Welcome to the first issue of ADL’s Campus Crisis Email Update.
So much is happening so quickly we know it’s hard to keep up – and it’s hard to know how and when to act. We are going to feature firsthand accounts from campuses, photos and videos direct from the protests, links so you can make your voice heard, and resources so you know what to do if your alma mater comes calling for a donation or a student you know is being harassed.
We are building this as we go – so please email us at campus@adl.org with any suggestions, questions, photos and videos. We are all in this together, and we hope this alert can be a hub for us to share what we need to call out and counter this rampant antisemitism.
Now let’s get to what’s happening.
Top Stories
Columbia
Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, it did: protesters stormed and occupied Hamilton Hall in the early hours of Monday morning. Baffingly, some members of the faculty lined up at the entrance to the building to protect the offenders. Late Tuesday night, NYPD was called in and cleared Hamilton Hall. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested and the encampment is clear. NYPD has been asked to maintain a presence on campus until May 17 to ensure encampments are not reestablished. Let Columbia President Shafik hear your voice, by signing our petition here!
WATCH: Jonathan Greenblatt appearance yesterday on Morning Joe discussing Columbia and the other protests.
LAWSUIT: Student files proposed class action suit against Columbia for failing to provide “a safe educational environment” for its students.
BONUS: Watch Columbia-Barnard Hillel Director Brian Cohen earlier this week make it clear that the issue is not free speech – it’s the right to an education!
Northwestern
On Monday, the President of Northwestern University made a deal that is reprehensible, dangerous, and a case study in failed leadership. He awarded protest groups with scholarships, professorships, and a renovated community home; he said the encampment can stay until June 1; and he created new pathways to implementation of BDS.
ADL is joining with StandWithUs and the Brandeis Center calling on President Schill to resign.
Click here to demand that President Schill resign.
ADL reassessed Northwestern’s grade on its Campus Antisemitism Report Card and because of these new developments it changed from a D to an F.
UCLA
University leadership continues to allow rampant disruptions to student life and the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students. The situation has become unbearable with Jewish students physically blocked from entering public spaces and continually harassed. Last night, a violent clash took place at the UCLA encampment hours after UCLA administrators put out a statement declaring that the camp “is unlawful and violates university policy” yet there was no coordination with law enforcement. UCLA has failed repeatedly to take decisive action to keep all students safe.
Penn
Good news: the University issued disciplinary notices to the organizers. Bad news: the encampment is still there.
GW
After GW President Granberg expressed concerns about the encampment and requested assistance from MPD, alarmingly, law enforcement declined to provide support, according to reports. Protesters then breached university police barricades Sunday evening and moved their encampment onto D.C. streets. We urge D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to intervene as it appears protestors are blocking access to H Street.
Here’s a photo and report from the campus by ADL DC Regional Director Meredith Weisel.
Tell Mayor Bowser to enhance cooperation with GW and clear the streets of this encampment by emailing her.
Brown
Rather than condemn campus encampments and protect Jewish students, Brown administrators made a deal with pro-Palestinian students; in exchange for an end to the encampment, Brown will consider BDS proposals. In response, ADL’s New England Interim Regional Director Rabbi Ron Fish said: “Rewarding the serial violation of school policies and validating a moment rife with antisemitism and hate, sends all the wrong messages in a moment of tremendous vulnerability for Jewish students.”
You can read the full statement here.
Send an email to the Board of Trustees and make your voice heard here.
Campus Champions
Fighting Hate from Home. Earlier today, ADL had a “Fighting Hate from Home” webinar about how to combat campus antisemitism, featuring Rep. Ritchie Torres. Over 3,800 people joined us and we will share the full recording in tomorrow’s daily.
House Leadership
Thank you to Speaker Johnson and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, Government Reform Committee Chair Jamie Comer, Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith, Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, and Science and Technology Committee Chair Frank Lucas for speaking out strongly against campus antisemitism. Speaker Johnson announced a House wide effort to crack down on antisemitism in college campuses. The House majority intends to hold these universities accountable for their failure to protect their Jewish students on campus. Watch their statements here.
University of Chicago
The UChicago administration put out a clear response to encampments on Monday: “when expression becomes disruption, we act decisively to protect the learning environment of students and the functioning of the University.” Thank UChicago President Paul Alivisatos.
University of Florida
A model response – UF set out the rules and then enforced them: “The University of Florida is not a day care, and we do not treat protesters like children.” Thank UF President Ben Sasse.
WashU
Chancellor Andrew D. Martin responded swiftly to demonstrations on campus: "To those who plan to continue to come to campus with the intention of disrupting our education and research mission and violating our policies, please know we will respond proportionately each and every time. You will not do this here." Thank Chancellor Martin.
Am Yisrael Chai
Survivor
Columbia Law Professor Matthew Waxman with an appreciation of Prof. Liviu Librescu who saved student lives at Virginia Tech and what this Holocaust survivor would have thought of the protesters.
The Debate
The model for how to debate the Israel-Hamas conflict and deal with pro-Palestinian protesters? Israel’s Ben Gurion University.
#BringHershHome
Listen to Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin talk with Dan Senor about seeing the video of their son Hersh who is a hostage in Gaza.
A Columbia Lion
Watch Columbia student Noa Fay defend Zionism as being integral to the Jewish people.
Not SNL
Watch a student occupying Hamilton Hall at Columbia demand that the University feed her: “It’s crazy to say since we are on an Ivy League campus, but this is basic humanitarian aid we are asking for.”
Info and Action
Alumni
Organize a sign-on letter, answer a fundraising request, or write a letter to a university president.
Parents
Write a letter about commencement, organize a dial day, or get help selecting a college for your student.
Campus Antisemitism Report Card
See the grade a college earned in this first-ever report card.
Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL)
Are you a student or know one who needs legal help? Contact CALL, run by ADL, Hillel, the Brandeis Center, and Gibson Dunn. Hundreds of incidents have been reported. You are not alone!
And so we are crystal clear on what we believe, here are four principles that guide ADL’s approach to campus antisemitism:
- Anti-Zionism on campus is antisemitism. Criticizing the Israeli government or calling for a ceasefire is not antisemitic. Anti-Israel rhetoric that encourages violence – such as “Globalize the Intifada” or “From the River to the Sea” – is antisemitic and must not be tolerated.
- The antisemitism on campus is extremism. We are seeing students on campus praising the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah and hearing calls for the end of Israel and a final solution of the Jewish people. This is not normal. Freedom of expression is not the freedom to incite violence against your classmates. Codes of conduct do not permit conduct that endangers your peers.
- These are not peaceful protests. The recent “encampment” protests on campus, have been rife with intimidation, harassment, or worse – such as physical and verbal threats directed at Jewish students. No one would tolerate this for any other group on campus, and they should not be tolerated when it happens to Jews.
- While directed against Israelis and Jews, the hate on campus affects all students and the entire community. Classes, finals and celebratory events (such as commencement ceremonies) are at risk of being disrupted or canceled, depriving students of the educational experience they paid for. A radical fringe should not be allowed to erode public safety and undermine the environment to the detriment of everyone in the university community – students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni.
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