CUNY Queens College has a Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek organizations on campus.

Litigation & Investigations

In June 2024, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights entered into a resolution agreement with the CUNY system, outlining a series of actions that universities within the system must take to address antisemitism on campus.

Among other requirements, the resolution stated that CUNY must provide trainings for those investigating incidents and reopen or initiate investigations of reports alleging discrimination on the basis of national origin and provide OCR with the results of the investigations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

There have been several recent antisemitic incidents at Queens College. For instance, in October 2023, “F*** Israel & American Government” and “Jews Suck” were written on a wall on campus.  In November, an individual reportedly approached Jewish students at a pro-Israel rally and said, “Go back to Poland! Go back to Germany. That’s where you’re from.” Also in November, counter-protesters are reported to have disrupted a pro-Israel march by chanting “Khaybar Ya Yahud” (meaning “Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews”), a call for violence against Jewish people.

In March 2024, threatening antisemitic graffiti was discovered on campus that included the messages “You better start hiding, Jews,” “Israelis, I’m coming after you,” and “Hitler, please come back. Teach Jews a lesson.” That same month, controversial antisemitic speaker Daniel Haqiqatjou came to the campus for an event that contained problematic antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+ and misogynistic content.

In December 2024, literature was distributed on campus that included an interview with the statement "All of us are Hamas and all of us are Fatah."

University Policies and Responsive Action

Queens College is participating in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative. In May 2023, the College hosted a “Paint the University Blue” event to raise awareness about antisemitism. President Wu also meets frequently with local Chabad leaders and the College’s Hillel Executive Director and Hillel Board and is working with the latter on establishing a working group against antisemitism. The College has also recently collaborated with both its Hillel and Muslim Student Association to hire an Imam to promote interfaith activity on campus.

The College has a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Committee that, informed by the IHRA definition, helps to develop programs related to antisemitism, and such trainings were regularly offered to students, staff, and faculty throughout 2023.

President Wu responded to the March 2024 graffiti with a statement saying, “Antisemitism has absolutely no place on the Queens College campus.”

In March 2024, the University released an Action Program to Address Antisemitism. In April 2024, the University hosted a “Combating Antisemitism Workshop for Queens College Administrators and Faculty,” a “Combating Antisemitism Workshop for Queens College Students,” a three-session series educating the campus community on how to respond to and address unconscious bias, including antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, and a Dismantling and Combating Hate Conference. The University is also engaged in efforts to assess antisemitism on campus through campus climate surveys and focus groups.

At the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, President Wu circulated a Welcome Message that specifically stated that antisemitism will not be tolerated on campus and a further message on reporting discrimination.

The University is also working with Jewish Community Relations Council Community Security Initiative to improve public safety and was part of the planning committee for the Queens Jewish Community Council’s October 7 commemoration event. In addition, the administration has developed a booklet on Jewish life at the college.

In September 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul called on the CUNY system to implement recommendations developed by Judge Jonathan Lippman after more than 10 months of investigation into the school’s antisemitism and anti-discrimination policies.

Commendations

On October 30, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to CUNY Queens College for the actions and policies implemented by the administration to combat antisemitism on campus in advance of the 2024 fall semester.

CUNY Queens College has a Hillel, Chabad, and Jewish Greek organizations on campus.

Litigation & Investigations

In June 2024, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights entered into a resolution agreement with the CUNY system, outlining a series of actions that universities within the system must take to address antisemitism on campus.

Among other requirements, the resolution stated that CUNY must provide trainings for those investigating incidents and reopen or initiate investigations of reports alleging discrimination on the basis of national origin and provide OCR with the results of the investigations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

There have been several recent antisemitic incidents at Queens College. For instance, in October 2023, “F*** Israel & American Government” and “Jews Suck” were written on a wall on campus.  In November, an individual reportedly approached Jewish students at a pro-Israel rally and said, “Go back to Poland! Go back to Germany. That’s where you’re from.” Also in November, counter-protesters are reported to have disrupted a pro-Israel march by chanting “Khaybar Ya Yahud” (meaning “Khaybar, Khaybar, oh Jews”), a call for violence against Jewish people.

In March 2024, threatening antisemitic graffiti was discovered on campus that included the messages “You better start hiding, Jews,” “Israelis, I’m coming after you,” and “Hitler, please come back. Teach Jews a lesson.” That same month, controversial antisemitic speaker Daniel Haqiqatjou came to the campus for an event that contained problematic antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ+ and misogynistic content.

In December 2024, literature was distributed on campus that included an interview with the statement "All of us are Hamas and all of us are Fatah."

University Policies and Responsive Action

Queens College is participating in Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative. In May 2023, the College hosted a “Paint the University Blue” event to raise awareness about antisemitism. President Wu also meets frequently with local Chabad leaders and the College’s Hillel Executive Director and Hillel Board and is working with the latter on establishing a working group against antisemitism. The College has also recently collaborated with both its Hillel and Muslim Student Association to hire an Imam to promote interfaith activity on campus.

The College has a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Committee that, informed by the IHRA definition, helps to develop programs related to antisemitism, and such trainings were regularly offered to students, staff, and faculty throughout 2023.

President Wu responded to the March 2024 graffiti with a statement saying, “Antisemitism has absolutely no place on the Queens College campus.”

In March 2024, the University released an Action Program to Address Antisemitism. In April 2024, the University hosted a “Combating Antisemitism Workshop for Queens College Administrators and Faculty,” a “Combating Antisemitism Workshop for Queens College Students,” a three-session series educating the campus community on how to respond to and address unconscious bias, including antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, and a Dismantling and Combating Hate Conference. The University is also engaged in efforts to assess antisemitism on campus through campus climate surveys and focus groups.

At the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, President Wu circulated a Welcome Message that specifically stated that antisemitism will not be tolerated on campus and a further message on reporting discrimination.

The University is also working with Jewish Community Relations Council Community Security Initiative to improve public safety and was part of the planning committee for the Queens Jewish Community Council’s October 7 commemoration event. In addition, the administration has developed a booklet on Jewish life at the college.

In September 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul called on the CUNY system to implement recommendations developed by Judge Jonathan Lippman after more than 10 months of investigation into the school’s antisemitism and anti-discrimination policies.

Commendations

On October 30, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to CUNY Queens College for the actions and policies implemented by the administration to combat antisemitism on campus in advance of the 2024 fall semester.