Nearly three-quarters of Jewish students on American college campuses have experienced or witnessed acts of antisemitism this semester, demonstrating the rise in antisemitism in US universities since the October 7 massacre by the Hamas terrorist organization, according to a ew survey by the Anti-Defamations League Center for Antisemitism Research and Hillel International.
"73% of Jewish college students surveyed have experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year," the ADL stated. Before this semester, 70% of Jewish students reported witnessing or experiencing antisemitism during their entire four-year college career, rather than in just one semester. In addition, 44% of non-Jewish college students reported witnessing or experiencing some form of antisemitism this semester.
46% of students who were falsely assumed to be Jewish reported experiencing antisemitism based on their assumed Jewish heritage.
The percentage of Jewish students who feel physically safe on college campuses fell from 67% before October 7 to 46% following the massacre.
The study also found that a majority of students believe that university administrations are not doing enough to address the problem of antisemitism on campus.
“Jewish students are experiencing a wave of antisemitism unlike anything we’ve seen before, but shockingly, non-Jewish students barely see it,” ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said in a statement.
“Since the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, Jewish students feel increasingly threatened on campus — but
college leaders are not doing enough to address this very real fear of antisemitism,” Greenblatt added.
Hillel International CEO Adam Lehman said that the survey's findings paint a “disconcerting picture of the hate on campuses nationwide."
“Widespread experiences with antisemitism, as reported in this survey, are driving Jewish students to hide their identities,” he said.
Last month, Jewish students at Cooper Union College in New York City were forced to lock themselves inside the library as a mob of anti-Israeli protesters blocked the doors.
About 40 minutes later, security escorted the students out of the building via a tunnel.
At Columbia University, an Israeli student was physically attacked by another student with a stick.
In another incident, a Jewish student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst was assaulted during a Shabbat event in honor of the hundreds of Israelis taken hostage by the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.