Latest News from Campus

Northwestern University, NU Graduate Workers for Palestine, and two graduate students jointly filed to dismiss a class-action lawsuit that alleged the university’s mandatory antisemitism training was discriminatory. The lawsuit, which was initially filed in October, was “dismissed without prejudice, leaving the door open to potentially refile the case” at a future point.

Spain’s Movement Against Intolerance (MCI) recently filed a complaint with authorities over an “antisemitic hate map” in Catalonia. The map identified 152 schools, businesses, companies, and nonprofits allegedly tied to Jews or Israel, labeling all of them as “Zionist.” The map included addresses, phone numbers, and emails, and encouraged users to add new locations. The platform that hosted the map has reported it is no longer available. MCI called the project “a tool for targeting, stigmatization and incitement to discrimination.”

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is reportedly closing its Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies following years of controversy regarding alleged antisemitism and anti-Israel bias, including when a guest speaker called October 7, 2023 a “beautiful day” and argued for “the eradication of Zionism.” In an op-ed, Peter Reitzes, who writes about antisemitism in North Carolina, said the anticipated closure is a positive move that “hopefully reduces the hate, antisemitism, and anti-Israel demonization that has been normalized at the university for years.”

A University of Sydney staff member faces charges of stalking or intimidation after she  allegedly harassed Jewish students and staff at a Sukkot event in October, reportedly calling attendees “parasites” and “baby killer[s].”The incident was captured on video and led to the staffer’s suspension from the university.

A Jewish student at the University of Cincinnati (UC) filed a formal complaint with the provost’s office, alleging a guest speaker made repeated antisemitic remarks during a design class. According to the complaint, the lecturer made comments such as, “Has anyone ever heard that the Jews are evil?” and “I have Jewish friends, and some Jews are good, but historically they have caused conflict and tried to take over Palestine.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives reintroduced the Protecting Students on Campus Act, legislation meant to increase education about students’ rights to file Title VI civil rights complaints and improve transparency on how colleges handle allegations of discrimination, including antisemitism.