Old North News

Jewish students from various prestigious universities in the United States recently shared harrowing testimonies about their experiences with antisemitism on college campuses. The Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) organized a bipartisan roundtable where students from Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia, University of California, Berkeley, Rutgers, Stanford, Tulane, and Cooper Union spoke about the challenges they face.

Among the students who shared their stories were Shabbos Kestenbaum from Harvard University, Noah Rubin from the University of Pennsylvania, Talia Khan from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Eden Yadegar from Columbia University, Hannah Beth Schlacter from the University of California, Berkeley, Joe J. Gindi from Rutgers University, Kevin Feigelis from Stanford University, Yasmeen Ohebsion from Tulane University, and Jacob Khalili from Cooper Union.

During the roundtable, the students described the alarming prevalence of antisemitism on their campuses, with one student expressing, "I have become traumatized." The testimonies highlighted the urgent need for universities to address and combat antisemitism effectively.

The students' accounts shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by Jewish students in an environment where antisemitism persists. Despite efforts to address these issues, the students emphasized that more needs to be done to create a safer and more inclusive campus environment for all students.

The roundtable discussion served as a platform for Jewish students to urge Congress to hold universities accountable for addressing antisemitism and fostering a culture of respect and tolerance on college campuses. As one student aptly put it, "We are living in a climate of hatred and fear." The testimonies shared at the roundtable underscore the importance of addressing antisemitism in educational institutions and working towards a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all students.