Combatting Antisemitism on College Campuses Requires Cultural Change, Not Just New Policies*
As students return to campuses across the country this fall, colleges and universities face the pressing issue of how to deal with ongoing and alarming antisemitism. These are not isolated incidents but rather a broader problem straining the fabric of higher education institutions.
Over the past year, the Anti-Defamation League found a 477% increase in “anti-Israel incidents of assault, vandalism, harassment, protests/actions and divestment resolutions” much of which was “blatant acts of antisemitism.” By May of this year Hillel International “tracked nearly 1,600 incidents of campus antisemitism since October 7 alone” where more than 60% of Jewish students on campuses felt less safe.
The original sin for many campuses was their tepid (or lack of) response in the aftermath of the brutal terror attack on October 7th. That void was filled by vitriol and hate, fueling a campus pressure cooker until the issue exploded uncontrollably, like a five-alarm fire. The question as the new school year starts is: will the simmering embers break out again, or have campuses done enough to fully extinguish the flames?
Although it’s early in the new semester, we haven’t seen the same intensity as at the end of last semester, yet many campuses are still grappling with tensions. Recently, at my alma mater, the University at Albany, a NYS Writers Institute panel discussion was called off because panelists refused to participate with a ‘Zionist.’ Across the country, the home of Pomona College’s president was vandalized by anti-Israel protesters.
Antisemitism on campuses cannot be attributed to a single individual or a handful of haters, nor limited to areas with few Jewish students or communities. Antisemitism reared its ugly head in places like New York, which has the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel. For example, Columbia University’s Task Force on Antisemitism recently issued a report finding “serious and pervasive” problems and proposing urgent, broad changes. The federal Department of Education found that the City University of New York failed to protect Jewish (and Muslim) students from the turmoil that ensued on campuses in the aftermath of October 7th and issued a corrective action plan.
These examples illustrate that this is not simply a problem of college presidential leadership but a broader cultural issue that requires change at every level. In higher education’s longstanding system of shared governance — where trustees, administrators, faculty, staff, and students all play a role in driving institutional culture and norms — addressing the issue effectively requires collective effort and accountability from everyone. Changing one president isn’t enough — it’s almost beside the point. Too often leadership changes simply are a form of virtue signaling that fails to bring about meaningful change but may give us the illusion of progress. The entire system of shared governance must address the problem head on.
It’s encouraging that policymakers in New York are keeping this issue on the front burner. Recently, the Governor’s Taskforce led by the former chief judge of the NYS Court of Appeals, Jonathan Lippman released their long-awaited report reinforced much of what the federal Department of Education found at the City University of New York. Taskforce Chairman Jonathan Lippman stated in his cover letter:
“I believe that CUNY’s current policies and procedures for preventing and addressing antisemitism and discrimination need to be significantly overhauled and updated in order to handle the levels of antisemitism and discrimination that exist on CUNY’s campuses today. In that regard, while my mandate was not to opine on whether specific past conduct at CUNY constituted antisemitism, I feel compelled to note that recently there has been an alarming number of unacceptable antisemitic incidents targeting members of the CUNY community.”
However, despite all the attention, we may miss a crucial opportunity for real change. If we simply return to the status quo after the headlines fade, we will have failed not only our Jewish students but also the broader educational community that strives for meaningful inclusion.
Addressing Root Causes of Antisemitism on College Campuses
What’s needed is a comprehensive plan that goes beyond virtue signaling, such as replacing a president or implementing basic, surface-level training.
First, the Anti-Defamation League found a strong relationship between the lack of robust Holocaust education and increased antisemitic beliefs. A recent The Economist survey found one on five young adults believe the Holocaust was a myth. Although an independent review by Pew raised concerns about the survey’s replicability, even a kernel of truth in the findings serves as a stark reminder of the work that remains ahead. As colleges have revamped their general education requirements to weave in principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, it is essential that students be required to learn about the history of antisemitism and major historical events like the Holocaust. “Never Forget” must be more than a hollow slogan. We must continue to educate future generations.
Second, more must be done to actively engage students in meaningful debate. What was most disappointing about the recent cancellation of the UAlbany Writers panel was that individuals with different geopolitical perspectives refused to even engage. Much of the trouble campuses faced originated from being too passive in engaging students in larger, complex, and controversial debates over geopolitical issues — both from the Left and Right. This atmosphere of political correctness has led to avoidance of tackling tough issues, leaving certain groups filled the vacuum in destructive ways. If we can’t engage in real, even if challenging, dialogue and debate on our campuses, where else in society will we be able to?
Third, there is a time and place for free speech and the free flow of ideas (no matter how offensive they may be), but threats, intimidation, and endless disruptions of campus operations cannot be tolerated. Yet, this serious challenge continues. At a recent University of Washington Board of Regents meeting, the Seattle Times editorial board stated,
“…the UW failed to take effective action to maintain order. The meeting was adjourned before university business was completed. Jewish community members who wanted to express their concerns were shouted down and chased away.”
Much of the ugliness witnessed on college campuses last year was a direct result of the lack of this clarity and having a clear and firm set of consequences for those who engage in such behavior.
Fourth, campuses must refocus their efforts on addressing diversity and inclusion among a broader cross-section of groups that have been subject to historical discrimination. Ongoing and open antisemitism on numerous campuses means these policies have missed the mark — because too often antisemitism is overlooked. A double standard has emerged where other instances of discrimination have been quickly condemned, but when it came to Jewish students or issues of antisemitism, there was inaction or a lack of the same moral clarity from many institutions.
Last year’s turmoil on campuses across the country demonstrated that antisemitism is either deeply rooted in many academic institutions or that college policies and programs have not adequately protected against it. This moment is a reckoning for many institutions, testing their true commitment to inclusion. Treating antisemitism as just another box to check in a compliance manual will not lead to meaningful change. Real transformation requires a commitment to reshaping institutional culture from the ground up. It’s now up to all of us to ensure that this moment becomes a turning point, not a missed opportunity.
*An edited version of this appeared in the New York Daily News on September 20, 2024 under the title “How we can combat campus antisemitism”
