Hillel, Students, and Partners Demand Administrators Enforce Policies and Keep Jewish Students Safe
On April 26, 2024, following a week dominated by an escalation of protests and encampments on campuses that included threats, harassment, and sometimes violence directed at Jewish students across the country, students from Brown, Columbia, and Rutgers demanded that university administrators more meaningfully and effectively ensure the safety of Jewish students on campus. During this press conference at Columbia/Barnard Hillel, the students were joined by leadership from the campus Hillel, Hillel International, American Jewish Committee (AJC), and UJA-Federation of New York.
Watch the full recording of the press conference and read the press release.
In their remarks, the students shared how these protests – which started six months ago and have only grown to be more disruptive and threatening, have made them feel unwelcome and unsafe on their campuses.
Hillel International President and CEO Adam Lehman strongly urged college and university administrators to protect all students, including Jewish students, by ensuring that campuses are free of harassment, intimidation, and physical assault.
Read more about the press conference in the following articles:
- CNN: Protests at Columbia and other schools escalate
- Politico: Concern over commencements
- The Jerusalem Post: ‘Your Jewish students cannot be sacrificed’: Jewish leaders, students address universities
- Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Trying to thread a needle on free speech, Jewish leaders demand Columbia rein in pro-Palestinian protests
- The New York Times: Columbia Bars Student Protester Who Said ‘Zionists Don’t Deserve to Live’
- Haaretz: ‘Do Your Job’ | Jewish Leaders Accuse Columbia of Cowardice for Not Evicting anti-Israel Protesters