When applying to college, students consider several factors: cost, size, academic rigor, location, and more. Unfortunately, some students are forced to add another item to their list – religious acceptance within the college community. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War, colleges have become a hub for debate on the issue, resulting in an uptick of antisemitism on many college campuses. This harsh reality has forced Jewish families at LS and across the country to consider how their students will be affected by hateful individuals on campus.
Senior President of the JSU Mikhal Shvartsman and her family entered the college application process with safety at the forefront of their minds. “I can’t justify spending that much money and time at an institution where I could be hurt for having a certain identity,” Mikhal states. “I feel as though I shouldn’t have to justify or defend my ethnicity and nationality to strangers and it’s affecting where I’m applying.” Running into protests or demonstrations is not a concern for her, but the increased violence and risk of being brutally attacked are. Mikhal is focused on choosing an institution where she feels safe and accepted for every part of her identity.
Senior and fellow JSU leader Jacob Goodman echoes this belief, “I wrote a lot about my Jewish identity in my college applications, and if a college doesn’t want to accept me because of it, I’d rather not go there.” Feeling free to be yourself and undeterred from pursuing higher education is a true concern for many Jewish students, and each individual must choose a college that is dedicated to creating an accepting environment.
Spreading awareness of the increasing violence towards Jewish college students is key to challenging antisemitism on campuses, as allowing institutions to ignore a culture of hate and violence adds to the problem. Rather, LS students, and students across the country, must remember to hold institutions accountable and prioritize safety above all else. When applying and committing to a college, whether you are Jewish or not, you must consider the type of people you hope to surround yourself with and the type of college administrators you want running your institution. Choose the welcoming, accepting, and change-seeking community over the college that fails to provide safety for all of its students.
