Research Ties Faculty BDS Backing to Rising Antisemitism on Campus
A study has found a connection between faculty support for the BDS movement and higher levels of antisemitism on campus. The article quotes a source saying this reflects a clear expression of anti-Israel hostility and a desire to bring it to campus. The item focuses on the study's findings about campus climate.
A newly released book chapter examines a decade of research on campus climate and antisemitism. Contributor Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, who leads the AMCHA Initiative, describes six studies her team conducted. One analyzed how many faculty backed an academic boycott of Israel.
That study reportedly found faculty who endorsed the boycott were far more likely than peers to include anti-Israel material in courses. Departments with such faculty were also much more likely to host anti-Israel speakers, according to the research.
The findings could intensify debates over academic freedom, faculty speech, and campus climate. Jewish students and faculty may feel more vulnerable if hostile rhetoric or events increase, while institutions could face pressure to review hiring, curricula, and speaker policies. Broader campus communities may also experience heightened polarization as administrators weigh safety, inclusion, and free expression.