Rochester. Four University of Rochester students have been charged with felony criminal mischief after hundreds of “wanted” posters targeting Jewish faculty and staff appeared across campus. The posters, which made accusations connected to Israel and the war with Hamas, prompted swift action by the university’s Department of Public Safety. ADL’s NY/NJ regional office praised the arrests, saying “Thank you, U of R public safety, Rochester law enforcement and the U of R administration, for calling this heinous act out, investigating swiftly and holding the alleged perpetrators accountable.” A fifth suspect is still being investigated, according to school officials.

Read more below in the Campus Champions section as one of the faculty members targeted by these posters discusses how to respond “when it happens to you.”

(Source: Screenshot from Fox News Rochester)

~~~~~

UCLA. Campus police faced off with pro-Palestine demonstrators at UCLA’s Bruin Plaza on Tuesday afternoon. The protest, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, called for UCLA to divest from Israeli government ties and related corporations. While the demonstration was mostly peaceful, tensions rose as protesters blocked walkways, prompting police in riot gear to monitor the scene. UCLA's “Time, Place and Manner” policy, which regulates free speech on campus, has been a hot topic for similar protests in recent months. No arrests were reported during the event, though past protests, including one in October coinciding with a Jewish holiday, resulted in police intervention and at least one arrest.

(Anti-Israel demonstrators gathered on UCLA campus on Nov. 19, 2024 | Source: KTLA)

~~~~~

Vanderbilt. Chancellor Daniel Diermeier of Vanderbilt University joined Dan Senor on his podcast Call Me Back. The conversation focused on Vanderbilt’s long commitment to institutional neutrality, how the university’s values govern its policies on speech, protest and guest speakers, how the university responded to the protests and encampments last year, and — of course — Vandy's big win over Bama. We thank Diermeier for participating in this open dialogue, and we were pleased to hear that he has been guided by two principles we have championed as key steps toward demonstrating No Tolerance for Antisemitism: clearly communicating the university’s values and responsibilities and enforcing rules with appropriate consequences for violations.

Deeper: ADL’s Six Asks for College and University Administrators stress the importance of consistently supporting Jewish students, ensuring campus safety, clearly articulating rules and policies, and reaffirming faculty responsibilities to foster a safer, more inclusive campus climate.

~~~~~

Wayne State University. Jewish students at Wayne State University (WSU) are speaking out about a campus environment they say is increasingly marked by hostility and tension. In a powerful op-ed, members of Students for Israel (SFI) shared their experiences at the university’s “FestiFall” event, where they faced derogatory comments, dismissive attitudes, and ostracization simply for celebrating their Jewish and Israeli heritage. The students highlighted the emotional toll of such incidents, which range from being followed on campus to having “Free Palestine” shouted at them for visibly displaying their Jewish identity. Despite these challenges, the students underscored the importance of fostering dialogue and inclusivity. They praised supportive peers and campus police for ensuring their safety, pledging to continue building community and sharing their culture at WSU.

~~~~~

Yale. Following a year-long review, Yale Corporation announced in April that it would not divest  from military weapons manufacturers. In light of this, the pro-Palestine Sumud Coalition, proposed a motion for the Yale College Council (YCC) to divest from the aforementioned manufacturers, specifically naming Israel. The initiative garnered strong student support, exceeding the number of signatures needed, 20% of the student body, to ensure the motion will go to a vote. YCC will hold the referendum on divestment from military weapons manufacturers, including those supplying Israel, and investing in Palestinian scholarship. Critics, including a counter-petition, argue the focus on Israel contradicts goals of unity and is inherently antisemitic.

~~~~~

Harvard. Protesters from Harvard Jews for Palestine gathered outside Harvard Hillel, during a talk by former IDF spokesman Ronen Manelis. While chanting slogans that included "Zionists are not welcome here" and “war crimes aren’t Jewish life,” they accused Israel of war crimes and displayed banners condemning Hillel's hosting of Manelis. Inside, Manelis discussed Iran's role in the Middle East and condemned the protesters' unwillingness to engage in dialogue. "It's surprising that at a place like Harvard, known for free speech and open debate, there's such ignorance and unwillingness to engage in real conversation," Manelis said. Harvard Hillel's executive director called the chants discriminatory, emphasizing Zionism as central to many Jewish students' identity.

~~~~~

Pitt. At a November 18th special meeting, the University of Pittsburgh’s Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Advocacy Committee (EIDAC) voted to recommend changes to a resolution forming an ad hoc committee on antisemitism. The proposed committee aims to advise on issues affecting Jewish students, faculty, and staff. However, disputes arose over whether to include a definition of antisemitism, with EIDAC stressing the importance of not conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism. Members of Students for Justice in Palestine voiced concerns that definitions like IHRA could limit speech about Palestinian rights. Jewish community members, including faculty and student leaders, expressed frustration over the delays, describing them as “gatekeeping” that exacerbates trauma following recent antisemitic attacks on campus. Supporters emphasized that the committee would be purely advisory and not impose restrictions on speech. Despite the tensions, EIDAC approved recommendations to recognize the challenges faced by Jewish students while urging the committee to foster solidarity among marginalized groups. The resolution now heads to the Faculty Assembly for a final vote in December.

University of Rochester. A frightening act of hate sent shockwaves through the University of Rochester last week. Four students, who are now charged with felony criminal mischief, hung up antisemitic “wanted” posters featuring members of the administration and faculty across campus. One of the featured faculty is Joy Getnick, executive director of Hillel at the school – she could not stay silent during this disgusting act of vandalism. She shared her experience as one of the “wantees,” explaining that the impact of this incident has not been fully understood on campus and needs further explanation. She notes, “I am also sad because I believe a university is a place to have important, high-level conversations about global issues such as the war, prospects for Palestinian independence, settlements, etc.” Through the pain of such an uncalled act of hate, Joy was able to find reflection and hope, something so many of us need right now.

Growing Resilience. Israeli nonprofit Matzmichim has shifted focus post-October 7, using its anti-bullying expertise to help traumatized students and educators rebuild resilience. In classrooms across Israel, including those housing evacuees from the war, Matzmichim’s facilitators are helping rebuild personal and collective resilience by fostering empathy and group connection. Workshops guide children and teachers alike in navigating fear and stress, encouraging students to support each other through peer-led discussions. CEO Yoni Tsouna explained, “A classroom can become a support group… and we are demonstrating [through our facilitation] to the teachers how that can be done through questions students can answer themselves rather than a teacher giving the advice.”

• 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!

Do you have something to share with us? Please email us at [email protected] with any suggestions, questions, photos or videos.