The past year has seen a troubling rise in antisemitism and incidents on college campuses nationwide, affecting institutions like Washington University and St. Louis University. From inflammatory protests to hostile rhetoric, Jewish students have faced mounting challenges. In response, universities across St. Louis, along with campus organizations like Hillel have taken steps to support Jewish students and ensure their safety.
To further this crucial conversation, the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum will host an event on Nov. 25: “A Conversation on the State of Higher Education in Our Post 10/7 World.” This discussion will bring together leaders from WashU and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) to explore strategies for creating safer and more inclusive academic spaces.
An evening of insight and advocacy
Panelists include WashU Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Anna Gonzalez, and WashU Hillel CEO Jackie Levey. Meggie Wyschogrod Fredman, director of Jewish communal partnerships at AJC, will moderate the discussion, offering her expertise on the challenges Jewish students face today.
“The most pressing need for Jewish students is that university administrators ensure campuses remain, or in many cases work to return to being, safe and inclusive environments,” Fredman said. “Since Oct. 7, Jewish students have been ostracized and excluded solely based on their personal identities or support for Israel. Worse, we’ve seen the number of physical threats and attacks against students continue to grow.”
National initiatives for local impact
AJC’s Center for Education Advocacy has been instrumental in supporting universities nationwide. The center has met with more than 600 administrators and conducted over 150 closed-door sessions to address antisemitic and anti-Zionist incidents.
“One of the recent initiatives I’m most proud of is our College and University Presidents Summit on Campus Antisemitism,” Fredman said. “It was the largest-ever gathering of its kind, with over 75 university presidents and chancellors, including Chancellor Martin, coming together to confront this issue.”
A call to action for the community
Conversations like this one are essential for fostering understanding and collaboration.
“These exchanges are critical,” said Fredman. “It’s important for university administrators to hear from Jews about our lived experiences, challenges, and needs. At the same time, the community can see that campuses like WashU are not only facing significant challenges but are also vibrant and resilient places for Jewish life.”
The Jewish Federation of St. Louis, in partnership with AJC, WashU and WashU Hillel, encourages the community to join this discussion. For registration, visit the Federation website.
