San Francisco State University has announced a plan to address antisemitism after a recent survey revealed that 65% of Jewish students feel at least some need to hide their Jewish identity on campus.
The survey results were part of the university’s Campus Climate Assessment Report, a 34-page evaluation of SFSU’s campus environment released Oct. 28. The survey also found that 11% of Jewish student respondents experienced antisemitism at least occasionally, while 44% feel they are blamed for the actions of the Israeli government.
The report and recommendations for changes come after years of conflict and controversy at the university, two lawsuits and charges of “institutional antisemitism.”
The findings are the result of an 18-month collaboration between S.F. State, San Francisco Hillel, Hillel International and the Academic Engagement Network, as part of Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative. The AEN is an educational nonprofit dedicated to promoting Israel on college campuses. The initiative works with college administrations to “ensure a positive campus climate in which Jewish students feel comfortable expressing their identity and values, free of antisemitism, harassment, or marginalization.”
The SFSU survey of 87 Jewish student respondents, as well as 158 non-Jewish students and 115 faculty and staff members, found that while the majority of Jewish students have not personally experienced antisemitism, they did not feel supported by the administration when antisemitic incidents occurred. Sixty percent of students who encountered antisemitism said they were unsure how to report it to the university.
Many students reported feeling ambivalent about the way Israeli-Palestinian issues are treated on campus, though 25% said they felt diverse views on the matter are not respected in classroom settings.
