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University Presidents to Address Antisemitism and Campus Climate for Jewish Students in New York Summit

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April 5, 2022

NEW YORK – College and university presidents from across the United States will come together on April 11-12 for a summit on the unprecedented increase in antisemitic activity and the marginalization of Jewish students on campus. The summit is being presented by Hillel International and American Jewish Committee (AJC), in collaboration with the American Council on Education (ACE).

The opening dinner Monday evening will include a dialogue with three members of the U.S. House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism: Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Lee Zeldin (R-NY), and Grace Meng (D-NY).

Leaders from more than 35 institutions will be participating in the conference, including Boston University, Columbia University, Cornell University, City University of New York, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, The Ohio State University, Tufts University, University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, University of Miami, University of Michigan, University of Texas, and Washington University in St. Louis.

The summit will take place at the Center for Jewish History in New York City and will be hosted by NYU President Andrew Hamilton. It will include presentations from university and Jewish community leaders and confidential sessions for university administrators to explore key issues in-person with one another. The Summit will offer campus leaders a unique opportunity to share best practices, develop institution specific approaches, and share resources that enable action. 

“University presidents have a critical role to play in improving the campus climate for Jewish students and ensuring all students can live and study in environments free of hate and intolerance,” said Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International. “This summit will give university administrators the tools and resources they need to speak out against antisemitism and take specific steps to make our campuses safer.”

“As we confront the threat of rising antisemitism across America and around the world, Jewish students have been among the most visible targets of Jew-hatred in its various forms,” said David Harris, CEO of American Jewish Committee. “University leaders are our most important allies in confronting antisemitism on campus, and we look forward to working even more closely with them to ensure Jewish students, like students of all other backgrounds and faiths, are able to pursue education free of fear or intimidation.”

The Summit will offer higher education leaders across the United States a unique opportunity to explore meaningful ways in which institutions can respond to antisemitism within the context of fulfilling their overarching diversity, equity, and inclusion mission to combat all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and harassment on campus, while respecting principles of academic freedom and free speech.

“We are excited to collaborate with Hillel and AJC to address this essential and timely issue for college and university leaders,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “The conversations we engage in at this summit will help institutions across the country craft strategies to improve the campus climate for Jewish students and other community members.”

Monday evening’s program begins at 7:30pm and Tuesday morning begins at 9:00am. The evening program and the initial session Tuesday morning are open for media coverage. Members of the media must register to attend.