Latest News from Campus

The National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers union in the U.S., sent an email to all three million members that labeled the state of Israel as “Palestine.” The map was included with links that reportedly justified or defended the October 7th attacks. Following backlash to the email, the NEA removed some of the content from its website, admitting it did not meet their standards, but did not remove the map.

Over 1,000 anti-Israel activists in the UK protested the Israel-Hamas war on October 7th on more than a dozen UK campuses. Jewish students on those campuses reported widespread harassment, including being shouted at, which left many fearful of attending classes. The protests featured rhetoric used by Hamas, including the “beloved resistance” and “glorious Al-Aqsa flood.” In response, British Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson urged university leaders to protect Jewish students.

Northwestern University blocked nearly 300 students from registering for fall classes after they refused to complete a mandatory antisemitism training module. The students criticized the training, labeling it as “offensive,” “unscholarly,” and containing “inaccurate historical information” that allegedly favored Israel. The university emphasized that while students are not required to agree with the content of the modules, which also includes a session focused on anti-Arab hate, they must “attest that they will abide by the Student Code of Conduct.”

The U.S. government launched a federal investigation into allegations of antisemitism across all 22 campuses of the California State University (CSU) System. CSU released a statement confirming the investigation and pledging its full cooperation with the federal government. The university system also condemned antisemitism, emphasizing its commitment to “fostering an inclusive, respectful, and supportive” environment for all students and faculty.

A swastika was found outside of a Jewish student’s dorm room at Dartmouth College — marking the second such incident at the school in less than two weeks. In this case, the symbol was printed on a laminated sign hanging outside the student’s room. Dartmouth College President Sian Leah Beilock condemned the act, saying the college is fully supporting a local police investigation. “These acts of harassment and intimidation are in direct opposition to our policies and values,” she said.

The Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at the University of Maryland will put up a student government resolution calling for the university to boycott Israel, moving the vote from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, when many Jewish students will be unable to attend. The resolution urges the university to cut all ties with groups that support Israel, including academic partnerships and the boycott of goods and services. A university spokeswoman stressed that the vote will have no bearing on official university policy or practice.