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Mourning the Australia Attack Victims. Resolve and remembrance are the words of the day on many campuses after the heartbreaking killings in Sydney. At Texas A&M, for example, where the son of the school’s Chabad rabbi was among those wounded in the Australia attack, a Hanukkah candle lighting will honor the lives of those killed and injured. Similarly, at Cal Berkeley, the
Chabad Hanukkah gathering was a blend of celebration and mourning. As one student movingly said at the ceremony, “It’s a hard event to be at because it’s … celebrating so much light, and also so much light was snuffed out last night.” At Yale University, the holiday observance similarly included a memorial to the victims. Yale also
announced extra security in light of the shootings in Australia and at Brown University: “Out of an abundance of caution, Yale Public Safety is providing increased, high visibility security coverage on campus throughout the examination period and Chanukah celebrations.”
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Berkeley’s Hanukkah event. (Source: The Daily Californian) |
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Washington. A House Education and Workforce Committee investigation into antisemitism at the American Psychological Association (APA) follows months of mounting concerns - many brought into the open by ADL’s Academic Association Integrity Index.
The Index spotlighted deep, systemic failures at the APA and other professional associations, exposing a reported pattern of inaction: ignored complaints, hostile climates and silence from leadership. Lawmakers are asking the same questions ADL raised: why Jewish members reported harassment, why complaints went unanswered and why a major accrediting body allowed this hate to fester. The investigation underscores the growing impact of ADL’s work in promoting accountability where institutions have long looked away.
DEEPER: Dive into ADL’s Academic Association Integrity Index and review our pathway for improvement for professional academic associations.
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Brown. As Hanukkah began, dozens of students gathered to light the first candle under falling snow - and the weight of grief. The menorah lighting took place just a day after a mass shooting in a packed economics class left two students dead, nine injured and the campus reeling. Led by Brown University’s
Hillel and Chabad, students shielded their flames and one another, choosing ritual and togetherness in the aftermath of trauma. With fear still raw and questions unanswered, the moment captured something quiet but resolute: even after violence, students came together to create light, safety and solidarity when they needed it most.
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Oberlin. Jews for Palestine want to rebrand as the Oberlin Anti-Zionist Jewish Collective - but student members of the group say the administration told them that the “anti-Zionist” label might violate the school’s open membership policy and trigger a federal Title VI complaint. The administration reportedly told students that no club can use “anti” in its name as it is generally considered discriminatory. But Oberlin College J4P members say it’s not about policy, it’s about
which forms of Jewish identity schools are willing to recognize. For now, the name remains in bureaucratic purgatory. But to quote the Bard: a rose by any other name would smell as sweet - but a Jewish student group labeled “anti-Zionist” might smell like legal trouble.
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Harvard. While there has been no official explanation for why Harvard University is replacing Mary T. Bassett, the head of its public health school, it seems unlikely that she will be missed by those concerned about anti-Israel bias. Bassett’s tenure drew scrutiny from Harvard’s
task force on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias for having programs and speakers that “rarely presented Israeli points of view except those of the state’s harshest critics.” For more data on campus bias, dig into ADL and AEN’s ‘Faculty Under Fire’ report
which revealed that 73.2% of surveyed faculty observed anti-Jewish activities or statements from faculty, administrators or staff.
DEEPER. Need support in pushing back against campus bias? Join the ADL University Staff Action Network, which supports and connects staff across higher education.
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NYU. Swastikas, slurs and antisemitic, anti-Black, and anti-Indian graffiti were found in a Dibner Library study room, now under investigation as a hate crime by NYPD and Campus Safety. It’s NYU
’s third antisemitic hate crime probe this semester. Campus Safety has promised that any students responsible will face “the full weight” of university discipline. The graffiti didn’t just target Jewish students. Black, Indian and Hindu communities were also in the crosshairs, prompting a moment of united outrage. In past incidents, NYU’s administration has acted decisively and publicly to address antisemitism, and we trust this investigation will be handled with the same seriousness, transparency and follow-through. One thing is for sure: libraries are for learning, not hate. Let’s keep it that way.
DEEPER: To hear NYU's Title VI Coordinator discuss the best practices that are central to effective Title VI compliance, watch this ADL webinar.
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American University. AU Hillel has been honored
with Hillel International’s 2025 Innovation Award for its leadership in the university’s Unity Meal program — a campus-wide effort to bring people together during a moment of deep division. On October 7, 2024, more than 300 students, faculty and staff gathered on the quad to mark the anniversary of the 10/7 attacks and to recommit to shared community. Recognized at Hillel International’s Global Assembly, the program stood out for fostering dialogue across differences while addressing real pain and tension. University leaders credited the initiative with strengthening campus climate, with President Alger noting that one of AU's greatest strengths is being "a
community made up of many different backgrounds, lived experiences, perspectives, opinions and ideas." |
