Digital Library
Anti-Semitism@College
Topic:
Antisemitism & Antizionism, Israel & Regional Politics
Principal Investigators:
Cohen Center
Study Date:
2021
Source:
Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (LDB),Alpha Epsilon Pi,Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies
Key Findings:
The goal of this study is to understand the prevalence of acts of anti-Semitism at U.S. colleges and universities and in virtual campus settings through interviews with enrolled students who are members of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity (ΑΕΠ) and the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority (ΑΕΦ), two predominantly Jewish college Greek organizations.
Anti-Semitism is pervasive at college despite COVID-19. Two thirds of students experienced or were familiar with acts of anti-Semitism “over the past 120 days” on campus or in virtual campus settings. Despite relative student isolation during the pandemic, anti-Semitism continued at college while some of it moved online.
The longer students are on campus or in virtual college situations, the more they feel concerned about being verbally attacked, excluded, bullied, or harassed online, or even marginalized by professors. More than a quarter of students, increasing with college year, say they have felt unsafe as Jews on their campus or in virtual campus settings. As many as 10% were aware of physical attacks against Jewish students. Instead of college being a time of increasing freedom and self-exploration, students are also learning over time at college that just being Jewish draws new threats.
As a result, students are actively hiding their Jewish identity. Again, increasing with college year, 50% of Jewish students hide their Jewish identity and more than half avoid expressing their views on Israel. At an impressionable age, young adults are concluding that to avoid anti-Semitism they must view their religion and Jewish identity as something to hide, not celebrate.
It is significant that the anti-Zionism and anti-Israelism reported in this survey was experienced before the recent Israel-Gaza hostilities. It is likely that had the survey taken place in May instead of April, the number of anti-Semitic incidents relating to Israel would have been higher and the percentage of students expressing fear of being targeted would have been greater than reflected in the survey.
More than three in five ΑΕΠ and ΑΕΦ members said they also belong to Hillel (62%, 63%, respectively) and almost half to Chabad (49%, 47%).
Methodology:
The researchers invited all currently active members of ΑΕΠ and ΑΕΦ to participate in an internet survey commissioned by The Louis D. Brandeis Center. Two email invites were sent four days apart and students were paid with a $10 Amazon gift card for their full participation in the research.
Students were eligible for the survey if they self-reported being Jewish or had close family relatives who consider themselves to be Jewish. The results discussed in this report are of 710 members of Alpha Epsilon Pi and 317 members of Alpha Epsilon Phi.
Due to sensitivity of subject matter, identifying information was not shared with LDB, ΑΕΠ or ΑΕΦ unless individuals agreed to be contacted further to discuss their experiences.