As the fall semester of college is well underway and college application season is in full swing, concerns about Jewish life on campus and antisemitism have returned once again, and the Anti-Defamation League has graded three Maryland universities with their Campus Antisemitism Report Card.

The Maryland area schools: University of Maryland, Towson University and Johns Hopkins University received mixed marks from the ADL, based on a variety of weighted factors that includes university policies, Jewish life and recent antisemitic incidents.

The report card was released by the ADL in April, grading 85 schools around the country and revised its methodology in June after some Hillels and Jewish organizations felt that the previous system was an oversimplification.

This revised report card includes a detailed breakdown of the situation on these campuses and the ADL says it will be updated each year.

Johns Hopkins: D

Johns Hopkins clocks in with the worst score of the three, labeled as having a “deficient approach” in dealing with campus antisemitism, according to the ADL.

The ADL listed several factors contributing to the low score, such as an active Title VI investigation opened by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in February and anti-Zionist protests on campus in the past several months.

The report listed antisemitic incidents going back several years, including one in 2020 where a teaching assistant posted on X (formerly Twitter) asking if Zionists should have their exams graded differently.

There have also been reports of antisemitic slurs targeting students and an incident in 2023 where a Jewish student had their mezuzah torn down. Students also complained of verbal attacks post-Oct. 7 that were not responded to in a timely manner.

The campus also had an encampment that lasted for two weeks in May and was resolved through a promise from university leaders to review the protesters’ demands over divestment from Israel.

The university did receive some credit as they released a statement on Oct. 7 condemning the attacks, has a group to support Jewish, Muslim and Arab students and offers antisemitism education to community members.

They also were credited for having a clear policy position against the Boycott Divest Sanction movement, an advisory council to address antisemitism, a clear process for reporting antisemitism and clear religious accommodations.

The university also has active Jewish life on campus, with 450 Jewish undergrads making up 8.4% of the student body who can take advantage of Jewish student organizations, Jewish Greek life, Jewish studies programs, kosher dining, pro-Israel related programming and Jewish religious services among other available resources.

Towson University: B

Towson tied for first among the grade given among the three schools, given a label of “better than most” from the ADL due to their report finding low levels of severe antisemitic activity on campus and no hostile anti-Zionist student group or student government activity.

The university was docked slightly for having only partially met the ADL’s criteria on including antisemitism in their code of conduct, having an official position against BDS and publicly condemning antisemitic incidents.

There have been some incidents and protests on campus since Oct. 7, with a report of two individuals writing “F*** the Jews” on a campus chalkboard and screaming at visibly Jewish students on campus in October 2023.

The ADL report says that the phrases “Long live the intifada,” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” were also chalked on campus throughout the year and a “die-in” was held in November 2023 where 11 fake bodies were put on the Tiger Plaza to represent Gazans killed by Israel.

Since Oct. 7, the university has promised to publicly condemn antisemitic incidents if they occur and investigate anti-Israel groups if any university policies are violated.

There is a sizable Jewish population on campus, with 2,000 Jewish undergrads making up 12% of the undergrad enrollment, who have access to Jewish student organizations, Jewish Greek life, Jewish studies programs, kosher dining, pro-Israel related programming and Jewish religious services among other resources offered.

The University also has a partnership with the Baltimore Hebrew Institute.

University of Maryland: B

UMD tied with Towson, receiving the label of “better than most” due to a low level of severe antisemitic incidents, an active Jewish life scene, participation in the Hillel Campus Climate Initiative and public condemnation of antisemitism.

Despite having a low number of severe antisemitic incidents, the ADL found that the campus had a medium level of “other antisemitic and anti-Zionist incidents,” along with the presence of anti-Zionist student groups Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voices for Peace. There was also reported anti-Zionist student government activity.

The ADL report found multiple instances of antisemitic chalking on campus, with some messages calling for intifada revolution, and students reported that at a November 2023 SJP protest, some protesters expressed “hateful, antisemitic statements.”

The university was credited for a strong response since Oct. 7, with UMD President Darryll Pines condemning the attacks and promising to protect Jewish students. The university has since released several messages and initiatives combating all forms of hate on campus.

The ADL also listed UMD as participants in the CCI, a strategy for university leaders to combat antisemitism and create a campus climate where Jewish students feel comfortable expressing themselves.

There are 5,800 Jewish undergrads on campus, making up just over 19% of the undergraduate population, and students have access to Jewish student organizations, Jewish Greek life, Jewish studies programs, kosher dining, pro-Israel related programming and Jewish religious services among other resources offered.

bhamelin@midatlanticmedia.com