University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) has a Hillel, Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations, and the George L. Mosse/Laurence A. Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In February 2024, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation into allegations that the University has failed to adequately protect Jewish students on campus, including during incidents such as when anti-Israel protestors chanted “Glory to the martyrs” during an October 2023 rally.

In March 2025, UW-Madison was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI. In August 2025, the University granted a religious housing accommodation to a Jewish student after a law firm sent the university a demand letter on behalf of the student.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In April 2024, at an anti-Israel encampment, protesters displayed messages that included "By any means necessary" and "From the river to the sea.” In May 2024, an individual flashed a knife at a student holding an Israeli flag on campus and stated, "Jews shouldn't be on campus."

In October 2024, at an anti-Israel rally celebrating the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, protesters chanted, “Intifada” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

In November 2025, various antisemitic and anti-Israel stickers were placed on campus. The stickers read: "Sinwar Lives" with an inverted red triangle (a symbol associated with Hamas), "Oct. 7th" with an image of a paraglider, "P.F.L.P." [the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine], "Zionism Nazi," "Death to Israel," and "Stand with the Resistance."

In December 2025, an individual entered a Jewish organization at the University wearing a bullet-proof vest and a Palestinian Flag and motioned as if he was carrying a gun.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University administration has made statements in solidarity with the Jewish community, has worked with campus police when incidents have been reported, and has condemned the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

In May 2024, following a 12-day encampment, the University reached a deal with the protestors, promising, among other items, to facilitate a meeting between the protestors and the UW Foundation. The agreement was preceded by 34 arrests at the encampment.

Prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, the University reviewed and revised existing protest guidelines to create a broader Expressive Activity Policy, and updated the Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct. The University also issued campus-wide guidance on Political Activity and Public Advocacy on Campus including in the classroom, and centralized the intake and review of bias reports (including shared ancestry) within the University’s Office of Compliance.

The UW-Madison SJP chapter was put on a 10-month suspension in October 2024 after it was determined SJP had violated multiple university rules during the encampment.

Beginning in the Fall 2024 semester, the University has provided mandatory free expression training to all new students. The training includes discussion of offensive speech and training on Title VI discrimination. In addition, all incoming students must complete the Our Wisconsin module, an inclusion education program created to raise awareness of the diversity within the student population. In March 2025, the University announced that its senior leaders were continuing to participate in Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI), which has led to additional training for staff in several departments. The University also has a community advisory committee that includes community and campus leaders from a variety of backgrounds. The campus Hillel executive director sits on this committee.

The University is strengthening its civil discourse-related work via the Wisconsin Exchange, a new program designed to help students, faculty, and staff learn to engage, live, and lead in a polarized world. The University has also expanded student access to its series of “Deliberation Dinners,” in which small groups of students with divergent political and social views are invited to sit down to dinner together to discuss an issue in a conversation that is facilitated by a trained faculty member. Additionally, the University’s research-based Discussion Project trains faculty and others in a teaching role to facilitate classroom discussions around complex, sensitive, challenging issues.

The University also consistently communicates with the campus Chabad and Hillel about issues related to Jewish life on campus.

In March 2026, after the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) Student Council passed a resolution calling for divestment from Israel, the University issued a statement rejecting the ASM Student Council's "flawed, unrelated and illegal demands" and noting that the administration was "reviewing reports alleging that an online chat, including possibly some ASM representatives, used an antisemitic term in reference to limiting potential speakers."

University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) has a Hillel, Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations, and the George L. Mosse/Laurence A. Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In February 2024, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation into allegations that the University has failed to adequately protect Jewish students on campus, including during incidents such as when anti-Israel protestors chanted “Glory to the martyrs” during an October 2023 rally.

In March 2025, UW-Madison was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI. In August 2025, the University granted a religious housing accommodation to a Jewish student after a law firm sent the university a demand letter on behalf of the student.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In April 2024, at an anti-Israel encampment, protesters displayed messages that included "By any means necessary" and "From the river to the sea.” In May 2024, an individual flashed a knife at a student holding an Israeli flag on campus and stated, "Jews shouldn't be on campus."

In October 2024, at an anti-Israel rally celebrating the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, protesters chanted, “Intifada” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

In November 2025, various antisemitic and anti-Israel stickers were placed on campus. The stickers read: "Sinwar Lives" with an inverted red triangle (a symbol associated with Hamas), "Oct. 7th" with an image of a paraglider, "P.F.L.P." [the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine], "Zionism Nazi," "Death to Israel," and "Stand with the Resistance."

In December 2025, an individual entered a Jewish organization at the University wearing a bullet-proof vest and a Palestinian Flag and motioned as if he was carrying a gun.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University administration has made statements in solidarity with the Jewish community, has worked with campus police when incidents have been reported, and has condemned the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

In May 2024, following a 12-day encampment, the University reached a deal with the protestors, promising, among other items, to facilitate a meeting between the protestors and the UW Foundation. The agreement was preceded by 34 arrests at the encampment.

Prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, the University reviewed and revised existing protest guidelines to create a broader Expressive Activity Policy, and updated the Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct. The University also issued campus-wide guidance on Political Activity and Public Advocacy on Campus including in the classroom, and centralized the intake and review of bias reports (including shared ancestry) within the University’s Office of Compliance.

The UW-Madison SJP chapter was put on a 10-month suspension in October 2024 after it was determined SJP had violated multiple university rules during the encampment.

Beginning in the Fall 2024 semester, the University has provided mandatory free expression training to all new students. The training includes discussion of offensive speech and training on Title VI discrimination. In addition, all incoming students must complete the Our Wisconsin module, an inclusion education program created to raise awareness of the diversity within the student population. In March 2025, the University announced that its senior leaders were continuing to participate in Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI), which has led to additional training for staff in several departments. The University also has a community advisory committee that includes community and campus leaders from a variety of backgrounds. The campus Hillel executive director sits on this committee.

The University is strengthening its civil discourse-related work via the Wisconsin Exchange, a new program designed to help students, faculty, and staff learn to engage, live, and lead in a polarized world. The University has also expanded student access to its series of “Deliberation Dinners,” in which small groups of students with divergent political and social views are invited to sit down to dinner together to discuss an issue in a conversation that is facilitated by a trained faculty member. Additionally, the University’s research-based Discussion Project trains faculty and others in a teaching role to facilitate classroom discussions around complex, sensitive, challenging issues.

The University also consistently communicates with the campus Chabad and Hillel about issues related to Jewish life on campus.

In March 2026, after the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) Student Council passed a resolution calling for divestment from Israel, the University issued a statement rejecting the ASM Student Council's "flawed, unrelated and illegal demands" and noting that the administration was "reviewing reports alleging that an online chat, including possibly some ASM representatives, used an antisemitic term in reference to limiting potential speakers."

University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) has a Hillel, Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations, and the George L. Mosse/Laurence A. Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In February 2024, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation into allegations that the University has failed to adequately protect Jewish students on campus, including during incidents such as when anti-Israel protestors chanted “Glory to the martyrs” during an October 2023 rally.

In March 2025, UW-Madison was one of the 60 schools that received a letter from the Department of Education accusing them of violating Title VI. In August 2025, the University granted a religious housing accommodation to a Jewish student after a law firm sent the university a demand letter on behalf of the student.

What’s Happening on Campus?

In April 2024, at an anti-Israel encampment, protesters displayed messages that included "By any means necessary" and "From the river to the sea.” In May 2024, an individual flashed a knife at a student holding an Israeli flag on campus and stated, "Jews shouldn't be on campus."

In October 2024, at an anti-Israel rally celebrating the anniversary of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, protesters chanted, “Intifada” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

In November 2025, various antisemitic and anti-Israel stickers were placed on campus. The stickers read: "Sinwar Lives" with an inverted red triangle (a symbol associated with Hamas), "Oct. 7th" with an image of a paraglider, "P.F.L.P." [the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine], "Zionism Nazi," "Death to Israel," and "Stand with the Resistance."

In December 2025, an individual entered a Jewish organization at the University wearing a bullet-proof vest and a Palestinian Flag and motioned as if he was carrying a gun.

University Policies and Responsive Action

The University administration has made statements in solidarity with the Jewish community, has worked with campus police when incidents have been reported, and has condemned the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

In May 2024, following a 12-day encampment, the University reached a deal with the protestors, promising, among other items, to facilitate a meeting between the protestors and the UW Foundation. The agreement was preceded by 34 arrests at the encampment.

Prior to the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, the University reviewed and revised existing protest guidelines to create a broader Expressive Activity Policy, and updated the Registered Student Organization Code of Conduct. The University also issued campus-wide guidance on Political Activity and Public Advocacy on Campus including in the classroom, and centralized the intake and review of bias reports (including shared ancestry) within the University’s Office of Compliance.

The UW-Madison SJP chapter was put on a 10-month suspension in October 2024 after it was determined SJP had violated multiple university rules during the encampment.

Beginning in the Fall 2024 semester, the University has provided mandatory free expression training to all new students. The training includes discussion of offensive speech and training on Title VI discrimination. In addition, all incoming students must complete the Our Wisconsin module, an inclusion education program created to raise awareness of the diversity within the student population. In March 2025, the University announced that its senior leaders were continuing to participate in Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI), which has led to additional training for staff in several departments. The University also has a community advisory committee that includes community and campus leaders from a variety of backgrounds. The campus Hillel executive director sits on this committee.

The University is strengthening its civil discourse-related work via the Wisconsin Exchange, a new program designed to help students, faculty, and staff learn to engage, live, and lead in a polarized world. The University has also expanded student access to its series of “Deliberation Dinners,” in which small groups of students with divergent political and social views are invited to sit down to dinner together to discuss an issue in a conversation that is facilitated by a trained faculty member. Additionally, the University’s research-based Discussion Project trains faculty and others in a teaching role to facilitate classroom discussions around complex, sensitive, challenging issues.

The University also consistently communicates with the campus Chabad and Hillel about issues related to Jewish life on campus.

In March 2026, after the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) Student Council passed a resolution calling for divestment from Israel, the University issued a statement rejecting the ASM Student Council's "flawed, unrelated and illegal demands" and noting that the administration was "reviewing reports alleging that an online chat, including possibly some ASM representatives, used an antisemitic term in reference to limiting potential speakers."