Swarthmore. Swarthmore College faced anti-Israel sentiment when students and unaffiliated activists established an encampment on the school’s Trotter Lawn last week, demanding the college divest from companies like Cisco Systems over alleged ties to Israel. The protest, organized by the suspended Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, saw participants wearing masks and refusing to identify themselves, prompting safety concerns from the administration. After multiple warnings over several days, the college called in local police, leading to the arrest of nine individuals — one current student, one former student and seven outsiders. ADL commended the school for clearing the encampment, saying “such occupations create a climate of intimidation rather than genuine dialogue.”

Swarthmore’s encampment. (Source: Swarthmore Phoenix)

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San Francisco. The University of San Francisco (USF) announced it will divest from four U.S. defense companies, with anti-Israel student activists claiming the step as a BDS win. The action, made after 18 months of student protests and input from the university’s Socially Responsible Task Force, affects less than 0.5% of USF’s $566 million endowment. Although student activists celebrated the move, the university denied that the decision was based on political pressure or the companies' ties to Israel. The university claims the divestment is part of a broader shift to invest exclusively in index and commingled funds. While USF acknowledges that such funds may still include the same companies, it emphasized that individual stock selection will no longer be possible.

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Georgetown. Within half an hour of the announcement that a Georgetown University student referendum on divestment had passed, Interim President Robert M. Groves stated that the school would not accede to the BDS effort. He noted the school’s longstanding opposition to academic boycotts, the wide range of student opinions on the issue and the school’s endowment goals of attaining the highest levels of returns. Just under 30 percent of the school’s students voted in the referendum, which passed by a wide margin. ADL praised the school’s swift response as a clear way to reaffirm “that Jewish and Israeli students and faculty members are valued members of the campus community.”

DEEPER: Georgetown's grade in the current ADL Campus Antisemitism Report Card is a B. Read more about 135 colleges and universities in this helpful resource for students, their families, schools and others.

Palestinian flags fly at Georgetown during the leadup to the referendum. (Source: Aamir Jamil/The Hoya)

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Philadelphia. Temple University has placed at least one student on interim suspension following an antisemitic incident at an off-campus bar Saturday night. A video, reportedly posted by a Temple student, showed a bottle-service sign at the bar reading “F–k the Jews.” Temple President John Fry issued a strong statement Sunday: “Antisemitism is abhorrent. It has no place at Temple… Acts of hatred and discrimination against any person or persons are not tolerated at this university.” The school’s Division of Student Affairs is conducting an investigation. ADL Philadelphia said that “We appreciate Temple Univ and President John Fry taking swift action to combat antisemitism. We hope those involved take this as a learning opportunity and that more campus leaders speak up for what's right.”

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Rutgers. Three Rutgers University students and one other individual were arrested during a protest on campus during an event at the Rutgers Hillel that included Congressman Josh Gottheimer. The topic of the discussion was the alarming rise in campus antisemitism. The arrests occurred after protesters allegedly refused to comply with university directives to disperse, leading to charges ranging from resisting arrest, riot, and in the case of the one arrested individual who was not a Rutgers student, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. ADL applauds the vigilance of law enforcement in protecting student safety, and Rutgers for drawing a line against incidents that violate its policies.

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George Washington. The George Washington University has suspended its chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) until at least 2026, citing violations of previous sanctions as well as unauthorized event activity during a “Palestine Liberation Week.” During the suspension, SJP cannot host events, post flyers or access university resources. Reinstatement depends on fulfilling detailed conditions, including a return-from-suspension plan, semesterly teach-ins on university policy and a full academic year of probation. ADL is pleased that GWU President Ellen Granberg took this action.

Degrees of Anti-Israel Sentiment. Rabbi David Wolpe, who was previously a visiting scholar at Harvard University and also serves as ADL's Rabbinic Fellow, praises the school’s newly released antisemitism report. He commends the report for explaining the ‘anti-colonial’ ideological roots of the abuse, and notes that the report has important recommendations for Harvard and its community. Wolpe offers a warning however, based on what he sees as a persistent level of anti-Western, anti-Israel and sometimes antisemitic attitudes among the faculty. “Without a vast unlearning — among the faculty, not just the students — all the reports in the world will not change the atmosphere on campus.”

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No Place for Hamas. Post-10/7 anti-Israel demonstrations on college campuses have resulted in disciplinary actions at institutions like Columbia and Harvard. Tel Aviv University lecturer Dr. Daniel Beaudoin asserts that these sanctions were not taken because the protesters were pushing anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian messages, but rather due to protest activities perceived as supporting Hamas, a group classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Some of these protests have featured rhetoric that crosses into incitement and has made Jewish students feel unsafe. As a result, universities have enforced policies meant to maintain safety and prevent disruption.

Turning Pages, Healing Wounds. The National Library of Israel (NLI) campus inaugurated on October 29, 2023 — just weeks after the 10/7 Hamas attacks — has transformed into a beacon of solace and unity. Originally intended to open with celebration, the library instead became a refuge for a nation in mourning. A poignant exhibition features empty chairs, each paired with a book, symbolizing hostages still held in Gaza; as hostages are released or confirmed deceased, their chairs are respectfully removed. Beyond its role as a research hub, the NLI hosts cultural events and exhibitions, fostering a sense of hope and resilience. Visitors often describe the library as a place of reflection and healing, marking it as a testament to the enduring spirit of the Israeli people.

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Firetracker. Israeli researchers at Bar-Ilan University have developed an AI model that predicts wildfire-causing lightning strikes with over 90% accuracy. The model can forecast when and where lightning might spark a blaze — potentially transforming global wildfire prevention. “Machine learning offers the potential to revolutionize how we predict and respond to lightning-ignited wildfires,” said project co-lead Oren Glickman. Lightning causes 16% of U.S. wildfires but is responsible for over half the land burned, due to its occurrence in remote areas. The Bar-Ilan model significantly outperforms traditional methods and could soon help emergency services act faster and smarter. While not yet deployed in real time, researchers say it’s a vital tool as climate change drives more lightning activity — and with it, the risk of devastating fires.

• Campus Community Advocacy Resources — From social media shares to letter writing campaigns, ADL has clear steps for you to take action and effect change on college campuses.
• K-12 Advocacy Resources — Tools and knowledge to foster and advocate for a safe, inclusive and equitable school environment for all.
• University Faculty and Staff — Support for impacted faculty and staff, guidance on how to discuss what constitutes antisemitism and anti-Zionism and how to provide help to students and colleagues.
• University Administration — Guidance & Best Practices for making campuses safer and more inclusive.
• Campus Antisemitism Report Card — See the grades of 135 universities, the current state of antisemitism on campus and how colleges and universities are responding.
• Chai-er Ed Podcast — ADL’s campus podcast, brings you firsthand stories from Jewish students navigating today’s college campuses.
• General Campus Resources — ADL Backgrounders, Educational Programming, Research and Analysis and more.
• Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) — College or university students, professors, or employees who want to report campus incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation, harassment, vandalism or violence that may necessitate legal action can report to CALL for legal support.
• K-12 Antisemitism Legal Line — Parents and other interested adults in California, Massachusetts and New York can report incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation, harassment, vandalism or violence occurring in K-12 schools to the K-12 Antisemitism Legal Line.
• Report an Antisemitic Incident.

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