Fall 2024 Commendation

On October 30, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to the University of Colorado, Boulder for the recent actions and policies implemented by the administration to combat antisemitism on their campus. For more details on these policy updates, click here and for the commendation letter click here.

Background

The University of Colorado Boulder has 2,500 Jewish undergraduate students, representing 11% of the undergraduate student body, and 350 Jewish graduate students, comprising 5% of the graduate student population. There is a Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

The school’s Ethnic Studies and Women and Gender Studies departments have issued anti-Israel statements in recent years, accusing the Jewish state of “genocide” and “apartheid.” The most recent statement, released by the Ethnic Studies Department weeks after the October 7 Hamas attack, also said, “We also reject the language of 'terrorism' used by the US and Israel to justify the Israeli state killing machine.” The statement was eventually removed but replaced by a “Statement for Peace” that included links to Jewish Voice for Peace.

In addition, there have been many antisemitic incidents in the last year, including a Jewish CU Boulder student receiving a death threat on social media after he created a page to support the Jewish community and Israel in November and an individual reportedly stating, "Oh you're in AEPi, you're a kike" to a Jewish student.

The campus has also experienced challenges with some programs holding exams during Jewish holidays.

University Policies and Responsive Action

University administrators have distanced themselves from the Ethnic Studies Department statement, saying that “any expression that aims to harass or demean others is antithetical to our values as an institution.” The University has participated in several community conversations on the Jewish experience on campus and its Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance offers support and resources to students. The University is developing policy guidance on antisemitic and anti-Muslim harassment, as well as a new non-discrimination policy that will include antisemitism.

The University of Colorado system has also recently offered guidance to its campuses on providing antisemitism education. The Boulder campus is incorporating this guidance into its training for students, faculty, and staff. The campus has sponsored educational opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to learn about antisemitism and its impacts.