Almost all of the Ivy League universities have received poor ratings on the Campus Antisemitism Report Card by the Anti-Defamation League.
Harvard was given the lowest grade of “F”, whereas Dartmouth received the highest grade of “C”. The University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, and Brown all received grades of “D”.
Since the tragic Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians in Gaza on October 7, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has initiated Title VI investigations into incidents of anti-Semitism at all Ivy League campuses, with the exception of Dartmouth.
According to the ADL report, faculty and staff members have been found to express anti-Semitic sentiment in various instances.
In March, the Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine filed a lawsuit against the university in order to prevent the school from sharing internal documents with a Congressional committee that is currently investigating antisemitism on campus.
Nearly 200 faculty members at Brown University have signed a letter urging President Christina Paxson to reconsider divestment and drop all charges against students who were arrested following a sit-in at University Hall in November, according to a report.
Columbia University has been in the spotlight recently due to a violent uprising that resulted in arrests after agitators stormed and occupied a campus building. Following the crackdown by law enforcement and the university, the New York Police Department discovered pro-Jihadi materials within the encampment.
Over 100 Columbia faculty members expressed their support for various groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine, leading up to the significant protest and encampment. The report states that they defended Hamas’ attack by viewing it either as “just one salvo in an ongoing war between an occupying state and the people it occupies” or as “an occupied people exercising a right to resist.”
According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a professor at Cornell University allegedly expressed his excitement about the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel during a campus rally. The ADL report stated that the professor has subsequently taken a leave of absence.
In January, after the controversy surrounding former Harvard President Claudine Gay’s testimony, six students filed a lawsuit against the school. The lawsuit claims that Harvard has turned into a “haven of widespread anti-Jewish hatred and harassment,” according to the ADL report.
In February, two student groups posted an antisemitic cartoon from 1960 on their online platforms. According to the ADL, the cartoon was later shared by Harvard Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine. However, the offensive cartoon was promptly taken down, and the group issued an apology for their actions.
Jewish students and groups have been subjected to a multitude of threats, harassment, and violence, including death threats. While incidents of perceived antisemitism from faculty at some schools have been reported, they have been overshadowed by the alarming mistreatment faced by Jewish students.
Late last year at Brown University, an individual reportedly broke into the residence of two Jewish students. The incident involved a disturbing note that was left under their door. The note contained a chilling message: “Those that live for death will die by their own hand.” The incident raised concerns and highlighted the need for increased security measures on campus.
In the past year, there have been disturbing incidents of vandalism and physical assaults at Columbia University. Jewish students have reported instances of being spat on, which is deeply concerning. Furthermore, an Israeli student was subjected to a violent attack outside the university library after confronting someone who was tearing down flyers related to Israeli hostages held by Hamas. These incidents highlight the importance of addressing and preventing such acts of aggression on campus.
Cornell University has been proactive in addressing critical issues surrounding antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. In their efforts to enhance public safety operations, the university has initiated a thorough review and implemented various measures. These include the establishment of a lecture series focused on exploring these pressing matters, the formation of two advisory groups, and the organization of training sessions. Additionally, Cornell University has taken significant steps by creating a dedicated task force to combat antisemitism effectively.
Penn University took proactive measures to address the issue of anti-Semitism on its campus. In response, the university established an anti-Semitism task force and developed a comprehensive action plan. Moreover, the institution actively encouraged students to report instances of bias or harassment. In order to ensure the safety and well-being of its students, Penn also enhanced its security services on campus. These efforts demonstrate the university’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and tolerant environment for all members of its community.
According to the ADL, Princeton University’s rating was recently upgraded from an “F” to a “D” based on new information or events. The report emphasized that the university has been actively engaging with Hillel and providing support for their workshops aimed at educating students about anti-Semitism.
Yale is taking steps to address the campus climate for the Jewish community by building on the efforts of the Yale Antisemitism Campus Climate Group. The school has established a standing committee to identify and tackle issues related to campus climate, specifically for the Jewish community. Yale is also committed to incorporating new educational programming on antisemitism into its training curriculum. Furthermore, the school has taken the responsibility of funding security measures for the Slifka Center.
