In the wake of the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, college campuses in the United States have seen a disturbing and significant increase in antisemitic incidents particularly towards Jewish students.
Recent data reveals that nearly 73% of Jewish students have either experienced or witnessed antisemitism since the start of the academic semester. This marks a notable increase from 63% in the previous year, according to a study by the Anti-Defamation League and Hillel International.
In contrast, non-Jewish students reported a significantly lower rate of experiencing or witnessing such acts, with only 44% during the same period. These statistics paint a troubling picture of the campus climate for Jewish students.
The study, which surveyed 3,084 college students, 527 of them Jewish, from 689 campuses across the nation, found that before October 7, 67% of Jewish students felt physically safe on campus. However, following the attack, this number dropped to 46%, indicating how the serious impact of this international event on the sense of security among students.
Emotionally, Jewish students also felt less secure. Sixty-six percent reported feeling emotionally secure on campus before the conflict, but this figure dropped to a concerning 33% afterward.
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Moreover, the perception of universities as “welcoming and supportive” towards Jewish students suffered. While 64% of those polled felt this way before the invasion, only 44% retained that sentiment afterward. These findings highlight widespread unease and insecurity among Jewish students as a pro-Palestinian movement has swept across college campuses.
Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, expressed alarm at the situation. He noted, “Jewish students are experiencing a wave of antisemitism unlike anything we’ve seen before, but shockingly, non-Jewish students barely see it.”
Greenblatt emphasized that despite the rising threat, “Jewish students feel increasingly threatened on campus, but
college leaders are not doing enough to address this very real fear of antisemitism.”
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Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International, shared Greenblatt’s concerns, describing the survey’s findings as a “disconcerting picture of the hate on campuses nationwide.” These experiences with antisemitism, he added, were compelling Jewish students to conceal their identities.
The impact of this surge in antisemitism has also extended to administrative actions. Seven schools, including Ivy League institutions like Cornell, Columbia, and the University of Pennsylvania, now face federal investigations for antisemitism and islamophobia.
Compliance with the Department of Education’s recommendations following these probes is crucial, as non-compliance could result in a loss of federal funding according to CNN.
Antisemitic incidents on college campuses have manifested in various forms, from online threats to physical confrontations. In one such instance, a 21-year-old Cornell student was arrested for making violent threats against fellow Jewish scholars online.
Meanwhile, students at NYC’s Cooper Union, another school under investigation, found themselves barricaded inside the library during a protest, as pro-Palestinian students pounded on the doors and windows.
Antisemitism on college campuses needs to be eradicated. Universities have become a cesspool of woke socialism and elitism, fostering hate that must be stopped before an entire generation of young people who think they are inclusive become the most bigoted we have seen in recent times.
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