Campus Climate Update 1

CAMPUS CLIMATE UPDATE #1
August 27, 2024

Good afternoon Jewish community,

Yesterday was the first day of classes, and things are humming! Last week, we greeted a record 301 Freshmen in the largest Jewish FreshFest in the country. Tonight, from 5-7 PM at Hillel, at our opening BBQ we will welcome over 1,200 Terps and President Pines for some tasty kosher food – to connect with our resilient community and celebrate our pride in being Jewish Terps! While others are attempting to generate the noise of oy, we are focused on creating the music of joy!

While we are celebrating our Jewish pride, others in the Maryland community are not. We are aware that Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is putting up flags on the mall today (Tuesday, August 27th), and will also be gathering for speeches at 1 PM. As President Pines remarked yesterday in his campus email, free speech, including hate speech, is protected under the Constitution and at the same time, all antisemitism and hateful speech needs to be reported to the University (BISS). The UMD police will be present at all anti-Israel protests to ensure that the event goes off without any disturbances, and we urge our own community not to try to disturb or counter-protest these events. Understanding that these anti-Israel protests can be disturbing, we at UMD Hillel are here with open doors – and open arms – to help any student.

Separately, we are also aware that SJP has reserved the mall on October 7th which is an affront to a day of Jewish tragedy and mourning. Our pro-Israel student leaders have reserved a separate large space (Hornbake Plaza) on the same day. It is important to note that while SJP followed campus protocol to reserve space on October 7th and didn’t violate any UMD rules in doing so, we did voice our concerns with senior UMD leadership (President, VP). We apprised them of the emotional load SJP’s callous behavior will bear on our Jewish community if they protest on the greatest Jewish day of mourning and tragedy since the Holocaust.

All in all, I am in daily contact with the University administration and police who remain stellar pillars of support for our community. We cherish our relationships and these allies help provide constant and vigilant police presence around Hillel and other Jewish spaces on campus. At the same time, we are very much aware of the e rise in antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment on campus and around the globe; sadly, College Park is not immune. Students should reach out to me or any of Hillel’s student leaders who can assist in filing a BISS or student conduct report; or in case of an emergency reach out to the police.

As we navigate these tense times on campus, I encourage you to:

Check on one another. Everyone’s reaction to today’s protest will be different, but we all gain strength when we know that someone else is thinking of us. A simple text can make a world of difference.

Come together. The Hillel Building will be open all day today (as it is every day) and full of activities designed to help you de-stress. Hillel staff will be there to talk and support you, whatever you are feeling.

Take care of yourself. You know best what you will need for your spiritual and emotional wellbeing. Take the time tomorrow to do that. Find some nature, watch a movie, exercise, read a book. Whatever it is, recognize that self-care is necessary and a sign of well-ordered priorities.

Please stay safe, take care of yourselves, and know that you have a strong and supportive community here at Hillel. In these challenging times in Israel, we want to let you know that Hillel is here to support you. We understand that the current situation may be causing stress and anxiety, and we are committed to providing resources to help you navigate these difficult times.

Here’s to a great first week!

B’shalom,
Ari