Michigan. A University of Michigan DEI administrator, Rachel Dawson, was reportedly fired following allegations that she made antisemitic remarks at a March conference. The University conducted an investigation after ADL Michigan reported the incident, and found evidence supporting claims that Dawson dismissed Jewish students as “privileged” and denied their ancestral connection to Israel. Dawson denies the allegations and plans legal action, while the university cited “poor judgment” as grounds for her dismissal. The firing comes amid rising tensions on campus, including recent vandalism targeting a Jewish regent’s home with anti-Israeli graffiti.

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SF State. After months of negotiations following a Gaza encampment, the San Francisco State University Foundation adopted a revised investment policy that avoids language tied to BDS or UN “human rights” codes — terms often weaponized against Israel. SFSU President Lynn Mahoney, guided by advice from Jewish leaders, resisted calls to explicitly target Israel, instead approving standard ethical screens on weapons manufacturers and human rights violations. While Students for Gaza publicly claimed victory, touting the change as a response to their demands, Jewish leaders and observers remain skeptical. The outcome is being viewed as a symbolic concession that allowed protesters to claim a win while avoiding further disruption. Some have noted that the policy remains vague and lacks substantive alignment with BDS goals, but concerns persist over how it may be interpreted or leveraged moving forward.

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UT Austin. In late October, the University of Texas formed a task force to help limit the disruptive protests on campus, while still trying to protect free speech. The group is called the “Event Readiness and Response” team, and it will act as “support for campus events and provide educational programs on both student rights and responsibilities, and demonstration consultation and response.” Policies on facial coverings to disguise one’s identity and time restraints on noise disturbances will be implemented by the task force. In addition to these rules, there are many others that follow in order to try and keep the UT Austin campus safe for all students.

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NYU. Eight individuals were arrested during a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) protest at NYU that blocked access to the university’s main library, disrupting students during finals. University spokesperson John Beckman rejected claims that the demonstration was peaceful, stating the protesters intentionally harassed community members and disrupted academic operations. NYU called in law enforcement to restore order and ensure safety. The incident adds to a growing wave of antisemitic activities on U.S. campuses following October 7, with NYU, who suspended their SJP chapter last spring, joining other schools like Columbia, Brandeis, George Washington University and Rutgers in taking disciplinary action against SJP chapters.

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NAIS Apology. The National Association of Independent Schools apologized after its annual People of Color Conference featured speeches criticized as antisemitic. Jewish groups, including ADL, condemned remarks characterizing Israel as a “colonialist” project and the Gaza war as “genocide,” leading to concerns that Jewish students felt unsafe. Some attendees reportedly hid their Star of David Judaica in response. NAIS President Debra Wilson pledged to vet future speakers, stating such incidents are “antithetical to our mission.”

DEEPER: While an apology is welcome, we remain hopeful that NAIS will take further action to educate its member schools on this type of rhetoric. Join our demand here.

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Yale. Anti-Israel activists at Yale University staged a protest inside Sterling Library, obstructing study spaces during finals week. Students displayed posters and signs reading “Divest,” “Resist,” and “Free Palestine,” while wearing keffiyehs. Critics, including Eyal Yakoby, condemned the action, calling it part of a “student intifada” and urging federal funding revocation. Yale, which adopted a policy of institutional neutrality in October, stated that the protesters complied with requests to remove posters and resumed studying quietly. The demonstration follows a student vote passage of anti-Israel resolutions at Yale urging divestment and increased support for Palestinian students and scholars.

(Source: @EyalYakoby | X)

Leaders Take Action. Hundreds of mayors and local officials gathered at summits in Beverly Hills and Vienna to tackle rising antisemitism, underscoring the vital role municipal leaders play in combating hate. The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) and European Leadership Network (ELNET) convened leaders to share strategies and introduce tools like the Municipal Antisemitism Action Index, which measures cities' effectiveness in protecting Jewish residents. "Mayors are the most accessible and visible leaders in people’s lives, when acts of hate occur in your city, it threatens and undermines stability, and they must be addressed with decisive action,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, highlighting the urgency to act decisively.

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The Art of Conversation. In the midst of tension on college campuses, we must not forget the importance of conversation and genuine dialogue. It is not easy nor clean, but conversation, over protesting or resorting to physical harm at times, can go much farther than we think. Columbia University has been holding weekly “listening tables” since November, hosted by the Trust Collaboratory, a university research center. Through this initiative hundreds of students have found community during these isolating times. Director of the alliance, Doug Sprei, noted, “the evidence that these programs work is mainly anecdotal, but a research project is finding that participants become more open to people they disagree with” and that “there’s so much demand for it we can hardly keep up.” Hopefully more universities will follow suit in this journey to foster open dialogue on campus.

Italian Allies Stand Up. On Italian campuses, Andrea Nizoli and Pietro Balzano are boldly pushing back against antisemitism and anti-Israel extremism. The two students have faced intimidation and extremism, with pro-Palestinian activists blocking universities, causing costly damages, and spreading fear. Undeterred, Nizoli and Balzano are championing partnerships with Israeli universities and promoting academic cooperation. In January, they will visit Israel, including Reichman University and Jerusalem, to “bring back the truth” to their peers. Balzano noted that many pro-Israel students remain silent out of fear, but added: “We are trying to protect our universities and fellow students from this violence.”

• 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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