Campus Climate Update – Fall 2025

CAMPUS CLIMATE UPDATE FALL 2025
September 19, 2025

Shana Tovah Terps Community,

We hope you are preparing for a meaningful Rosh Hashanah filled with family and friends. On campus, we began the year with incredible energy, welcoming nearly 400 first-year students through our annual FreshFest program and celebrating Shabbat with more than 600 students.

While the Jewish community has continued to thrive, it is not without its challenges. In recent weeks, the Student Government Association (SGA) passed two anti-Israel “emergency” resolutions, one this week urging the university to acknowledge the genocide in Gaza and another last week disapproving of Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer’s presence near campus because of their past support of Israel. These bills sadly continue to isolate the Jewish and pro-Israel community on campus, yet our community remains strong as our student leaders continue to respond with courage. In a recent statement to The Diamondback, the UMD student newspaper, the university shared that any resolution voted on by SGA will have no bearing on university policy or practice.

Our student leaders are inspiring and amazingly resilient. I stand in awe of all they do and who they are. They crafted this strong statement, in conjunction with Maryland Hillel staff: Instagram  Virtually every Jewish organization on campus, student and professional, co-sponsored indicating how strong and broad the pro-Israel coalition is at Maryland. Our hearts go out to the impacted Palestinian children along with the remaining  hostages in captivity as we demand their immediate release.

Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom and a blessed Shana Tova as we pray for happiness, peace, strength, and healing ahead.