CUNY. Just one month after passing a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions resolution, the City University of New York (CUNY) system’s union, the Professional Staff Congress, has rescinded its resolution supporting BDS. Following robust backlash, legal action and resignations from Jewish and other union members, the union took the right step by reversing the resolution by a 113-62 vote. Critics, including Gov. Kathy Hochul and CUNY leadership, strongly opposed the initial resolution, with a CUNY spokesperson saying “Our university has consistently denounced BDS activity and we condemn the resolution passed by Professional Staff Congress delegates calling on the union to divest.”

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Barnard. Barnard College has expelled two students for disrupting a History of Modern Israel class at Columbia University last month, marking the first known Columbia-affiliate expulsions related to anti-Israel protests on campus. These students, along with a suspended Columbia student, were among the masked protesters who stormed the classroom, banging drums and distributing flyers with violent imagery, including one reading “CRUSH ZIONISM” with a boot over a Star of David. Barnard President Laura Rosenbury emphasized that the decision reflects the college’s commitment to maintaining the school “as a place where learning thrives, individuals feel safe, and higher education is celebrated.” ADL praised the step by Barnard in holding students accountable for violating the code of conduct.

Anti-Israel protesters at Columbia in December 2024. (Source: Audrea Chen / Columbia Daily Spectator)

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Teen Stress. A new study published by Jewish Federation’s BeWell and Stanford University revealed that 10/7 and the ensuing surge in antisemitism is having a devastating effect on Jewish teens in America. Surveying nearly 2,500 Jewish teens, the report found that concerns about the war ranked second only to academic pressure, surpassing worries about grades, college admissions and body image. Close to half of the students reported anxiety related to antisemitism and the conflict. ADL’s comments on the report note that some of these Jewish teens are even considering changing their last names to hide their identity. The study’s results also find that high school seniors are reconsidering university and college choices due to rising campus antisemitism.

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Portland State. Last spring at Portland State University, protesters spent days demonstrating — they occupied a library, set up an encampment, vandalized buildings and inflicted an estimated $1.23 million in damage. The police moved in and cleared out the protests, making dozens of arrests. Now in 2025, charges against at least six defendants have been tossed out after video footage came to light that had not initially been provided to defense attorneys during the discovery process of the cases after District Attorney Nathan Vasquez described the situation as an “appalling” miscommunication. The DA says his office will not refile charges against the demonstrators.

Portland State protests in 2024. (Source: KGW8 TV)

🎟 Interested in Addressing Antisemitism on Campus?
Join ADL and other leading voices on March 3-4 in NYC at Never Is Now, the World's Largest Summit on Antisemitism and Hate. Engage in panels and workshops designed to equip you with tools to advocate against antisemitism on college campuses.

Many Vigils, One Unbreakable Spirit. Jewish students at Georgetown and Harvard held vigils to mourn the Israeli hostages whose remains were returned by Hamas last week. At Georgetown, students and university administrators gathered in Red Square to grieve the loss of hostages, including young brothers Ariel and Kfir Bibas. “In the happiest embraces, there are pangs of sorrow, and today the sunlight is saturated in sadness,” said Talia Zamir, co-president of Georgetown’s Jewish Student Association. Meanwhile, at Harvard, around 100 students attended a vigil. Candles and yellow roses were placed in honor of the hostages as attendees sang Israel’s national anthem. Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi urged unity in demanding the release of all remaining hostages, saying, “Our hearts are shattered once again.” Other vigils popped up across the country, including at UCLA and UC Berkeley.

Vigil attendees outside Harvard’s Science Center (Source: Grace E. Yoon)

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You Don’t Speak for Me. In response to an open letter by several Jewish students opposing a Trump Administration executive order aimed at combating antisemitism on campus, over one hundred Israeli and Jewish Columbia students and alumni signed their own letter countering the claims made in that earlier letter. The signers pointed out that Jewish and Israeli students have faced harassment, threats and discrimination. They emphasized that the protests on campus have gone beyond criticism of Israeli policies and include open support for terrorism, justification of violence and calls for the destruction of Israel and its people.

Helping Lego of the Pain. Israel’s Maor Cohen, known as “The Lego Man,” has spent 14 years bringing joy to children with cancer by gifting them Lego sets. Cohen said, “Some of them jump from the bed when they see me, and the doctors are shocked, because a minute ago, they didn’t know what to do with the children.” Post-10/7, he has expanded his mission to injured Israeli soldiers, helping them cope with physical and psychological trauma. What began with one soldier’s request has grown into a movement, with over 500 soldiers using Lego to aid their recovery and manage PTSD. Cohen’s work has provided comfort to both children and soldiers, offering a sense of hope and healing through the simple act of building.

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A Phitting Tribute. At the Israeli Phage Therapy Center of the Hebrew University and Hadassah-University Medical Center, researchers who discovered a new phage that has the potential to save lives (a phage is a virus that can target and destroy bacteria) have named it after someone who protected lives in Gaza — fallen soldier Raz Abulafia. Since 10/7, the lab has named many phages after soldiers and civilians who were killed. As researcher Sigal Vorzhev explained, "Naming this phage after Raz is my way of honoring his memory … if KpRaz1 can one day help save lives, it will be a tribute worthy of him.”

• 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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