Guidance for Prospective Jewish College Students Amid Rising Antisemitism
Incidents of antisemitism have risen dramatically across the United States since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, and students on college campuses are not immune to the effects.
“We know that things have shifted since October 7th. The majority of Jewish students on campuses are not comfortable letting people know they’re Jewish,” said Rabbi Daniel Brenner, vice president of Education for the non-profit organization Moving Traditions, during a recent webinar hosted by the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA). “That’s a big change. It used to be just a minority who felt that way.”
That shift has also created changes in the way many Jewish families with prospective college students are thinking about what universities they want to attend. “Families want to know what campuses provide a safe environment for students and they want to know which schools are doing a good job at handling the situation,” Brenner said. “Some families are considering schools they never thought they would look at.”
Brenner pointed to a recent study by Brandeis University, entitled "In the Shadow of War: Hotspots of Antisemitism on US College Campuses,” that looked at the perceptions of enrolled Jewish students to classify a number of popular universities into four categories: highest antisemitic hostility, above average antisemitic hostility, below average antisemitic hostility, and lowest hostility. The complete study can be found here.
According to Brenner, universities in the study were assigned to the “highest antisemitic hostility” group if:
24% or more Jewish students said they had experienced harassment or hostility on campus
30% or more Jewish students said they had seen antisemitic imagery on campus
30% or more Jewish students said they had experienced hostility from faculty
At the schools with the “lowest antisemitic hostility,” the numbers in the above categories were less than 15 per cent.
Among the “highest antisemitic hostility” universities were prestigious schools such as Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Michigan, Boston University, New York University, and others.
Those rated as having the lowest hostility included several Florida schools—the University of Florida, Florida State University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Central Florida, and the University of Miami. Others on the list include Tulane University, Duke University, University of Colorado-Boulder, Washington University at St. Louis, and others.
Advice For Families
Most importantly, as Brenner pointed out in the webinar, families who are looking for the right university for their students should not draw conclusions solely based on numbers from studies like the Brandeis University one. The best advice comes from speaking directly to other Jewish students who are currently on the campuses. Brenner suggests contacting the Hillel organization on campus and asking if they can put you in touch with current students who are willing to share their thoughts and experiences with you.
Brenner offered several additional tips for prospective Jewish college students and their families:
Especially now, it’s important for Jewish students to have other Jewish students to talk to so they don’t feel alone. Make sure the university has a support network and ways in which Jewish students can share their identity.
Don’t just look at the size of the Jewish community at a university; bigger is not necessarily better. Take time to learn about the specific Jewish community at that university. Is there strong leadership who have been in their positions awhile? If so, they likely have good relationships with faculty and administrators, which is important.
Does the school have a Jewish Studies program? If so, are the professors engaged in the community on and off campus?
Is there a local Jewish community in the area that has options for involvement and connection?
What organizations and clubs are available? Jewish students, who are diverse in their backgrounds, views, and traditions, benefit from having choices of multiple organizations.
Finally, Brenner said that it’s not all bad news. There are many universities, such as Brown University and the University of Maryland, that have been committed to educating students, encouraging dialogue, and focusing on bridge-building on their campuses.
“The hope is that out of the tension happening now, university leaders will develop better tools for the future,” Brenner said.
If you need assistance finding the right university environment for your student, our team of educational consultants can help. Contact us for a free consultation.
