Latest News from Campus

The U.S. government announced that it would pause $2.2 billion in federal research grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University. The funding freeze follows Harvard President Alan Garber’s announcement that the university was refusing to comply with a set of government demands that he said in a statement “infringe on academic independence or constitutional rights.” In recent weeks, the administration has also paused funding at the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Princeton, Cornell, and Northwestern citing concerns about antisemitism on campus.

Arizona State University (ASU) hosted the ADL Desert 2025 Conference on Antisemitism and Hate, attended by over 450 people, including ASU students and faculty. During the conference, student leaders and ASU Hillel Executive Director Debbie Yunker Kail shared their personal experiences with antisemitism on campus. “Hearing directly from students about how it’s impacting them is really critical for people’s understanding,” said Yunker Kail.

The U.S. government froze over $1 billion in federal funding to Cornell and nearly $790 million to Northwestern as part of ongoing antisemitism and civil rights investigations. The freeze halted dozens of research projects, with Cornell citing impacts on national defense and health, while Northwestern emphasized the funding supports critical medical breakthroughs.

The White House announced plans to freeze over $500 million of Brown University’s federal funding, citing concerns over the university’s handling of campus antisemitism and its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. University officials say they have not yet received an official notice regarding the funding freeze.

The University of Texas Hillel hosted its 25th annual Israel Block Party, the largest of its kind on a North American campus with more than 600 students in attendance, celebrating Israeli culture and innovation. Around 50 anti-Israel demonstrators from the Palestine Solidarity Committee protested the event, chanting anti-Israel slogans.

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) announced the intent to create an antisemitism advisory committee with the goal of improving the campus climate. This initiative follows the 2024 filing of a federal civil rights complaint by former student body president Tessa Veksler, who experienced antisemitism during her tenure. The university aims to strengthen safety and inclusion for Jewish and Israeli students after accusations of failing to address antisemitic harassment.