Latest News from Campus

In a new op-ed, Hillel International Senior Vice President for Campus Solutions Jon Falk argues that, two years after the explosion of encampments on university campuses, antisemitism has persisted – often migrating online even as some campuses are less visibly chaotic. “What has emerged over the past two years is more diffuse, more ideologically embedded, and in some ways harder to confront than a tent city on the quad,” he writes. Falk calls for universities to embrace a comprehensive institutional response that goes beyond enforcing rules and improving security to protect Jewish students and help them flourish with joy, confidence, and belonging.

The University of Pennsylvania appealed a federal court order requiring it to provide the names and contact information of Jewish students and employees to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as part of an investigation into university antisemitism. The university argued the subpoena raises constitutional concerns, and asked the court to pause enforcement while the appeal proceeds. The order followed a March ruling that said the request could help identify potential witnesses to discrimination on campus.

A new study from Brandeis University found that 47% of Jewish college students reported experiencing antisemitism on campus. The survey also examined how students define antisemitism, including when criticism of Israel crosses into hostility toward Jews. Researchers said the findings reflect a broader rise in antisemitic incidents and continued challenges for Jewish students navigating campus life.

Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s decision to campaign with controversial public figure Hasan Piker has prompted criticism from Jewish leaders, who cite Piker’s past antisemitic statements about Israel, 9/11, and Jewish communities. Michigan State University Hillel expressed strong concern over Piker’s planned campus appearance, describing it as deeply troubling.

A federal judge directed the University of Pennsylvania to provide the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with names and contact information of Jewish students, faculty, and staff. The university opposed the subpoena, citing privacy and constitutional concerns. The order comes amid a federal investigation into antisemitism on campus.

In this opinion piece, Executive Director of Columbia Barnard Hillel Brian Cohen says that the key question for Jewish students is not whether antisemitism exists on campus, but how universities respond when it shows up. He highlights the strength of campus support systems and Jewish life infrastructure, including professional staff, student organizations, and community programming, as factors that shape students’ safety and ability to thrive. Cohen states that a school’s commitment to action and support for Jewish engagement is a critical part of the full picture of Jewish life.