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Naydeen Gonzalez de Jesus

How we can stop antisemitism in higher education

An estimated 2.2 billion people hold antisemitic views – that’s 46% of the world’s adult population. Just a decade ago, that number was only half, according to the ADL Global 100. This is not only alarming on a human level, but it also poses a major threat to higher education.

Campus antisemitism has been infecting our colleges for decades, but it only captured the world’s attention when it jumped by a reported 700% after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre and kidnapping of Israeli civilians.

Seventy-two percent of American Jewish students reported that they feel “unwelcome” on their campuses, and over half say they have dealt with antisemitic incidents. As educators and administrators, this is completely unacceptable, and we need to take immediate action now to protect our Jewish students.

Even a Congressional committee released findings last October accusing administrators of prioritizing the “wants of terrorist sympathizers over the safety of Jewish students, faculty, and staff” as antisemitism engulfed their campuses.

Higher education institutions, once historic hubs of progressive thought and innovation, have allowed antisemitic prejudice to take hold. Antisemitism in academic spaces manifests in various forms: discriminatory hiring practices, the exclusion of Jewish perspectives in curriculum development, harassment of Jewish students, and the troubling rise of campus protests that blur the line between legitimate criticism of the State of Israel and outright hostility toward Jewish people.

I know firsthand how deep the antisemitic rhetoric runs. I was removed from my previous position as a college president for questioning the intentions of a “Teach-In for Palestine” event. If this is how higher education institutions treat academics who support our Jewish students, it’s no wonder that antisemitism is spreading so quickly throughout our universities.

These antisemitic views often stem from ignorance, cultural stereotypes, and misinformation perpetuated through social media, political discourse, and even educational materials.

To combat antisemitism on campus, proper education reform must begin.

Encouraging dialogue between diverse groups can break down stereotypes and foster mutual understanding. Interfaith and intercultural programs should be prioritized, allowing students and faculty to engage with different perspectives not only constructively, but safely. Universities should collaborate on research initiatives aimed at understanding and combating antisemitism on their campuses. This can include sociological studies, policy analysis, and historical research to inform better practices and strategies.

Reforming and rebuilding trust within not only Jewish communities but also Arab communities as a whole is of the utmost importance to combat growing hate. If there is no proper and factual education surrounding deeply sensitive and historical events, then antisemitism will continue to brew.

Allowing antisemitism to fester within academia jeopardizes the credibility and moral authority of educational institutions that are tasked with enriching our future workforce. When bigotry is tolerated, it undermines the pursuit of truth and the cultivation of a generation equipped to address complex global challenges. You cannot claim to be an institution that values education and progressiveness when in the very same breath you foster and accept hateful rhetoric.

The age of higher education is dead if antisemitism tolerated on our campuses becomes the new normal.

Naydeen González-De Jesús is the former president of San Antonio College and former U.S. public diplomacy officer who has championed student success and international collaboration. Her initiatives and contributions to the U.S.-Argentina Education Memorandum during the 2018 G20 Summit, have driven economic mobility, educational advancement, and strengthened bilateral relations.
About the Author
Naydeen González-De Jesús is the former president of San Antonio College and former US public diplomacy officer who has championed student success and international collaboration. Her initiatives and contributions to the US-Argentina Education Memorandum during the 2018 G20 Summit, have driven economic mobility, educational advancement, and strengthened bilateral relations.