|
Campus Protests Nationwide. Universities have seen under 950 protest events
this semester so far, compared to 3,000 last semester, according to Harvard’s Nonviolent Action Lab. What’s behind this drop? Pressure by ADL and others, as well as lawsuits and shaming by political leaders have pushed schools to tighten rules on protests and step up enforcement. Some potential protesters may also be turned off by the extreme language now being used by anti-Israel protest groups. This trend has raised hackles among some protesters, but Jewish groups are pleased. As Naomi Lamb, the director of Hillel at the Ohio State University, said “I appreciate the response of administrators to ensure that there is as little antisemitic action and rhetoric as
possible.”
~~~~~
Rochester. Four University of Rochester students face felony criminal mischief charges
for distributing "wanted" posters targeting Jewish faculty and staff, an act widely condemned as antisemitic. University President Sarah Mangelsdorf called the posters “deeply disturbing” and reaffirmed a commitment to combating hate. A fifth student remains under investigation. The student Senate initially proposed dismissing the charges, citing prior university inaction on hate incidents. A revised resolution passed, calling for transparency in the investigation and urging restorative justice.
 |
|
(Source: UR Students for Israel | Instagram) |
~~~~~
Michigan. Bravo to Santa J. Ono, president of the University of Michigan, for bringing a sizeable delegation including administrators, students, alumni and community members to the pop-up NOVA exhibition in West Bloomfield, Michigan. The exhibition
is a memorial dedicated to the lives lost and forever changed during the Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival. NOVA survivor Dani Dvir addressed the group, as did President Ono, who reflected on the impact of bearing witness, mourning the victims and honoring the survivors. Attendees were able to leave notes for the survivors, the families of those who were murdered, and for the hostages still being held captive and their families. ADL’s regional office and several national executives joined the school’s leadership for this visit, which ADL described as “a critical step toward understanding the perspective of Jewish students and where anti-Zionist hate can
lead.”
 |
|
Michigan delegation visiting the NOVA exhibition. (Photographer: John Hardwick) |
~~~~~
Duke. A petition at Duke University calls for institutional neutrality,
urging leaders to limit statements on political issues to those impacting the university’s mission. This stance has been adopted by a number of schools in the wake of tensions over campus protests and how each administration opts to respond to the unrest. But is neutrality a real option for a school? While supporters argue neutrality protects academic integrity, critics like Professor Ranjana Khanna contend it’s impractical, as universities inherently make political choices, such as investments, which she labels as a “silent statement.” “I actually don't think it's possible” to be neutral, argued Khanna.
~~~~~
Williams College. Calls for Williams College to divest from weapons manufacturing, proposed by campus anti-Israel groups, were declined by the school’s Board of Trustees in recent weeks. The Board’s rejection was due to “potential financial risks the demands would pose to the College’s endowments.” Last spring, the Board had sat down to hear from the anti-Israel groups in return for the dismantling of an encampment on campus.
DEEPER: Read a report by ADL affiliate JLens, which found that the 100 largest U.S. university endowments could collectively forgo $33.2 billion in returns over the next decade if they divest from Israel.
~~~~~
Nashville K-12. Earlier this month, a swastika was painted near the football stands during a home game at Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA). Administrators at the Nashville school responded swiftly, immediately removing the antisemitic graffiti and investigating the incident. MBA confirmed the student responsible is no longer enrolled at the school, which is a private academy for boys in 7th through 12th grade. An MBA statement said
“We are committed to educating our students on the serious implications of actions like these, and we remain resolute in upholding a school culture where all our students feel known, valued, and respected.”
~~~~~
Montreal. Last week, anti-Israel protests at Concordia University ended up shutting down a school and vandalizing buildings, while antisemitic posters and chants were on full display. One protestor, who was later identified as Mai Abdulhadi, was filmed making nazi salutes
and screaming threatening remarks to Jews. A grassroots social media campaign showcasing her video and remarks, while highlighting that she was a franchise owner of a Second Cup cafe, erupted online the next day. Second Cup caught wind of this incident and terminated Abdulhadi’s franchise agreement, citing a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech.
DEEPER: Quebec saw widespread anti-Israel protests as over 85,000 students from 13 Canadian universities staged a strike to demand divestment from Israel. In Montreal, major demonstrations occurred at Concordia University, while Dawson College completely shut down classes for the day over safety concerns.
|
