Jewish organizations, including the ADL, Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, Hillel International, and Jewish Federations of North America, called on universities to “consistently enforce” codes of conduct around protests; appoint a coordinator to address Title VI discrimination complaints; reject academic boycotts of Israel; conduct annual student and faculty surveys in regard to campus antisemitism; crackdown on online harassment; and hold faculty accountable for political coercion and identity-based discrimination.

A 20-year-old Ohio resident, Timur Mamatov, pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime after attacking two Jewish students near Ohio State University in 2023. He asked if the victims were Jewish before assaulting them, breaking one student’s jaw and another’s nose. Mamatov now faces up to 10 years in prison.

Nearly 500,000 Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square to rally for the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza. The rally was held alongside  nationwide strikes and protests. Demonstrators blocked roads and businesses across the country to amplify their demands.

The Toronto International Film Festival reversed its decision and will screen a documentary about a rescue mission during the October 7th attacks. Festival organizers had initially pulled the film, saying that they had not received clearance from Hamas to screen footage used in the documentary, but reinstated it following public backlash.

A federal judge ordered the U.S. government to restore part of UCLA’s funding that it suspended, ruling that the funding freeze violated a preliminary injunction aimed at protecting research grants. The government previously cut approximately $584 million in funding due to anti-Israel campus protests and encampments in the spring of 2024.

Sofie Ramirez Soto joined Washington & Lee University as the Jewish life program director after serving as engagement coordinator at NYU Hillel for two years. In her new role, she will enrich Jewish life on campus and contribute to broader spiritual initiatives by overseeing the Hillel House, creating interfaith programming with campus ministers and student leaders, and strengthening connections with Jewish alumni and the Lexington community.