Hillel News Hub

In the span of two weeks, there were protests and encampments at more than 110 colleges and universities across the country, according to Hillel International’s tracking, with The Washington Post reporting there have been more than two thousand arrests. On Friday, the New York Police Department began clearing encampments at New York University and The New School. This follows the dismantling of encampments by police at the University of California, Los Angeles and Columbia University earlier this week.

On Thursday, two universities – Rutgers University and the University of Minnesota – reached settlements with anti-Israel protesters, who agreed to dismantle tent encampments. While administrators capitulated and met some of the protesters’ demands, both Rutgers and the University of Minnesota rejected calls to divert or sever academic ties with Israel. 

Drew University entered into a mediation agreement with the U.S. Department of Education, resolving an open Title VI antisemitism investigation. As part of the settlement, the university will publish a revision of its harassment and intimidation policy, form a panel to adjudicate harassment complaints, support the formation of an Israel student association, and bolster security around the campus Hillel.

In a press conference at Columbia University, students at Brown, Columbia, and Rutgers, joined by leadership from Columbia/Barnard Hillel, Hillel International, American Jewish Committee, and UJA-Federation of New York, called on university administrators do more to ensure the safety of all students, including Jewish students, on campuses.  “Jewish students are demanding leadership, and it’s the responsibility of university administrators to enforce their policies and keep Jewish students safe. Jewish students, and all students, deserve better,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International.

Seven Jewish members of Northwestern University’s antisemitism advisory committee resigned on Wednesday, saying the university’s president failed to combat antisemitism on campus or to consult committee members before entering into an agreement with anti-Israel protesters. “Students at Northwestern must be able to walk through campus without hearing hate-filled speech or experiencing harassment for their religious or political identities and commitments,” said Northwestern Hillel Executive Director Michael Simon in an email to the campus Jewish community.