Roughly 3 out of every 4 Jewish college student report they have either experienced anti-Semitism or seen others victimized by it on their campus since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel.
According to a study conducted by the Anti-Defamation League and Hillel International, nearly 73% of students — a rise from 63% in 2021 — say they have been victimized or saw someone who was, The New York Post reported.
The percentage of Jewish students who felt safe on their campus dropped from 67% before the Hamas terror attack to 46% afterward..
The statistics from the study present a “disconcerting picture of the hate on campuses nationwide,” Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International said. “Widespread experiences with antisemitism, as reported in this survey, are driving Jewish students to hide their identities.”
“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 stated. “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.”
As far back as 2002, anti-Semitism and college campuses was growing. Then-Harvard President Lawrence Summers spoke to students at a morning prayer service at the Memorial Church, saying, “ … there is disturbing evidence of an upturn in anti-Semitism globally … where anti-Semitism and views that are profoundly anti-Israeli have traditionally been the primary preserve of poorly educated right-wing populists, profoundly anti-Israel views are increasingly finding support in progressive intellectual communities.”
In late October 2023, Jewish students were locked in a campus library at Manhattan’s prestigious Cooper Union College as pro-Palestinian protesters outside the building called for the globalization of the Intifada.
According to several reports, the students told security that they felt unsafe as the protesters approached the library and the doors were locked. The protesters were chanting slogans like “Globalize the Intifada” and “Free, free Palestine” as they banged on the doors.
Jake Novak, former media director at the Israeli Consulate in New York, shared updates throughout the protest as he received information from students.
“BREAKING NOW: my sources tell me several Jewish students @cooperunion are currently locked in the school library as a pro Hamas rally outside of the cooper Union building learnt the Jews were afraid and sitting in the library, then brought the protest inside and are barricading all exits. Police have been called for 40 min and are afraid to get involved. Security locked the students in as they are worried they cannot protect the Jews,” Novak posted.
Virginia Kruta contributed to this article.
Related: Pro-Hamas Protesters Locked Out While Jewish Students Shelter In Cooper Union Campus Library