Dartmouth. A swastika was discovered late at night outside a Jewish student’s dorm room at Dartmouth, prompting an immediate response from campus security and Hanover Police, who launched investigations. President Sian Leah Beilock condemned the act as “bigotry” and “hate,” while campus leaders organized gatherings to support affected students. Jewish groups, including Chabad and Hillel, denounced the act and praised the university’s swift response. Chabad Rabbi Moshe Leib Gray said the administration was treating the incident “with all the seriousness necessary,” adding, “there is simply no symbol more hateful in the world than the swastika.”

(Image Source: Courtesy of Ruby Benjamin to The Dartmouth | Instagram)

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Michigan State. In an episode of political theater about actual theater, the Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU) voted to call for cancelling a discussion of theater in Israel that featured Israeli actor Roy Horovitz. Because Horovitz had once served a mandatory stint in the IDF, the ASMSU statement claimed that hearing from him would somehow inspire an unsafe environment on campus. Jewish Student Union representative Vladimir Shpunt pointed out to the ASMSU that “today you are asked to condemn a Jewish voice before he even speaks. That is blatant antisemitism." ADL condemned the student government action, saying that the bill “not only singles out and silences an Israeli speaker, but also violates ASMSU’s Constitution, marginalizing Jewish students and staff.” Oh, and since the ASMSU has no real power over this type of event, it was much ado about nothing… the lecture came, it went, students who attended it may have learned something.

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UCONN. The University of Connecticut's Undergraduate Student Government voted to reject a proposed referendum supporting the BDS movement against Israel, with 15 senators voting against, 8 in favor and 4 abstaining. The decision follows growing BDS activism on campus but the decision to reject the referendum resulted after students argued it violated school rules on ideological neutrality and promoted a biased agenda. This marks another in a series of defeats for BDS efforts at U.S. colleges, including Dartmouth, Bowdoin, Boston University, Trinity College and others, which have rejected the movement on the grounds of financial responsibility, ideological divisiveness, and concerns about antisemitism.

DEEPER: A 2024 report by ADL-affiliate JLens warned that divestment could cost major universities billions in endowment returns over the next decade.

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McGill (Canada). A professor at McGill University in Montreal has been tossed off the school’s student discipline committee after his public call for “full economic and military support” for Hamas and Hezbollah. William Clare Roberts was removed by a unanimous vote by the committee over concerns that his “publicly expressed personal views may reasonably be perceived, by an objective third party, as compromising his ability to exercise impartial judgment.” Roberts angrily claimed that the move was “demanded by CIJA” (the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs) and called the committee’s action cowardly. McGill has been the site of disruptive anti-Israel demonstrations since 10/7.

“A Zionist Fire Department”. “Headlines make it seem like everyone is leaving. That’s not true. Most Jewish students abroad are managing, they often stay low profile. But if someone feels threatened, I want to be their fire department. I want to be a Zionist Fire Department.” Those are insightful words from Jonathan Davis, who started the international student program at Reichman University in Herzliya. Davis, who grew up in Ithaca, NY, came to Israel as a lone soldier decades ago after encountering hostility on a U.S. campus during his own college years. Now his burgeoning program is the largest international school in Israel and serves as a refuge for some students who want to avoid the campus environment in their countries.

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Sometimes It Takes Bravery. After the 10/7 Hamas attacks, Jewish students at Illinois universities, including DePaul and the University of Chicago, talked about the need to speak out as Jewish students on campus and how they initially felt supported but later experienced growing isolation. Teddie Waxler, a DePaul rugby player, described how she expressed solidarity with Israel and advocated for the release of the hostages, and then felt ostracized from the team as other players embraced Palestinian symbols. Jewish student leaders reported harassment, defaced memorials and classroom environments that felt unsafe for pro-Israel views. Despite this, many are still finding opportunities for open, respectful dialogue on campus as they call for conversation over polarization. .

Virginia. Police in Prince William County, Va., are investigating after a swastika and antisemitic graffiti were found etched into a boys’ bathroom stall at Gainesville High School. The vandalism was immediately removed, and Principal Neil Beech condemned the act in a message to families: “This behavior is completely unacceptable… We are proud of our diverse community and are committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.”

• Campus Community Advocacy Toolkit — From incident reporting and educational resources to letter-writing campaigns and Know Your Rights factsheets, ADL has clear steps for you to take action and effect change on college campuses.
• University Administration — Guidance and 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.
• General Campus Resources — ADL Backgrounders, Educational Programming, Research and Analysis and more.
• Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) (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 Advocacy Resources — Tools and knowledge to foster and advocate for a safe, inclusive and equitable school environment for all.
• K-12 Advocacy Resources for Independent Schools — Additional resources for members of independent K-12 school communities.
• 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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