Latest News from Campus

San Francisco police arrested a suspect in connection with the December 5th arson attack that caused “significant damage” to the San Francisco Hillel building. While no injuries were reported, the fire caused the closure of the facility and the cancellation of events. Hillel staff thanked the San Francisco State University administration for their ongoing support. This is a developing story.

Eight San Jose, California high schoolers were recently suspended after a photo of them creating a “human swastika” spread online. The social media post, which also included a quote from Hitler threatening the “annihilation of the Jewish race,” caused widespread concern in the community and led to a student walkout at the high school in support of Jewish students. The superintendent for the Campbell Union High School District described the incident as “hate violence,” saying, “We are committed to using this incident as an opportunity to deepen education around antisemitism.”

Two Jewish students at DePaul University continue to face threats of violence and doxxing, including “Wanted” posters printed with their names and faces, a year after being physically attacked by masked individuals on campus. While their attacker took a plea deal, the students are pursuing a civil lawsuit against the university for failing to keep them safe.

UC Berkeley and Pomona College have reached settlement agreements with Jewish groups and individuals who filed complaints about how the schools handled incidents of antisemitism stemming from anti-Israel protests in 2023 and 2024. As part of the deal, Berkeley is paying $60,000 to an Israeli professor who says she was not rehired due to her nationality, despite teaching a successful class. The university also issued a formal apology to the professor and said she has been invited back to teach the same class in the future. Separately, Pomona College agreed to hire a Title VI civil rights coordinator and create a task force on Jewish life and antisemitism on campus.

Harvard University recently appointed Elom Tettley-Tamaklo, an anti-Israel activist, as a graduate teaching fellow. Tettley-Tamaklo, an undergraduate student at the time, assaulted a Jewish student during an anti-Israel protest in 2023 and did not face disciplinary charges from the university. In related news, Columbia University promoted history professor Manan Ahmed from associate professor to full professor. In May 2024, Ahmed prevented Jewish students from entering a pro-Palestinian encampment.

85% of Jewish students reported experiencing or witnessing antisemitic activity on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus, according to a survey by Penn Hillel. The survey also showed that while 96% of respondents reported pride in their Jewish identity, more than one in three Jewish students felt the need to hide their identity on campus.