Latest News from Campus

George Washington University has suspended the school’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) until May 2026 for hosting unauthorized events and obstructing university officials from attending scheduled programming, among other violations of university rules. The group is prohibited from engaging in any campus activities during the suspension period. This action follows previous disciplinary measures, including a three-month suspension in 2023 for projecting anti-Israel messages on campus buildings.

In this op-ed, Jacob M. Miller, a Harvard senior and former president of Harvard Hillel, argues that the university’s emphasis on defining antisemitism within pro-Palestine and anti-Zionist activism overlooks broader moral issues within the anti-Israel movement. Miller contends that certain actions and rhetoric from pro-Palestine groups, while not always antisemitic by definition, warrant criticism for their insensitivity and potential to incite violence, writing: “Our excoriation of the anti-Israel movement should be based on protesters’ simplistic thinking, extremist rhetoric, support of violence, and denial of Jewish religious teaching and history.”

Penn Hillel was honored with the 2025 Sharon Greene Award for Campus Advocacy at the AJC Global Policy Forum in New York City. The award recognizes leadership in countering antisemitism on campus, and is awarded to students and campus organizations that lead the way in combating antisemitism and discrimination. Ben Messafi, student vice president of Penn Hillel, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

Jewish Insider reports that anti-Israel campus protests and encampments have significantly decreased in 2025 compared to 2024. This trend is attributed to stricter enforcement of university policies, disciplinary actions taken against policy violators, and external political pressures. University administrators have also taken decisive actions, such as revoking recognition of student groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) when they violate university codes of conduct.

Yale University revoked the official student group status of Yalies4Palestine after the group violated campus protest policies and triggered concerns about antisemitic behavior during a recent demonstration. The student club lost access to campus spaces and university funding, while Yale continues investigating reports of antisemitism connected to the protest.

As National College Decision Day approaches on May 1, Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman encourages Jewish high school students and their families to assess campus climates carefully and holistically. Despite increased antisemitism at some universities, Lehman notes that many universities, even those with publicized incidents, maintain vibrant Jewish communities supported by robust Hillel programs. He emphasizes the importance of evaluating the full scope of Jewish life offerings to ensure students find a campus environment where they can confidently express their Jewish identity.