number of new policies to address antisemitism on its campus. For instance, all residential life and orientation staff received anti-religious bias training in fall 2024. In addition, Wellesley College now requires all first-years, incoming Davis Scholars, exchange students, and transfer students to complete Title VI training and a new ‘improving classroom culture’ training has been created for incoming faculty. The College has also focused on teaching constructive dialogue skills to members of the campus community.
Further, ahead of the 2024-25 academic year, President Johnson sent an announcement to the Wellesley College Community, reminding the campus community of Wellesley College policies on demonstrations, academic freedom and nondiscrimination. The College has also revised the process for recognition of student organizations to emphasize nondiscrimination requirements. During the 2024-25 academic year orientation, new students additionally participated in a session about how to keep Wellesley safe.
Conclusion
The policy updates outlined above show a genuine and growing commitment among these college and university administrators to address campus antisemitism. However, challenges remain. All universities must stay vigilant as the troubling trends we are tracking show the sustained prevalence of antisemitism on campuses, demanding ongoing action. We urge all universities to continue to strengthen their efforts to address campus antisemitism, ensuring that Jewish students and all students can thrive in safe and inclusive environments.
As the campus antisemitism crisis continues into the new academic year, we will continue to closely monitor the responses of academic institutions. We look forward to reassessing these campuses and many others in our annual iteration of the Campus Antisemitism Report Card in Spring 2025.