Latest News from Campus

In a recent opinion piece, a Harvard student published advice in the student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, suggesting it is acceptable to end friendships with peers solely because they identify as “Zionists.” In response, The Crimson received dozens of letters to the editors rebutting the idea that it is okay to shun other students because of their faith, religious beliefs, or connection to the Jewish state. One of the responses was written by the Executive Committee of the Harvard Chaplains, who said that they are “profoundly troubled by any normalization of shunning or socially ostracizing individuals or groups based on their religious identity.”

Brown University convened over a thousand alumni, students, faculty, and staff for a weekend event to honor the institution’s long history of Jewish student life. The gathering featured social events, panel discussions, an exhibit tracing significant Jewish milestones on campus, and reflections on how the Jewish community at Brown has evolved. The event was organized by Brown alum Abby Doft, a member of the Hillel International Board of Directors.

The University of Maryland’s student government cast a symbolic vote to bar former Israel Defense Forces soldiers from speaking on campus, claiming their presence undermines the university’s values of safety and inclusion. Ari Israel, executive director of Maryland Hillel, responded that, “We proudly support bringing IDF soldiers to campus and connecting students with Israel, our ancestral Jewish homeland,” adding that the resolution “fosters hate and division rather than the open exchange of ideas that should define our university.” A university of Maryland official said that the symbolic vote will have “no bearing on university policy or practice.”

The University of Wyoming is investigating incidents on campus where pumpkins and a “free speech ball” carved with antisemitic and violent messages, including phrases like “Kill Jews” and Nazi symbols, were placed on campus. University officials removed the display and are reviewing the incidents as potential discrimination or harassment.

Cornell University agreed to a $60 million settlement with the White House in order to restore access to more than $250 million in frozen federal funding. As part of the agreement, Cornell will pay $20 million per year for the next three years, and conduct a campus climate survey to ensure Jewish students’ safety, among other remedies.

The University of Maryland student government voted 25-0 to pass two non-binding resolutions, including one that seeks to prohibit members of the Israel Defense Forces from speaking on campus. The resolution came after an event on campus that featured former IDF soldiers. Student government resolutions do not impact campus policy unless approved by the university.