Florida State University suspended a graduate student and banned her from campus after a video circulated on X of her yelling at and shoving a Jewish student for wearing an IDF t-shirt to the gym. The Florida State University Police Department conducted interviews of the students involved and is assessing whether or not to charge the graduate student with criminal charges for violating the FSU code of conduct.
The International Red Cross and the World Health Organization released a joint statement calling for the immediate release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. This statement came after Hamas propaganda videos showed current, deteriorating conditions of hostages Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David. The Red Cross has not been allowed any access to the hostages during 22 months of war, and has previously faced heavy criticism over its failure to reach them.
The FBI released its 2024 hate crime statistics revealing that Jewish people were targeted in 70% of all religious-based hate crimes — a significant increase from 62% in 2023. Hate crimes against Jews constituted 16% of all reported hate crime offenses, including incidents of assault, vandalism, and harassment. On average, there were more than five anti-Jewish hate crimes per day in 2024.
The Israeli security cabinet announced plans to take control of Gaza City, with the stated goal of fully removing Hamas from power. The plan includes a provision for providing humanitarian aid to civilians outside of combat zones, and gives Gaza City residents until October 7, 2025 to evacuate before the military operation begins.
Harvard University announced a new presidential interfaith initiative that will be led by longtime campus and Harvard Hillel rabbi Getzel Davis. The program was crafted through recommendations from two task forces on bias against Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian people. Harvard’s official announcement stated that this initiative will aim to “foster respect for diverse identities.”
A Jewish graduate student filed a federal Title VI complaint against Stanford, alleging the university failed to address persistent antisemitic harassment and hostility within her PhD program. The complaint claims Stanford allowed exclusionary academic environments that led her to leave the program. It urges federal intervention to ensure better protections for Jewish students.
Rutgers senior Abigail Cohen is leading efforts to expand broadband access for underserved communities. As a computer science and environmental studies major, she combines her technical skills with a strong connection to her Jewish identity, supported by Rutgers Hillel.
Anti-Israel activists set up tents on the Brooklyn College quad during a campus protest, disrupting final exams and leading to clashes with the police. The violent demonstration resulted in 14 arrests. In response, several New York lawmakers urged administrators to strengthen safety measures for Jewish students.
In a hearing about antisemitism on campus held by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, lawmakers questioned the presidents of DePaul University, Cal Polytechnic Institute, and Haverford College about the treatment of Jewish students on their campuses. A number of committee members criticized Haverford College President Wendy Raymond for not disclosing disciplinary information taken against students or faculty accused of antisemitism, a policy that she defended.
Anti-Israel protesters at the University of Washington caused more than $1 million in damage to the school’s engineering building during a demonstration where protestors demanded that the university sever ties with defense contractor, Boeing. In response, the U.S. Department of Education has initiated a federal review of the incident, citing concerns about campus safety and antisemitism.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs signed legislation making it a state crime to establish protest encampments on public college and university campuses. The bill, introduced by State Representative Alma Hernandez and passed with bipartisan support, was written in response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona, where Jewish students reported feeling harassed during the protests. Under the new law, campus administrators can order individuals to vacate encampments, with noncompliance potentially leading to trespassing charges.
Over 100 pro-Palestine protesters disrupted Columbia University’s main library, Butler Library, during reading week, chanting slogans and banging on drums in an anti-Israel demonstration organized by the university’s pro-Palestine group, Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which is currently suspended. Police arrested more than 75 protesters after Acting President Claire Shipman authorized their removal. Brian Cohen, the executive director of Columbia Barnard Hillel, said the demonstrators “infringed on the rights of Jewish students to study for exams without being screamed at and harassed,” and called on the university to act swiftly to hold those responsible accountable.