What We Learned at the 2024 College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism
After a year of historically high levels of antisemitism on college and university campuses, presidents and chancellors from across the United States gathered at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. for a historic Summit to confront the crisis of antisemitism that Jewish students at their schools are facing.
Hosted by Hillel International, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and the American Council on Education (ACE), the College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism brought together more than 75 leaders from large public universities, small private colleges, Ivy League schools, community colleges, and more. Subject-matter experts led discussions that explored the deep roots of contemporary antisemitism, the relationship between free speech imperatives and creating a safe campus for all students, and applications of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
“We are confronting a wave of anti-Jewish hatred like none of us have experienced in our lifetimes,” said Matthew Bronfman, chair of the Hillel International Board of Governors. “I am immensely proud of Hillel professionals who are building strong, resilient communities on campus in response. And now it is time for university administrators to take determined action to secure our campuses for all students.”
Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman underscored the magnitude of the Summit, saying to the assembled university presidents and chancellors, “Your presence here sends an important message about your commitment to tackling the significant and systemic current challenge of campus antisemitism.”
Keep reading for a snapshot of the top five topics discussed at the Summit:
- Students are scared
When we say that antisemitism is damaging to Jewish students and all students, we mean it. In an opening panel on the current spike in campus antisemitism, experts in political violence shared findings from a large study of colleges and universities that was conducted after October 7.
The Chicago Project on Security and Threats study found that 56% of Jewish college students felt that they were in “personal danger” over the last year. And in addition to Jewish students, 16% of all college students reported the same. That means between two and three million college students have experienced moments of personal danger over the last year with the rise of unrest, disruptive protests, and antisemitic violence.
Students are scared and disturbed by the environment on their campuses, and it’s disrupting their education.
- Universities are learning and adapting to protect Jewish students
Many universities were caught off guard following October 7 by the sudden, extreme spike in antisemitic rhetoric and activities. Without the preparedness and capacity needed to manage disruptions to campus life, colleges and universities were often slow to react and uncertain of the best course of action.
A goal of the Summit was to equip university leaders with the tools to develop and execute a clear plan to protect Jewish students, and ensure that every student’s education could flourish. Ted Deutch, CEO of AJC, stressed the vital role university presidents play in supporting Jewish students on campus. “Ultimately, university leaders must be the ones to take the helm of confronting antisemitism,” he said. ”We know you can do that in ways that respect your institution’s core principles and ideals.”
While there is much more work to be done, it is reassuring to see so many university leaders taking action to combat antisemitism.
- Clarifying and enforcing codes of conduct is essential for keeping all students safe on campus
The Summit also focused on the tools colleges and universities may already have in place to foster safe and inclusive learning spaces for Jewish students, including their existing student codes of conduct and regulations governing the time, place, and manner of protests and demonstrations. These rules typically provide guidelines on appropriate protest procedures, rules for when and how public spaces can be used on campus, and consequences for violations that block other students’ ability to learn, study, and access their campus spaces.
When students or faculty cross the boundaries of those codes, university leaders are committing to acting quickly and decisively to uphold expectations of dialogue and behavior. “Each campus will have to forge its own strategy rooted in its unique culture, dynamics, and resources,” said Lisa Armony, executive director of Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative. “But there are steps that you can all take right now that will have an immediate impact for your students and in the long run, will help to avoid an existential crisis for higher education.”
- Difficult and respectful conversations are central to a college and university education
The Summit was an avenue for university leaders to discuss how to recommit their institutions to the values of pluralism, where students with a diversity of identities and opinions are welcome to share their ideas and beliefs in a respectful educational environment.
“Open discourse around ideas, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and the sustenance of a pluralistic society that protects individuals’ rights undergird our democracy, and as universities, we have an indispensable role to play by reflecting and embodying these values to shape our nation for the better,” said Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels.
Goucher College President Kent Devereaux agreed. “By modeling for our students how to engage in difficult, sometimes contentious conversations about critical issues, as we discussed at this conference, we hope to prepare them to play an important role in fostering understanding in our society,” he said.
- Title VI investigations are evolving to be a critical tool in advocating for Jewish students
What is Title VI and why is it in the news so often? Title VI is part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of “race, color, and national origin.” One of the key sessions at the Summit took a deep dive into the ways that Title VI investigations and decisions can help protect Jewish students from harassment and discrimination in the short and long term. University leaders also had the opportunity to ask detailed questions to an expert in Title VI cases.
As university presidents return to campus, they are recommitting to the work of protecting and uplifting Jewish students. In reflecting on the Summit, New York University President Linda G. Mills said, “I was glad to be part of this Summit, which provided university leaders with important opportunities to exchange ideas; to stand united in pushing back against antisemitism; to commit to fostering safe and inclusive campuses where students may flourish free from harassment, discrimination, and threats; and to uphold our traditions of reasoned discourse.”