Columbia. An unsanctioned anti-Israel student group, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, held an anti-Veterans Day protest yesterday to reclaim "Veterans Day for our martyrs as we refuse to honor the US War Machine" and to instead honor “those who resisted whether violently or non-violently.” The university set up barricades to prevent protesters from gathering on the main quad, so demonstrators simply moved to another area of campus. The group's actions in recent days reinforce that these groups are not simply anti-Israel, but also often anti-American. Columbia’s administration posted a public safety alert on their website and restricted campus access to "identification only."

(Source: Columbia University Apartheid Divest)

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Case Western. Last week, Case Western Reserve University was vandalized with antisemitic language and symbols. The antisemitic and anti-Israel graffiti and posters were found across campus. The university condemned the vandalism, stating "any individual found to have been involved in vandalizing our campus will be subject to the relevant university conduct process and criminal charges." Last night, multiple individuals were arrested on felony charges and a protest was held in front of the campus police department over the arrests, although it is unclear at this time if those being held are students. Following last semester's disruptive protests, Case implemented new rules and regulations regarding demonstrations on campus.

(Campus vandalism at Case Western. | Source: WKYC.com video)

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USC. Over the past weekend, the University of Southern California’s President Carol Folt revealed her plans to retire and return to professorship at the end of the 2024/25 academic year. This announcement comes after a challenging year marked by anti-Israel demonstrations on campus. Though far from the most problematic university for such protests, incidents on campus included an encampment that led to 93 arrests and a consequent cancellation of the university’s main graduation ceremony. Citing last year’s campus climate, students noted that her decision to resign came as no surprise and suggested that her response to the protests shadowed her accomplishments.

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Queen’s (Canada). Professors Oded Haklai and Michael Greenspan of Queen’s Coalition Against Anti-Semitism (QCAA) are calling for policy changes and stronger protections for Jewish students at Queen’s University. “Other universities were creating taskforces, hiring advisors, and taking other steps to address antisemitism on their campuses, whereas the Queen’s administration had taken a very lax approach and seemed reluctant to study the problem or even invoke their own existing policies,” Haklai shared.

Together Against Hate. In response to a violent attack on Israeli soccer fans in the Netherlands, there was a rally outside of Columbia University against antisemitism and in solidarity with the victims of the attack. Representatives of grassroot organization Mothers Against College Antisemitism attended the demonstration alongside members of the campus community, including Columbia professor Shai Davidai, who noted that there was a “direct link” between the attack and calls by anti-Israel students to “globalize the Intifada.” One of the Columbia students who attended alleged that, as he was leaving the demonstration, a passerby accused him of being a ‘Nazi.’

DEEPER: Read ADL’s statement on the attacks in Amsterdam and watch ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt’s video from Amsterdam to learn more about what happened.

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Breaking the Silence. After last year's decisive response to an attempted encampment which earned Washington University in St. Louis a commendation in ADL's Campus Report Card, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis is assembling a panel featuring Chancellor Andrew Martin, WashU Hillel CEO Jackie Levey and the American Jewish Committee. ‘Higher Education Post 10/7’ will tackle the issue of “creating safer and more inclusive academic spaces” and will be held at the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum.

Resilience on Exhibit. The Shalva Art Exhibit, now at Houston’s Congregation Beth Yeshurun, showcases the resilience of Israeli individuals with disabilities affected by the war. Facilitated by Shalva’s art therapy program, exhibit participants created art that highlights the lived experience of individuals, as well as unity and strength. Kalman Samuels, the President and founder of Shalva, shared, “Art is a language that speaks beyond words. Through this exhibit, we share not only the stories of pain but also the stories of strength, unity and hope that bind us together as human beings.”

• Students — how to take action, deal with antisemitism, and organize your community.
• Alumni — how to organize a sign-on letter, answer a fundraising request, or write a letter to a university president.
• Parents — write a letter about commencement, organize a dial day, or get help selecting a college for your student.
• Faculty and Staff — support for impacted faculty and staff, and guidance on how to discuss what constitutes antisemitism and anti-Zionism, and how to provide help to students and colleagues.
• Glossary of Commonly Used Antisemitic Phrases Heard at Protests.
• Campus Antisemitism Report Card — see the grade a college earned in this first-ever report card.
• Report an Antisemitic Incident.
• Are you a student or know one who needs legal help? Contact our Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL), run by ADL, Hillel, the Brandeis Center, and Gibson Dunn. Hundreds of incidents have been reported. You are not alone!

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