You Can Graduate Any Time You Like, but You Can Never Leave

Key Findings:

“Leaving elite institutions isn’t the way to solve the campus crisis.”

This essay argues that Jewish students and parents should change their current strategy of avoiding antisemitic campuses, because in a post-October 7th world, avoidance is neither effective nor possible. The idea that antisemitism is both limited to the university setting and that it can be looked past for a set period of time, for the purpose of something greater, is outdated.

Since the social media revolution and the COVID-19 pandemic — two major trigger factors of the contemporary wave of global antisemitism — Jewish values such as respect for differences and free exchange of ideas have begun to erode in wider society. This phenomenon started on campuses due to the energy of ideological intensity, information whiplash and minimal privacy. The shift of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel ideas from academia into daily American life is accelerated by the rapid spread of biased and false information, especially regarding October 7 and the Israel-Hamas war. This interconnected crisis means that challenges faced on campuses are now societal issues as well.

Jewish students must confront antisemitism head-on rather than retreat. Fear and avoidance are not solutions — engagement and activism are. The author describes the paralysis and silence she felt at the University of Chicago during an IRL anti-Jewish incident, leading her to connect with other Jewish students online during the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually, create Jewish on Campus (JOC). JOC started as a platform for sharing stories but evolved into a tool for change, helping students file complaints and advocate for their rights.

Jewish students at universities like the University of Vermont and SUNY New Paltz have used JOC to challenge discriminatory practices. The organization has also influenced national policy, ensuring Jewish students are included in DEI programs and that administrators protect them. Despite the pervasive antisemitism, the author sees a new generation of Jewish students who are resilient and determined. They are using their voices, supported by JOC, to fight for change both on campus and in the broader society.

Rather than fleeing hostile environments, Jewish students are standing tall and advocating for themselves. This is the new normal — and if Jewish students don’t face it with strength, starting on campus, they won’t change it.