California. An October 7 memorial event at Pomona College was interrupted by four masked intruders who shouted “Zionists not welcome here!” during a lecture by 10/7 survivor Yoni Viloga. The incident occurred during an anniversary event hosted in partnership with Claremont Hillel. The individuals, who were so desperate to interrupt the event that they entered through a locked fire door, were soon removed by security. Pomona President Gabrielle Starr condemned the disruption as “outrageous and cruel,” promising to pursue disciplinary action if the intruders are found to be affiliated with the college. Claremont Hillel called the disruption “deeply upsetting,” but reaffirmed that the community “ended the night as we began: in community… holding fast to hope.”

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Washington D.C. At Catholic University of America, a peaceful Oct. 7 memorial featuring Israeli flags was torn down by staff and then returned to student organizers in a trash bag. The display, created by Students Supporting Israel to honor the 1,200+ victims of Hamas terror, was initially approved before administrators claimed the greenlight was a “mistake.” CUA said the removal was about policy, citing that only U.S., D.C., and Vatican flags are allowed outdoors, but students noted Ukrainian flags have been publicly displayed before. “They weren’t just removing flags; they were erasing over 1,200 stories,” said SSI’s Felipe Avila. The university expressed regret for the timing but stood by the decision.

(Courtesy of Students Supporting Israel)

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Montana. At Montana State University, a small group of anti-Israel protesters from Students for a Democratic Society and Montana 4 Palestine disrupted an information session about the U.S.-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development (BARD) Fund, which supports joint research to advance global food security and agricultural innovation. Despite the event’s focus on scientific collaboration, protesters accused BARD of funding “occupation and genocide,” holding signs like “Pro-science, anti-genocide.” The protest reflects a troubling trend of hostility toward academic exchange with Israel — where political activism increasingly seeks to block scientific partnerships that aim to improve lives rather than divide communities.

DEEPER: ADL’s guide on academic boycotts dives into recognizing “soft” and “shadow” boycotts like the above. More here.

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National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). SJP has adopted Hamas’s violent “death to all collaborators” campaign, prompting renewed calls for its removal from U.S. campuses. In an Oct. 12 post, National SJP glorified a Hamas propagandist killed in Gaza and declared: “Death to the occupation! Death to Zionism! Death to all collaborators!” The group went on to insist that “the fight against Zionism’s collaborators must continue” and that “collaborators have no place in a liberated future.” SJP also launched a “Break the Butchers” campaign, referencing university board and trustee members as the butchers and at times depicting violent attacks in social media posts.

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Cal State. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has launched a systemwide investigation into antisemitism across all 22 California State University (CSU) campuses, issuing a subpoena for employees' personal contact info. The move triggered immediate pushback from the California Faculty Association, which called the probe a violation of privacy and academic freedom and advised faculty not to cooperate with the EEOC’s direct inquiries. Some faculty claim the investigation is politically motivated, while others, including CSULB Jewish Studies Director Jeffrey Blutinger, say it's long overdue. “I shouldn’t be required to choose which threat I ignore,” Blutinger told reporters, going on to say that is due to real instances of antisemitism on campus.

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New National Poll. A new Washington Post poll finds 42% of American Jews avoided wearing or displaying visible Jewish symbols in the past year, a sharp increase from 26% in 2023. Only 18% of respondents said they feel “very safe” in the U.S. today. On campus, 44% say there's “a lot” of antisemitism at colleges and universities. While physical incidents have declined since the 2023-24 academic year, online antisemitic bullying remains high, according to Hillel International. Additionally, two-thirds report encountering antisemitic content online at least once a month. “The worst problem for Jews is social media and its ability to amplify this hate,” says Pamela Nadell, a historian of American Judaism at American University. “What people don’t understand is the power of being attacked for this aspect of one’s identity.” These findings align with a new ADL-JFNA survey, which revealed that more than half of Jewish Americans witnessed at least one form of antisemitism in the last 12 months and that 57-percent believe antisemitism is now a normal Jewish experience.

From Shock To Action. After a swastika was found outside a Jewish student’s dorm in September, Jewish students at Dartmouth have described feeling “upset,” “scared” and disappointed by the lack of peer support. “Very few students who were not connected to Jewish life… spoke out,” said Hillel president Hannah Brooks. Still, many expressed appreciation for President Sian Beilock’s visible presence and swift response. As Hillel Rabbi Seth Linfield put it, this is a moment to go “beyond responding to antisemitism to cultivate a campus where Jewish students flourish because their identity is embraced as a fabric of the community.” It should be noted that Dartmouth was the only Ivy League school to receive a “B” on ADL’s Campus Antisemitism Report Card, but if peers want an A, showing up when it counts is the assignment.

Swastika from September Dartmouth Incident. (The Dartmouth/Courtesy of Ruby Benjamin)

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Still Waiting For Civility. A Jewish student at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Leore Tal, argues that while the Israel-Hamas ceasefire brings hope abroad, peace and reasoned discourse remain elusive on campus. Tal challenges groups like Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine (MSJP)’s repeated claims of “genocide,” and highlights how the group creates a hostile climate, yelling over dialogue, hurling slurs and suing the university over being barred from the homecoming parade over its “genocide” sign. The piece claims that MSJP members wrap their identities around being right and righteous to the point that “refutations of their lies never seem to sink in.”

• Campus Community Advocacy Toolkit — From incident reporting and educational resources to letter-writing campaigns and Know Your Rights factsheets, ADL has clear steps for you to take action and effect change on college campuses.
• University Administration — Guidance and 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.
• General Campus Resources — ADL Backgrounders, Educational Programming, Research and Analysis and more.
• Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) (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 Advocacy Resources — Tools and knowledge to foster and advocate for a safe, inclusive and equitable school environment for all.
• K-12 Advocacy Resources for Independent Schools — Additional resources for members of independent K-12 school communities.
• 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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