Faculty and staff are the leading cause of antisemitism faced by Jewish faculty on American university and college campuses, according to a new survey conducted by the Anti-Defamation League and the Academic Engagement Network.
The report by ADL, an organization founded to combat antisemitism, and the AEN, an organization educating and empowering faculty and staff on university campuses across the country, surveyed 209 faculty who reported facing targeted boycotts and hostile workplace environments mainly from other faculty members.
“What we’re seeing is a betrayal of the fundamental principles of academic freedom and collegiality. Jewish faculty are being forced to hide their identities, excluded from professional opportunities, and told by their own colleagues what constitutes antisemitism — even as they experience it firsthand. This hostile environment is driving talented educators and researchers away from careers they’ve dedicated their lives to building,” Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO, said in an exclusive press release sent to The Center Square. “Universities must recognize that academic excellence cannot thrive when faculty members are marginalized based on their identity.”
The survey gathered information on faculty experiences on campus, stating that many were aware of an organized Faculty for Justice in Palestine chapter on campus, and 84.8% of respondents said their campus FJP chapter endorsed anti-Israel divestment campaigns.
“As a faculty member, I am incredibly concerned about the rise of antisemitism I am seeing on college campuses. I am especially troubled by the ignorance and hate that is perpetuated by colleagues who are entrusted with shaping young minds,” said Professor Shira Brown at California State University, Northridge, and an AEN faculty fellow. “This bias undermines our academic values of inclusion, and it disrespects Jewish students and faculty alike … I am committed to speaking out, supporting students, and fostering a learning community where Jewish identity is protected and celebrated.”
The survey claims that faculty have such negative campus experiences related to being Jewish. Among faculty who reported such experiences, the survey reports that 35.3% have low comfort levels with others on campus knowing they are Jewish.
The report suggests that these negative experiences are what sometimes contribute to self-censorship. More than one-third of all of the surveyed reported “having felt a need to hide their Jewish and/or Zionist identity from others on campus.”
“Colleges and universities are meant to be open, safe learning environments where faculty and students alike feel comfortable sharing ideas and having open discourse,” said Miriam Elman, AEN executive director. “It’s disturbing, but perhaps unsurprising, that Jewish and Zionist faculty on campuses across the country are experiencing antisemitic hostility and retaliation for their beliefs. What’s even more alarming is that much of this animosity is driven by the faculty and staff themselves, creating an unsafe work environment for their colleagues and an unwelcoming learning environment for their students.”
