Latest News from Campus

The U.S. government is seeking a $1 billion settlement from the University of California (UC), alleging the system failed to prevent antisemitic incidents during anti-Israel protests at UCLA  in the 2023-2024 academic year. The figure is five times the sum Columbia University agreed to pay to settle similar claims of antisemitism — and could be the largest settlement yet between the government and a higher education institution. UC officials say the payment would “completely devastate” California’s public universities.

Adelphi University, a private university in New York, placed its campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on a one-year disciplinary probation after an investigation found that the group’s social media posts created a hostile environment for Jewish students. During probation, the chapter must meet with university officials to discuss appropriate social media use and adhere to university policy.

A letter to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce accuses the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE) union of promoting antisemitism at MIT, Stanford, and Cornell. The letter alleges the union created a hostile environment for Jewish graduate students by forcing them to pay dues that fund the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Additionally, it claims the union denied religious accommodations to students who requested not to pay these dues.

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.

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.

Harvard University announced that it will provide funding to cover the costs of security at Harvard Hillel ahead of the new school year. “By taking on responsibility for security at Hillel, Harvard University is making a powerful statement: Harvard is committed to the safety of Jewish students,” said Rabbi Jason Rubenstein, executive director of Harvard Hillel.