Latest News from Campus

Barnard College expelled multiple students who participated in an anti-Israel protest in January that disrupted a History of Modern Israel class at Columbia University. Brian Cohen, executive director of Columbia/Barnard Hillel, applauded Barnard for “taking decisive action.” The incident led the college to reaffirm its commitment to maintaining academic order and student safety.

More than 100 people attended a speech at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) given by an Israeli survivor of the October 7 Hamas attack, who shared first hand testimony of the massacre. Hosted by San Luis Obispo Hillel (Hillel SLO) and Mustangs for Israel, the event aimed to raise awareness and counter misinformation about Israel and the October 7 attacks. Hillel SLO and Mustangs for Israel also created a powerful display featuring a teddy bear surrounded by red paint to symbolize the children killed in the attack, along with posters telling the stories of the victims.

In response to concerns about the safety of Jewish students on campus, nearly 200 faculty members at Columbia University signed an open letter urging the administration to take stronger protective measures. The letter emphasizes the need for heightened security, especially following reports of Jewish students experiencing increased harassment and intimidation.

In response to the rise in antisemitic incidents on campuses since October 7, 2023, Hillel International is expanding its Campus Climate Initiative (CCI) to better educate college and university administrators on addressing campus antisemitism. The program includes over 100 colleges and universities and provides training opportunities for administrators to improve campus environments for Jewish students and all students.

UCLA suspended its Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine (GSJP) chapters in response to reports that members targeted and harassed University of California Regent Jonathan Sures. The harassment included surrounding a family member’s car, chanting threatening messages, and vandalizing the property. UCLA’s administration has initiated an investigation, with further disciplinary actions pending.

San Diego Hillel is ramping up efforts to proactively combat antisemitism at the University of California San Diego. These efforts include sponsoring the school’s annual Israel Week celebration, launching a petition to add more Jewish studies courses, and supporting Jewish students in campus leadership roles. Hillel is also collaborating with community advocacy groups to address specific antisemitic incidents.