24 | DECEMBER 26 • 2024 
J
N

T

he year 2004 wasn’t an easy 
year to be a Jewish student 
on any campus, especially 
here in Michigan.
The year began with “Hundreds 
call for Intifada, Hail Houthis” at 
anti-Israel protests at Columbia 
University in January, enough 
to make Jews, students (and 
professors and administrators) 
wary on campus. 
 There were also pro-Palestinian/
anti-Israeli protesters who directly 
threatened Jewish students; 
antisemitic/anti-Israel posters and 
literature distributed on campus, 
calling for “death to Zionists,” 
often equating all Jews with Israel; 
calls for divestment from Israel; 
hostile occupations of buildings, 
encampments on campuses; 
disruptions of commencements and 

university administration/board 
meetings; and students assaulted.
As reported in the JN, Michigan 
colleges have not been immune. 
In particular, the University of 
Michigan and Wayne State have 
experienced anti-Israel rallies, 
encampments and confrontations. 
For example, U-M students lived 
with a pro-Palestinian encampment 
on the Diag for 30 days before it 
was forcibly removed in September; 
a 19-year-old student at U-M was 
assaulted by a group of individuals 
when he told them he was Jewish 
(“Jewish U-M Student Attacked,” 
Sept. 26, 2024); and convocation 
and commencement ceremonies 
at U-M were disrupted by anti-
Israel protesters (“U-M Graduation 
Disrupted,” May 26, 2024). 
Students at Wayne State 

University endured a pro-
Palestinian encampment on campus 
that popped up May 23 and lasted 
for a week before it was dismantled 
by campus officials. (“The Rise and 
Fall of Wayne State’s Anti-Israel 
Encampment,” June 13, 2024). 
While it was up, the encampment 
was visited by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, 
fresh from an anti-Israel diatribe 
she had given at the “People’s 
Conference for Palestine” a short 
distance away at Huntington Place 
(“Railing Against Israel,” June 6, 
2024).
In August, the ADL came out 
with its initial Campus Report 
Card, in which U-M received a “D” 
and Michigan State received an “F” 
(ADL’s Campus Report Card,” Aug. 
22, 2024). All in all, the JN reported 
at least 20 stories in 2024 that 

focused on campus antisemitism or 
anti-Israel agitators.
Beyond the campus, for example, 
members of the Board of Regents 
at U-M have had their homes and 
businesses violated and defaced, 
and the Jewish Federation building 
was marred with antisemitic 
graffiti.

STUDENTS RESPOND
Throughout these troubling 
times, there has, however, been 
one most encouraging sign: In 
the face of blatant antisemitism, 
Jewish students have been resilient, 
tough and undeterred in their 
pursuit of higher education 
and enlightenment — and the 
expression of their Jewish identity. 
A few examples: U-M students 
gathered in April for a rally 

2024 Newsmakers of the Year: 
Michigan Jewish College Students

OUR COMMUNITY

JACKIE HEADAPOHL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

