The University of Michigan has a Hillel, Chabad, the Jewish Research Center and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

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

What’s Happening on Campus?

In October 2023, shortly after the Hamas terrorist attacks, flyers appeared on campus that read “Zionists f*** off.” Also in October 2023, a Star of David on the rock was crossed out in red paint.

Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE), the University of Michigan’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter, has been an active proponent of the BDS movement for many years. Following President Santa Ono’s statement condemning Hamas, SAFE organized a protest outside his home chanting “When Palestine is under attack, stand up, fight back,” and “Justice is our demand, no peace on stolen land.”

In November 2023, SAFE organized a sit-in outside the president’s office; hours after police officers began to warn protesters that they needed to leave, 40 students were arrested for not complying. SAFE continues to hold protests, walkouts and die-ins. Jewish fraternity houses and the Jewish Resource Center have also been vandalized in the past year.

In March 2024, a University of Michigan student and SAFE leader posted on Instagram, “Until my last breath I will utter death to every single individual who supports the Zionist state. Death and more. Death and worse.” Also in March 2024, the University’s Honors Convocation ceremony was abruptly ended due to disturbances by anti-Israel protesters. On at least two occasions in 2024, SAFE students disrupted classes by marching through the Ross Business School building.

In April 2024, anti-Israel protestors set up an encampment, calling themselves the ‘student Intifada.’ Despite reports of vandalism and property damage, as well as a protest that descended into violence, the encampment remained in place into mid-May. At the beginning of May, protestors also disrupted several commencement events and ceremonies, and the campus Hillel reported that a giant banner reading ‘Long Live the Intifada’ was blocking the entrance to one of the main campus buildings. In mid-May, masked protestors, allegedly from the University’s encampment, came to the homes of members of the University’s Board of Regents to demand divestment from Israel.

In August 2024, anti-Israel protestors attempted to disrupt Festifall. The group of about 50 protesters were asked to disperse and 4 individuals (none of whom were students) were arrested after it was made clear that they were blocking pedestrian traffic and violating university policy.

In August 2024, the University student government vowed to withhold funds from campus groups until the school agreed to divest from Israel. These actions led the student government to impeach the anti-Israel leaders. That same month, a sticker that read: "A Dead Zionist A Day Keeps Genocide Away" was placed on a pole on campus. In September 2024, a Jewish student was assaulted after being asked his ethnicity and, in a separate incident, two students at the University said loudly, "Jews deserve what happens to them."

In November 2024, at an anti-Israel protest against a lecture by a Jewish professor, protesters chanted, “[Professor's name] you can’t hide! Zionism is a crime!”

In December 2024, the home of Jordan Acker, a Jewish member of University of Michigan’s Board of Regents, was vandalized in what the University described as “a clear act of antisemitic intimidation.” 

University Policies and Responsive Action

In the wake of October 7, 2023 and the rise of antisemitism at the University, President Ono announced the creation of a new institute to combat antisemitism and advance religious inclusion. The administration has also committed to including antisemitism in DEI programming. Additionally, University leadership canceled a student body vote regarding two BDS-related resolutions after an unauthorized email was sent to the entire undergraduate student body encouraging support of the resolutions in violation of university standards.

In response to the threatening message posted on Instagram in March 2024, the University sent a campus-wide email condemning the student’s message and stating any violations of law or university policy would result in "appropriate consequences.” After the disruption of the Honors Convocation ceremony, President Ono condemned the disruption and announced that the University would be developing a policy governing disruption of university operations.

In response to the encampments, the University had requested that protestors violating policies disband. However, little effort had initially been made by the administration to dismantle the encampment, despite the serious nature of the incidents being reported. In May 2024, President Ono released a statement announcing the dismantling of the encampment after safety directives were ignored by protestors.

In July 2024, the Board of Regents clarified that the University itself may now act as a complainant when university policies are violated and submit incident complaints in a similar manner to how faculty, staff and students are able to, including in situations wherein “a student might not feel safe serving as a complainant.”

In August 2024, the University announced that they had streamlined the system for responding to discrimination- and harassment-related incidents and communicated to the campus community that individuals who violate policies will be held accountable.

The University is also currently developing a mandatory training program regarding discrimination and harassment based on race, color, shared ancestry, ethnicity and national origin. In September 2024, the University swiftly condemned an attack on a Jewish student. In November 2024, President Ono attended the Nova Music Festival Exhibition, developed to commemorate the victims of the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

ADL Michigan honored the University Hillel, Chabad and the Jewish Resource Center staff at its Walk Against Hate in Fall 2024.

In December 2024, the University held an anti-bias training for its leadership team, which included a module on antisemitism.

In January 2025, the University officially suspended SAFE, the University of Michigan SJP chapter.

Commendations

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

The University of Michigan has a Hillel, Chabad, the Jewish Research Center and Jewish Greek life organizations.

Litigation & Investigations

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

What’s Happening on Campus?

In October 2023, shortly after the Hamas terrorist attacks, flyers appeared on campus that read “Zionists f*** off.” Also in October 2023, a Star of David on the rock was crossed out in red paint.

Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE), the University of Michigan’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter, has been an active proponent of the BDS movement for many years. Following President Santa Ono’s statement condemning Hamas, SAFE organized a protest outside his home chanting “When Palestine is under attack, stand up, fight back,” and “Justice is our demand, no peace on stolen land.”

In November 2023, SAFE organized a sit-in outside the president’s office; hours after police officers began to warn protesters that they needed to leave, 40 students were arrested for not complying. SAFE continues to hold protests, walkouts and die-ins. Jewish fraternity houses and the Jewish Resource Center have also been vandalized in the past year.

In March 2024, a University of Michigan student and SAFE leader posted on Instagram, “Until my last breath I will utter death to every single individual who supports the Zionist state. Death and more. Death and worse.” Also in March 2024, the University’s Honors Convocation ceremony was abruptly ended due to disturbances by anti-Israel protesters. On at least two occasions in 2024, SAFE students disrupted classes by marching through the Ross Business School building.

In April 2024, anti-Israel protestors set up an encampment, calling themselves the ‘student Intifada.’ Despite reports of vandalism and property damage, as well as a protest that descended into violence, the encampment remained in place into mid-May. At the beginning of May, protestors also disrupted several commencement events and ceremonies, and the campus Hillel reported that a giant banner reading ‘Long Live the Intifada’ was blocking the entrance to one of the main campus buildings. In mid-May, masked protestors, allegedly from the University’s encampment, came to the homes of members of the University’s Board of Regents to demand divestment from Israel.

In August 2024, anti-Israel protestors attempted to disrupt Festifall. The group of about 50 protesters were asked to disperse and 4 individuals (none of whom were students) were arrested after it was made clear that they were blocking pedestrian traffic and violating university policy.

In August 2024, the University student government vowed to withhold funds from campus groups until the school agreed to divest from Israel. These actions led the student government to impeach the anti-Israel leaders. That same month, a sticker that read: "A Dead Zionist A Day Keeps Genocide Away" was placed on a pole on campus. In September 2024, a Jewish student was assaulted after being asked his ethnicity and, in a separate incident, two students at the University said loudly, "Jews deserve what happens to them."

In November 2024, at an anti-Israel protest against a lecture by a Jewish professor, protesters chanted, “[Professor's name] you can’t hide! Zionism is a crime!”

In December 2024, the home of Jordan Acker, a Jewish member of University of Michigan’s Board of Regents, was vandalized in what the University described as “a clear act of antisemitic intimidation.” 

University Policies and Responsive Action

In the wake of October 7, 2023 and the rise of antisemitism at the University, President Ono announced the creation of a new institute to combat antisemitism and advance religious inclusion. The administration has also committed to including antisemitism in DEI programming. Additionally, University leadership canceled a student body vote regarding two BDS-related resolutions after an unauthorized email was sent to the entire undergraduate student body encouraging support of the resolutions in violation of university standards.

In response to the threatening message posted on Instagram in March 2024, the University sent a campus-wide email condemning the student’s message and stating any violations of law or university policy would result in "appropriate consequences.” After the disruption of the Honors Convocation ceremony, President Ono condemned the disruption and announced that the University would be developing a policy governing disruption of university operations.

In response to the encampments, the University had requested that protestors violating policies disband. However, little effort had initially been made by the administration to dismantle the encampment, despite the serious nature of the incidents being reported. In May 2024, President Ono released a statement announcing the dismantling of the encampment after safety directives were ignored by protestors.

In July 2024, the Board of Regents clarified that the University itself may now act as a complainant when university policies are violated and submit incident complaints in a similar manner to how faculty, staff and students are able to, including in situations wherein “a student might not feel safe serving as a complainant.”

In August 2024, the University announced that they had streamlined the system for responding to discrimination- and harassment-related incidents and communicated to the campus community that individuals who violate policies will be held accountable.

The University is also currently developing a mandatory training program regarding discrimination and harassment based on race, color, shared ancestry, ethnicity and national origin. In September 2024, the University swiftly condemned an attack on a Jewish student. In November 2024, President Ono attended the Nova Music Festival Exhibition, developed to commemorate the victims of the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

ADL Michigan honored the University Hillel, Chabad and the Jewish Resource Center staff at its Walk Against Hate in Fall 2024.

In December 2024, the University held an anti-bias training for its leadership team, which included a module on antisemitism.

In January 2025, the University officially suspended SAFE, the University of Michigan SJP chapter.

Commendations

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