Nearly all Ivy League universities have scored poorly on the Anti-Defamation League’s Campus Antisemitism Report Card.
Harvard was given the lowest grade, receiving an “F,” while Dartmouth earned the highest grade of a “C.” The other schools, including the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, and Brown, received grades of D.
Since the devastating Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians in Gaza on October 7, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights has taken action by initiating Title VI investigations into anti-Semitism incidents at all Ivy League schools, except for Dartmouth.
The ADL report highlighted various instances of faculty and staff expressing anti-Semitic sentiment.
In March, the Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine filed a lawsuit against the university, seeking to prevent the school from providing internal documents to a Congressional committee investigating antisemitism on campus.
Nearly 200 faculty members at Brown University have signed a letter addressed to President Christina Paxon, urging her to reopen discussions on divestment and to drop all charges against students who were arrested following a sit-in at University Hall in November.
Columbia University has been in the spotlight recently due to a violent uprising that led to arrests after agitators stormed and occupied a campus building. Both law enforcement and the university have taken action to address the situation. Interestingly, the New York Police Department discovered pro-Jihadi materials within the encampment, adding another layer of concern to the incident.
Over 100 Columbia faculty members expressed their support for various groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine, prior to the significant protest and encampment. In a letter, they defended Hamas’ attack as “just one salvo in an ongoing war between an occupying state and the people it occupies, or as an occupied people exercising a right to resist.”
According to the ADL, a professor at Cornell University allegedly expressed excitement about the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel during a campus rally. The report mentions that the professor has subsequently taken a leave of absence.
According to the ADL report, in January, six students filed a lawsuit against Harvard University. The students alleged that Harvard had turned into a “bastion of rampant anti-Jewish hatred and harassment” following the controversy surrounding former Harvard President Claudine Gay’s testimony.
In February, two student groups posted an online cartoon that the ADL considers to be antisemitic. The cartoon, originally from 1960, was shared by the Harvard Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine. However, the offensive content was promptly removed, and the group issued an apology.
Jewish students and groups have faced a multitude of threats, harassment, and violence, including death threats, while incidents of perceived antisemitism from faculty at some schools have taken a backseat.
In a recent incident at Brown University, an unidentified person reportedly entered the residence of two Jewish students. Shockingly, a note was found under their door, containing a chilling message: “Those who seek death shall meet their own demise.” This incident highlights the concerning issue of hate crimes targeting specific religious groups.
Last fall, incidents of vandalism and physical attacks occurred at Columbia University. Jewish students were reportedly subjected to acts of aggression, including being spat on. Furthermore, an Israeli student was allegedly beaten on his hand with a stick outside the University library after confronting someone who was tearing down flyers about Israeli hostages held by Hamas, as stated in the report.
Despite the negative reports, the ADL has highlighted the efforts made by each school to combat anti-Semitism on their campuses. Columbia University, for example, has taken action by suspending groups like the SJP when they violate university policies. In addition, the university has established a Task Force on Anti-Semitism and has made updates to their “bias incident report and response” efforts in order to effectively address the rise in anti-Semitism.
Pro-Palestinian protests at Brown University have led to multiple arrests for trespassing.
Cornell University has been proactive in addressing critical issues related to antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate. The university has conducted a thorough review of its public safety operations and initiated a new lecture series dedicated to exploring these pressing matters. Moreover, Cornell has established two advisory groups and is actively organizing trainings to raise awareness and foster understanding. As part of its commitment to combatting antisemitism, the university has also formed a task force dedicated to addressing this issue head-on.
Penn has taken proactive steps to address the issue of anti-Semitism on campus. One such measure includes the establishment of an anti-Semitism task force and the implementation of an action plan. In addition, the university has made significant efforts to encourage students to report instances of bias or harassment, while also bolstering its security services to ensure the safety and well-being of the campus community.
According to the ADL, Princeton University received an upgrade in its rating from an “F” to a “D” last month, citing “new information or events.” The university has been actively engaged with Hillel, providing support for their workshops aimed at educating students about antisemitism and teaching them how to respond to it.
Yale University has made significant efforts to address the concerns raised by the Yale Antisemitism Campus Climate Group. The university has established a standing committee dedicated to identifying and resolving issues related to the campus climate for the Jewish community. Moreover, Yale is actively incorporating new educational programs on antisemitism into its training curriculum. In a show of support, the university has also agreed to cover the costs for implementing security measures at the Slifka Center. These initiatives highlight Yale’s commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for its Jewish students and faculty.