Columbia. The interim president of Columbia University, Katrina A. Armstrong, is stepping down a week after the university took a number of steps to change school policies and programs to secure the restoration of $400 million in federal funding frozen by the Trump Administration. She assumed the role when the university’s previous president resigned last year after a tumultuous spring semester filled with anti-Israel protests. It was announced that the Co-Chair of Columbia’s Board of Trustees, Claire Shipman, would assume the role of interim president.

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UCLA. The SJP chapter at the University of California, Los Angeles has been indefinitely banned as a campus organization, and the Graduate SJP chapter has been suspended for four years. These steps come in response to a divestment protest outside the home of University of California Regent Jay Sures, in which his property was vandalized with red, blood-like handprints, and protesters also surrounded Sures’ wife in her car. A university statement said that previous actions by the groups were also taken into account. The school commented that “We will continue to uphold our policies to ensure UCLA remains a safe and respectful learning environment for all members of our Bruin community.”

Anti-Israel protesters at UCLA. (Source: Leydi Cris Cobo Cordon/Daily Bruin)

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Harvard. Harvard University is replacing the top two leaders of the school’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES), though both will remain in their faculty positions. One potential factor in this action was a 2024 report from the Harvard Jewish Alumni Alliance, which accused the CMES of tarring Israel as the “last remaining colonial settler power embodying the world’s worst evils: racism, apartheid, and genocide.” Harvard also recently announced the suspension of a research partnership with a Palestinian university in the West Bank.

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Yale. Yale University’s Law School terminated the role of associate research scholar Helyeh Doutaghi after she refused to cooperate with an investigation into her alleged ties to Samidoun, a group sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for fundraising on behalf of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terrorist organization. Doutaghi, who had been placed on administrative leave in early March, denied the allegations, calling them AI-generated fabrications. Yale stated that despite multiple attempts to obtain clarification, she refused to answer critical questions, leading to her dismissal.

DEEPER: ADL research highlighting the PFLP’s involvement in the anti-Israel movement on campuses in the U.S.

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Senate Investigation. The U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has opened an investigation into American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) over alleged links to Hamas and its influence on campus protests through groups like Students for Justice in Palestine. Sen. Bill Cassidy announced the probe during a hearing on antisemitism, citing concerns over AMP’s past associations with groups tied to Hamas and its role in organizing anti-Israel campus activity. The committee has requested records from AMP and affiliated entities. ADL has documented connections between AMP and former Hamas-linked organizations such as the Holy Land Foundation and IAP.

DEEPER: For a comprehensive analysis of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), including its organizational history, activities and affiliations, see this ADL backgrounder on AMP.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands. Over fifty alumni of Amsterdam University have returned their diplomas in protest over the university’s decision to sever ties with the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Critics of the move, including dozens of alumni, argue the decision was made under pressure from anti-Israel activists and pro-Palestinian demonstrators who caused an estimated €4 million in damage during protests at the Dutch university last year.

Not Afraid of Debate and Dissent. At Cornell University recently, wrote new Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff, "we chose to risk stirring the waters by organizing a panel discussion that brought together Israeli and Palestinian voices with an in-person audience open to all." Kotlikoff, who was recently elevated from Interim President, wrote in an essay that as expected, a certain number of people tried to disrupt the event with protests, but that once they were warned and then removed, a real conversation was had. Kotlikoff noted that "If Cornell were a business, we might have called the event a failure: The news coverage displayed only the disruption, and ignored the rest. Fortunately for our students, Cornell is not a business. We are a university. And universities, despite rapidly escalating political, legal and financial risks, cannot afford to cede the space of public discourse and the free exchange of ideas."

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Reclaiming the Narrative. A historic protest will take place at The London School of Oriental and African Studies on April 2, featuring a delegation of 35 Arab Israeli citizens — including Muslims, Christians and Druze. They will be standing alongside Jewish students to confront rising antisemitism and radicalization on UK campuses. Led by Arab Israeli IDF veteran Yoseph Haddad, the delegation includes survivors of Hamas’ 10/7 attack and aims to challenge false narratives about Israel. The protest seeks to reclaim academic spaces from extremism and ensure that Jewish students and Arab Israelis who support coexistence are not silenced.

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FaithFULL Final Four. Three of the four coaches in this year’s NCAA Men’s Final Four — Bruce Pearl (Auburn), Jon Scheyer (Duke) and Todd Golden (Florida) — are Jewish, marking a historic moment in March Madness. Pearl has used the national spotlight to raise awareness about the remaining Gaza hostages, including Edan Alexander, a 19-year-old American-Israeli soldier. After Auburn’s win over Creighton, Pearl used his postgame press conference to call for Edan’s release and invited his family to a game. Meanwhile, Houston guard Emanuel Sharp, whose father played for Maccabi Tel Aviv, rounds out the Final Four’s Israeli connection. Auburn plays Florida this weekend, ensuring there will be at least one Jewish coach in the championship game.

Honoring Courage. Israel’s Amit Soussana is being recognized among the impressive honorees for the 19th annual International Women of Courage Award given today by the U.S. State Department. Soussana was kidnapped on 10/7 and was held hostage for 55 days and assaulted by Hamas terrorists while in captivity. Her brave testimony to the UN was a powerful moment. In an online video, Soussana explained what drove her to speak up about her trauma and the plight of the remaining hostages: "I wanted to be the voice for those who could not speak."

(Source: U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem | X)

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Bar-Ilan Goes Big on Future Einsteins. Bar-Ilan University is making a billion-shekel bet (over 270 million dollars) on the future of science, launching a major initiative to recruit top research students in engineering, life sciences and mathematical sciences. Kicking off with an Open Day on April 2 at the Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, the program offers young scientists direct access to 120 leading researchers, cutting-edge labs and funding opportunities. With career counseling, industry partnerships and international collaborations in the mix, Bar-Ilan is turning its campus into a launchpad for the next generation of scientific innovators.

• Campus Community Advocacy Resources — From social media shares to letter writing campaigns, ADL has clear steps for you to take action and effect change on college campuses.
• K-12 Advocacy Resources — Tools and knowledge to foster and advocate for a safe, inclusive and equitable school environment for all.
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• Campus Antisemitism Report Card — See the grades of 135 universities, the current state of antisemitism on campus and how colleges and universities are responding.
• Chai-er Ed Podcast — ADL’s campus podcast, brings you firsthand stories from Jewish students navigating today’s college campuses.
• General Campus Resources — ADL Backgrounders, Educational Programming, Research and Analysis and more.
• Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) — College or university students, professors, or employees who want to report campus incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation, harassment, vandalism or violence that may necessitate legal action can report to CALL for legal support.
• K-12 Antisemitism Legal Line — Parents and other interested adults in California, Massachusetts and New York can report incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation, harassment, vandalism or violence occurring in K-12 schools to the K-12 Antisemitism Legal Line.
• Report an Antisemitic Incident.

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