30 | OCTOBER 3 • 2024 J
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T

he University of Michigan 
and Ann Arbor Police report-
ed two incidents of assault 
involving Jewish students and Jewish 
residences over the weekend of Sept. 
21-22. However, both stated that at 
this time, it is inconclusive that the 
incidents were biased or antisemitic 
in nature. 
Earlier in September, a 19-year-old 
male student was attacked late one 
evening when he was approached by 
a group of individuals who asked if he 
was Jewish. When he said 
yes, he was physically and 
verbally assaulted. This 
investigation is ongoing, 
and no suspects have 
been apprehended. 
In a letter released 
to the University of 
Michigan community Monday, Sept. 
23, University of Michigan President 
Santa Ono gave the following 
details: 
“
At 1:20 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 
a brief verbal exchange took place 
between a male student and an indi-
vidual who was with a larger group 
on the front porch of an off-campus 
house occupied by members of a his-
torically Jewish fraternity. The male 
student was punched once by the sus-
pect, who then fled. 
“
At approximately 1 a.m. Sunday, 
Sept. 22, a group returned and threw 
glass bottles at the house.”
Ono stated that both incidents are 
being thoroughly investigated and 
that, at this time, there is no indica-
tion that either incident was motivat-

ed by antisemitism.
He wrote: “I pledge to you all that 
I will do everything in my power to 
stand up against antisemitism and 
protect our Jewish community. I’m 
fully engaged in this matter. I have 
received regular updates throughout 
the weekend and, along with my 
leadership team, treat any allegation 
of identity-based violence with the 
utmost of seriousness.” 
Ono wrote that, because the inci-
dents took place off campus, the 
Ann Arbor Police Department is 
taking the lead in the investigation, 
and the University of Michigan 
Division of Public Safety and 
Security is providing support. Both 
agencies are significantly increasing 
patrols in the area and deploying 
additional security tools, including 
video surveillance. 

ANN ARBOR POLICE STATEMENT
On Sept. 23, the Ann Arbor Police 
Department (AAPD) announced on 
X that it is “actively investigating two 
assaults over the weekend within the 
1000 block of East University. In both 
incidents, the victims were students of 

the University of Michigan. A group 
of individuals in front of a residence 
confronted the students. At this point, 
the reasons and motives for these 
assaults have yet to be determined.”
AAPD on Sept. 24 on X stated: 
“Over several weeks, the Ann Arbor 
Police Department and the University 
of Michigan Police Department col-
lectively met with representatives 
from the Anti-Defamation League, 
University of Michigan, Chabad 
House of Ann Arbor, the Jewish 
Resource Center and its students to 

reaffirm our commitment to ensuring 
the safety of students and the broad-
er community. Both departments 
will continue coordinated efforts to 
increase patrols in the areas surround-
ing the campus to enhance security 
and provide additional support.” 

‘SHMIRA’ SECURITY GROUP
On Sunday afternoon, Sept. 22, 
the University of Michigan Jewish 
Resource Center released the following 
statement on its Instagram account: 
“This weekend, on Friday evening, 
a Jewish student was assaulted outside 
of a Jewish fraternity senior house. 
The attack resulted in the student 
needing to go to the hospital to receive 
stitches. The Jewish Resource Center 
rabbis have been in contact with the 
student and are providing him with 
any support he needs. The police have 
been involved and are investigating the 
details of this targeted attack.
”
The Jewish Resource Center also 
announced on Instagram it would 
be holding an emergency meeting to 
organize a “shmira” security group to 
support Jewish students. 
It stated: “The Center is seeking 
50-100 volunteers who are willing 
to walk or drive people to and from 
buildings and homes on campus.
” 
Rabbi Fully Eisenberger of the JRC 
said a WhatsApp group will be created 
where students can join and volunteer 
to walk other Jewish students on and 
off campus at night so they will not 
have to walk alone. 
Eisenberger said he and his staff 
have been “jammed” with requests for 

Jewish Resource Center to offer 
walking buddies and self-defense training.

Recent Attacks 
Leave U-M Jewish 
Students Wary

Rabbi Fully 
Eisenberger

STACY GITTLEMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

OUR COMMUNITY

University 
of Michigan

Ann Arbor 
Police

“I PLEDGE TO YOU ALL THAT I WILL 
DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO 
STAND UP AGAINST ANTISEMITISM AND 

PROTECT OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY.”

— SANTA ONO, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN PRESIDENT