‘Difficult to Overstate’: Campus Antisemitism Affects Nearly Three in Four Jewish Students, New Study Says

Amid a global surge in antisemitic hate crimes and incidents, nearly three in four Jewish college students have reported experiencing or witnessing antisemitism during the 2023-2024 academic year, according to a new survey.

The survey — the result of a longitudinal study of 3,084 American college students conducted by the Anti-Defamation League’s Center for Antisemitism Research (CAR) with help from Hillel International, and College Pulse since the beginning of fall term — found that even non-Jewish students have encountered antisemitic hatred. 43.9 percent of non-Jewish student said they witnessed or were a victim of antisemitism and 46 percent who said they have been mistaken as Jewish reported being targeted or harassed.

“It is difficult to overstate the concerning findings revealed by this study,” the ADL said on Wednesday. “Majorities of Jewish students at colleges are experiencing antisemitism during their years on campus, uncomfortable with their campus communities knowing that they’re Jewish, and a plurality are afraid of a backlash from those communities if they report an issue. Campus antisemitism has far reaching implications, the scope of which extends beyond the context of current events.”

Campus antisemitism is causing students to think twice about disclosing their Jewishness to their classmates, CAR added. Before Hamas Oct. 7 massacre across southern Israel prompted a torrent of antisemitic hate crimes and abuse around the world, 63.7 percent of Jewish college students said they felt comfortable with others knowing they are Jewish. Now, only 38.6 do. The study also found that a plurality of Jewish students “do not feel physically safe” at school and nearly a third avoid discussing Israel. 50 percent don’t want anyone to know their opinions about Israel at all.

“This study demonstrates not just the impact of antisemitism on students but also the systemic failures of campus administration,” ADL CAR concluded. “We hope this study makes it clear that ignoring or gaslighting students experiencing antisemitism substantively contributes to an unsafe campus climate. The breadth of the problem requires a broad and comprehensive response, and addressing this scourge requires real action from campus organizations, faculty, campus administrations, residential life, and campus security.”

The findings come amid a historic surge in antisemitism across the world, especially in the US and Europe. Another recent report  ADL, recorded for example, 832 outrages targeting American Jews between Oct. 7 and Nov. 7 — an average of 28 incidents per day and a 316 percent increase on the same period in 2022. Across Europe, meanwhile, governments have experienced record increases in antisemitic incidents in countries such as France and Germany since the Hamas pogrom in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

College campuses across the West have been hubs of antisemitism over the past six weeks, with students and faculty both demonizing Israel and rationalizing Hamas’ terror onslaught. Incidents of harassment and even violence against Jewish students have also increased. As a result, Jewish students have expressed feeling unsafe and unprotected on campuses. In some cases, Jewish communities on campuses have been forced to endure threats of rape and mass slaughter.

Follow Dion J. Pierre @DionJ.Pierre.

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