Harvard. Harvard University has become the first Ivy League school to formally reject the Trump administration’s sweeping demands tied to $9 billion in federal funding, including calls to end diversity programs, de-recognize pro-Palestinian student groups and submit to a “viewpoint diversity” audit. President Alan Garber declared, “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.” In response, the administration froze $2.2 billion in grants and threatened to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status. While Harvard’s faculty and alumni expressed support for resisting overreach, many urged the university to implement stronger reforms to combat antisemitism.

~~~~~

Northwestern. Several university buildings at Northwestern University were defaced with anti-Israel graffiti earlier this week, including phrases like “Death to Israel” and “Intifada now,” prompting swift condemnation from university leadership. President Michael Schill, who noted the incident occurred just after his own family’s Seder, condemned the vandalism, and warned that those responsible could face school discipline as well as criminal charges. ADL commended his response, stating “We appreciate the university's quick response - and are disappointed by those who can't seem to find their voice when Jews on campus are continuously targeted.”

(Source: Chicago Jewish Alliance)

👉 TAKE ACTION: The Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides federal funding to help synagogues and community organizations protect themselves against extremist threats, is currently frozen. So some centers of Jewish campus life must divert their limited budgets away from Shabbat dinners and cultural events to pay for basic safety measures. Click here to join ADL in urging the White House to protect funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

~~~~~

Michigan State. Protesters at Michigan State University attempted to occupy part of a campus building as they pressed the school’s Board of Trustees to concede on a number of issues including anti-Israel divestment as well as the revoked visas of students and other concerns about the Trump administration. During a prearranged meeting with the Trustees, the protesters were unable to sway the Board members, and then restarted their rally with chants like “Not another nickel, not another dime, no more money for Israel’s crimes.” As afternoon turned to evening, the police issued three warnings before arresting the remaining 19 protesters (mostly students), and issuing trespassing citations.

DEEPER: A report by ADL affiliate JLens estimates that universities could lose billions in future returns on their endowments if they capitulate to BDS initiatives.

(MSU Police warn protesters against trespassing. Source: Finn Gomez | The State News)

~~~~~

Amsterdam. An anti-Israel protest at the University of Amsterdam’s (UvA) Maagdenhuis administrative building led to what school officials described as “enormous” property damage and multiple arrests. On Monday, around 100 members of the Amsterdam Student Encampment occupied the building, demanding UvA cut ties with Israeli institutions. Riot police cleared the protesters after a few hours, arresting 10–15 individuals. Demonstrators reportedly robbed part of the canteen, graffitied walls and disabled cameras. One officer suffered minor injuries after being struck with a corrosive substance. The protest was triggered by UvA’s consideration to restore ties with Hebrew University in Jerusalem, previously suspended over human rights concerns.

~~~~~

Columbia. Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student and green card holder at Columbia University, was detained by federal immigration officers this week after reportedly helping organize anti-Israel campus protests. Mahdawi, who helped lead Columbia University Apartheid Divest, was detained under a provision of immigration law used for individuals seen as national security threats.

ADL tackles AS at ASU. ADL and Arizona State University co-hosted the “Rising Above Together" conference in Tempe, drawing over 450 attendees and 50 speakers to confront campus antisemitism and hate. Despite the protest outside the hotel, the conference carried on to great success, focusing on student safety, mental health and communal resilience. The university was praised for being “ahead of the pack” in combating anti-Jewish hate, according to ADL Desert Region. “This is a recognition of their meaningful efforts to ensure Jewish students feel safe, they feel supported and they feel seen,” said Jolie Brislin, ADL Desert Regional Director. The event brought together students, faculty, community leaders and elected officials — including Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton — who thanked ASU for leading the charge on combating anti-Jewish hate on campus.

~~~~~

Greenwich Standard Time. A group of British academics has launched a groundbreaking initiative that would be the first in the UK to certify universities with a ‘gold standard’ accreditation if they commit to taking concrete actions against antisemitism. The goal is to both incentivize schools to act against hate, and to give students and families a resource to help guide university applications. As the project’s chair Anthony Julius explained, the new group “will be a critical friend to university leaders giving them the tools, knowledge and support to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against antisemitism on campus.”

DEEPER: This UK effort has similar goals to the ADL Campus Antisemitism Report Card, which grades 135 US universities and colleges on their efforts to respond to antisemitism and support Jewish students.

A Voice of Resilience Among Time's 100 Most Influential. Noa Argamani, the young woman whose tragic kidnapping from the Nova music festival on October 7th became one of the most haunting images of the Hamas attacks — has been named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2025. Her selection honors not only her unimaginable ordeal and rescue, but also her continued advocacy for the remaining hostages. “She is living proof to the world that, despite everything, 'we will dance again," wrote Douglas Emhoff, former Second Gentleman of the United States in Time’s profile of Argamani.

DEEPER. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt was also honored in the Time 100 this year in recognition of ADL’s work in protecting the Jewish people.

~~~~~

A Century of Innovation. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ) is celebrating its 100th anniversary this April, marking a century of groundbreaking research, academic excellence, and nation-building. Founded in 1925 on Mount Scopus, HUJ was envisioned by luminaries like Einstein and Weizmann as a hub of Jewish intellectual life. Today, it ranks among the world’s top 100 universities and is home to 23,500 students from 65 countries. Eight Nobel laureates and a Fields Medalist have emerged from its halls. HUJ leaders say the next century will be defined by inclusion. “We believe that diversity is not a substitute for excellence but a driving force that enhances it,” said VP Prof. Mona Khoury-Kassabri. “True innovation emerges when different voices are heard and valued.”

• 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.
• University Faculty and Staff — Support for impacted faculty and staff, guidance on how to discuss what constitutes antisemitism and anti-Zionism and how to provide help to students and colleagues.
• University Administration — Guidance & Best Practices for making campuses safer and more inclusive.
• 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.

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