alone on the quad - brandeis center

ALONE ON THE QUAD: Understanding Jewish Student Isolationon Campus presents selected findings from a larger study ofcollege student experiences with religious intolerance on campus. Conducted by the Institute for Jewish & CommunityResearch, the Study of Religious Tolerance on Campus surveyed over 1,400 students nationally, including oversam-ples of minority religious groups. It is one of the largest andmost comprehensive surveys of its kind.

The following is the first in a series of summaries, which pro-vide concise analysis of selected student survey data. The com-plete study will be made available in publications in 2012. Toreceive future summaries and publications, please click here.

The Institute for Jewish & Community Research (IJCR) is anindependent, non-partisan think tank that provides innova-tive research and pragmatic policy analysis on a broad rangeof issues including racial and religious identity, philanthropy,and anti-Semitism.

For more information contact: Aryeh Weinberg, Research DirectorInstitute for Jewish & Community Research415.386.2604www.JewishResearch.org

INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH & COMMUNITY RESEARCH

ALONE ON THE QUAD

UNDERSTANDING JEWISH STUDENT ISOLATION ON CAMPUS

INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH & COMMUNITY RESEARCH ¥ WWW.JEWISHRESEARCH.ORG 1

ARYEH WEINBERG

INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH & COMMUNITY RESEARCH


INTRODUCTION

Ample anecdotal evidence suggests that, over thelast decade, Jewish college students have facedrising levels of anti-Semitism on campuses acrossthe United States. Divestment campaigns,protests, rallies, guerrilla theater and inflammato-ry speakers have featured anti-Jewish rhetoric.With insufficient response from administrators,these events have devolved into hostile environ-ments where Jewish students and others havebeen maligned and threatened.

Over the last decade, the Jewish community hasmade significant investment in addressing risinganti-Semitism on university and college campus-es. Important questions remain about the exis-tence of a problem, the extent of the problemand how best to address it. IJCR fielded the sur-vey of college students to answer some of thesequestions and to help effectively direct communi-ty efforts and funding strategies.

The student survey findings confirm that a seri-ous problem does indeed exist on campuses forJewish students, and all students by extension. Italso critically informs the Jewish community onhow students perceive anti-Semitism. While thedata proves the existence of the problem, it alsoreveals that the vast majority of students remainun-opinionated, un-indoctrinated and thereforepotentially open to fair and accurate informationon Israel, the Jewish people and Judaism.

MAJOR F INDINGS

ALONE ON THE QUAD

1. Over 40% of Jewish Students Confirm Anti-Semitism on Their Campuses

2. Jewish Students Face Anti-Semitism Alone

3. Jewish Students Report Anti-IsraelismCreeping into the Classroom

4. Anti-Semitism is Being Normalized and Underreported

5. A Significant Minority of Jewish StudentsSay Anti-Israel Protest Targets Jews

6. The Majority of Non-Jewish Students Do Not Hold Opinions on Israel

ALONE ON THE QUAD

UNDERSTANDING JEWISH STUDENT ISOLATION ON CAMPUS


1. MORE THAN 2 IN 5 JEWISH STUDENTS CONFIRM ANTI-SEMITISM ON THEIR CAMPUSES

Over 40% of Jewish students surveyed answeredthat they are aware of or have personally experi-enced anti-Semitism on their campus.

A Jewish student has a good chance that he orshe will encounter anti-Semitism while in collegetoday. Every campus is different, but a nationalaverage of 43% warrants attention and demon-strates the existence of a problem.

A slightly higher percentage of Muslim students(49%) perceive anti-Muslim bias on campus, whileonly 18% of Christians are aware of anti-Christianbias. These numbers speak poorly of administra-tive efforts to encourage acceptance of religiousminorities. Furthermore, they underscore the factthat Jews, despite significant gains towardAmerican social acceptance, remain targets ofprejudice on campus.

2. JEWISH STUDENTS FACE ANTI-SEMITISM ALONE

While 43% of Jewish students perceive anti-Semitism on their campuses, only 11% of non-Jewish students recognize the existence of anti-Jewish bigotry on campus. Among religiousgroups, Atheist/Agnostics are a distant second toJews (20%), and are a small group that likelyincludes some number of Jews who do notidentify religiously.

The significant disparity between Jewish and non-Jewish students highlights the isolation Jewishstudents face in addressing anti-Semitism oncampus. Whether non-Jewish students donÕtknow anti-Semitism when they see it, donÕt payattention enough to recognize it, disagree withJewish students on the definition of anti-Semitismor condone it, the result is the same: the Jewishstudent community is often alone in attemptingto raise awareness, spur administrative action, orrally campus support. The percentage of Jewishstudents answering that anti-Semitism exists ontheir campus is a troubling trend, compoundedby the lack of obvious allies on campus for jewishstudents to turn to.


3. JEWISH STUDENTS REPORT ANTI- ISRAELISM IN THE CLASSROOM

Forty-one percent of Jewish students have heardanti-Israel remarks made in class by a professor,confirming that the academic experience of stu-dents is being impacted by anti-Israel activism oncampus. Other than Mormons, few non-Jewishstudents perceive anti-Israel remarks in class.

Faculty play a significant role in forming studentopinions, especially where they cross over frominstruction to indoctrination. Many students donot hold strong opinions on the Middle East con-flict and are particularly susceptible to acceptingfaculty points of view as truth, especially whenoffered in class. It may, therefore, be unsurprisingthat non-Jewish students, with little previousknowledge of Israel or the Middle East, do notrecognize anti-Israel comments made in class.

4. ANTI-SEMITISM IS BE ING NORMALIZED AND UNDERREPORTED

Significantly more Jewish and non-Jewish stu-dents reported specific anti-Semitic statementsheard on campus than reported anti-Semitism ingeneral. This finding calls into question what stu-dents consider anti-Semitism. Perhaps many donot consider rhetoric or stereotypes meaningfuloffensive behavior. Yet, one must consider thatcollege campuses are particularly sensitive toissues of tolerance and whether similar rhetoricabout other minority groups would be tolerated.

The finding contradicts claims that Jews are over-ly sensitive and quick to claim anti-Semitism. Theopposite seems to be true. Jewish students tendto dismiss a good deal of the anti-Semitic rhetoricthey encounter. The same is true for non-Jewishstudents. This trend hints at a creeping normal-ization of anti-Jewish sentiment on campus,which can quickly devolve into an environmentwhere Jews feel unsafe and unwanted. Thedismissal of anti-Jewish statements is particularlytroubling considering the high level of vigilanceagainst most forms of racism and bigotry on cam-pus.


5. ANTI- ISRAELISM TARGETS JEWS

Nearly one-third of Jewish students agree thatanti-Israel protest targets Jews. Fifteen percentbelieve it always or usually does and 16% believeit sometimes does.

The line between anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism is unclear and certainly not all criticismof Israel contains anti-Semitism. However, anti-Israel protest lowers the norms against anti-Jewish bigotry. It provides a convenient venue foranti-Semitic expression and embraces anti-Semitic stereotypes under the guise of politicalactivism. The blurring between anti-Israelism andanti-Semitism is recognized by nearly one-third ofJewish students. Less than one-in-ten non-Jewishstudents recognize anti-Jewish attacks withinanti-Israel protest, underscoring the dilemmaJews face on campus addressing problems fewother students recognize.

6. THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS ARE UNINFORMED ABOUT ISRAEL

Despite significant efforts by anti- and pro-Israelgroups, most students do not hold strong opin-ions, or any at all, related to Israel and theMiddle East.

The majority of non-Jewish students simply donot know what to think about the most wide-spread anti-Israel statements. The vast majoritydo not blame either the Palestinians or Israel forfailure to achieve peace in the Middle East.Whether this represents a gap in opinion or inknowledge is unclear. It is an important finding,signaling the opportunity to educate about Israeland the need to develop more engagingapproaches.

CONCLUSION

Jewish students have access to a wide range ofopportunities in college and continue to be rep-resented on campus well above national popula-tion numbers. However, the quality of their expe-rience is in question.

Nearly half of young Jewish adults entering col-lege can expect to be confronted by anti-Semitism on their campus. Contrary to the expe-rience of many other minorities, Jewish studentsface isolation in attempting to raise awarenessand combat anti-Jewish bigotry. Moreover, anti-Israel protest, for many Jews, include attacks onthe Jewish people and faith. Deeply concerning isevidence that anti-Israel rhetoric has made itsway into the classroom, increasing the alienationof Jewish students on campus.

The vast majority of non-Jewish students remainneutral or unaware of issues related to Israel andthe Middle East. These students present anopportunity, and engaging the undecided majori-ty offers significant potential for both immediateand long term progress.

FORTHCOMING

Upcoming major findings summaries will covertopics including student opinions of Jewish cam-pus organizations, opinions of entrepreneurship,views of the Middle East conflict and profiles ofcore anti-Israel activists.

For more information contact: Aryeh Weinberg, Research DirectorInstitute for Jewish & Community Research415.386.2604www.JewishResearch.org


© 2011 All rights reserved. Institute for Jewish & Community Research.

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