Jewish Students’ Spatial Belonging on Campus
Over the past several years, there has been a documented rise of antisemitism at colleges and universities in the United States. According to the Anti-Defamation League, in 2024, there were 9,354 antisemitic incidents in the United States, which represents a 344% increase over the past five years and an 893% increase over the past 10 years. Jewish spaces like Hillels, Chabads, synagogues, and Jewish life centers have been vandalized with antisemitic symbols or sayings. Additionally, some Jewish students have been harassed and assaulted on campus, though a recent report from the Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University found that few reports from Jewish students described direct hostility or threats to physical safety. Instead, Jewish students more frequently reported feeling isolated because of their identity and their real or perceived views on Israel. This isolation has a profound effect on students’ experiences in college and their ability to form relationships with peers, faculty, staff, and administrators.
