Most students at top colleges say antisemitism is a problem: Survey

Most students at the top 25 universities in the U.S. say antisemitism is a problem on their campus, according to a U.S. News & World Report survey. 

The survey found 67 percent of students in the top schools ranked by the organization said they believe antisemitism is a problem at their institution, while only 33 percent said it’s not a problem at all.  

Out of the 67 percent, 53 percent called antisemitism a “small problem” at their institution while 14 percent said it’s a “big problem.” 

The survey comes as the Anti-Defamation League has shown antisemitism has spiked across college campuses this year in the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian protests on campuses have caused disruptions such as classes being moved online at multiple universities and numerous students getting suspended. Thousands of people have been arrested at college demonstrations across the country in recent weeks.

However, the U.S. News & World Report survey showed 52 percent of students said the protests had no impact on their safety. 

Additionally, 38 percent of students said they felt less safe due to the demonstrations and 9 percent said they felt safer. 

But students did report it has an impact on campus life, with 41 percent saying the culture at their school was impacted negatively by the protests; 28 percent reported a better culture, while 31 percent of students are neutral on the topic.  

 The survey sampled 926 students and was conducted by Generation Lab April 28 to May 8.