Cornell Grad Student Union Passes BDS Referendum
Canadian Hillels Boost Mental Health Services for Jewish College Students
Northwestern Will Pay $75 Million to Federal Government to End Antisemitism Investigation
Northwestern University agreed to pay the federal government $75 million over three years to restore nearly $790 million in frozen federal research funds and end a government antisemitism investigation. The university also agreed to strengthen protections for Jewish students, review international admissions, and provide training on campus norms.
UCL Reopens Investigation Into Student Who Allegedly Justified October 7th Attacks
Columbia University Rejects Three Anti-Israel Divestment Proposals
Israeli Basketball Star Yarden Garzon Finds a Home at Maryland Hillel
Federal Judge Upholds Northwestern’s Right to Enforce Antisemitism Training Requirement
A federal judge in Chicago allowed Northwestern University to block enrollment for students who declined to complete a required antisemitism training video. The training, produced by the Jewish United Fund of Chicago, did not require students to agree with its contents, but 16 students currently have a freeze on their enrollment for refusing to watch it. The decision came in response to a lawsuit claiming the training discriminated against Palestinian and Arab students, which the judge rejected, finding no evidence of discriminatory intent by the university.
Seven Out of Nine Universities Reject White House “Compact” Funding Proposal
The White House proposed a deal known as the “Compact” to 10 top U.S. universities, offering preferential federal funding in exchange for policy changes — such as capping international student enrollment and banning consideration of race or gender in admissions. The plan has been rejected by eight of the 10 institutions offered this deal, including Brown University, MIT, and Dartmouth, all of whom cited concerns about academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and merit-based research funding.
Masked Anti-Zionist Protestors Disrupt October 7th Memorial at Pomona College
Masked protesters disrupted an October 7th memorial event at Pomona College, entering a closed lecture hall room through an emergency exit and shouting “Zionists not welcome.”. Pomona College President Gabrielle Starr and Vice President Avis Hinkson said the college is investigating the incident. Claremont Hillel added that it is working with the Pomona administration to prevent such incidents and ensure that Hillel events remain “a safe and welcoming space for Jewish life on campus.”
Israel Responds to Hamas Attack that Kills Two Soldiers, Wounds Three
Two Israeli soldiers — Major Yaniv Kula, 26, and Staff Sergeant Itay Yavetz, 21 — were killed and three others wounded in an attack by a Hamas cell that emerged from a tunnel in the eastern Rafah area of the Gaza Strip, threatening the current ceasefire agreement. In retaliation, the IDF launched a wave of strikes across southern and central Gaza targeting a major tunnel network used by Hamas.
Bodies of Five Deceased Hostages Returned to Israel
In accordance with phase one of the ongoing hostage release and ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the bodies of five additional deceased hostages: Eitan Levy, Tamir Nimrodi, Uriel Baruch, Muhammad Al-Atresh, and Inbar Hayman, the last female hostage being held. In response to the delays in deceased hostage releases, Israel has postponed the reopening of the Rafah Crossing.
Campus Hillels Create Space for Grief, Celebration, and Community This Sukkot
Hillels around the world celebrated Sukkot, which overlapped with the two-year anniversary of October 7th, by turning the festival into an opportunity for celebration and reflections. Many campuses offered dual programming, ensuring students had festive Sukkot events like “Sushi in the Sukkah” as well as October 7th remembrance programs. This allowed students to enjoy the holiday while also giving them a space to reflect and grieve.