Georgetown University and the University of Maryland—two well-known, respected DC-area universities separated by just 18 miles—have both experienced a troubling spike in antisemitism since October 7, 2023. While both administrations have addressed these issues, the Jewish students at these institutions implore that more be done to create safe and welcoming campus environments.
The Jewish students’ experience at these neighboring universities reveals a troubling pattern: administrators consistently take reactive rather than proactive approaches to combating antisemitism. Instead of preventing the fires, they rely on putting them out after damage has already been done.
Georgetown: Swift Action, Missed Opportunities
At Georgetown, this reactive pattern became clear during last semester's Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) referendum crisis. The Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA) introduced the referendum in a process that broke procedural norms—senators voted without public attribution and received inadequate time to review the content.
University officials rejected the referendum within minutes of its passage, with Interim President Robert M. Groves citing Georgetown's "institutional values and history and existing university resources and processes that address our investments." While the Jewish community greatly appreciated this swift response, it came as a reaction to the divisive measure passing through student government and was not accompanied by proactive measures.
Months later, when President Groves was called to testify before Congress, the administration met with Jewish students and announced that anti-Israel professor Jonathan Brown would be removed from his position as Islamic Studies department chair. This decision followed Professor Brown's social media post expressing hope that Iran would strike U.S. bases.
While the administration's decisive actions are commendable, they highlight Georgetown's reactive, and not proactive, approach to antisemitism.
University of Maryland: Physical Safety vs. Campus Climate
Meanwhile, not far from Georgetown, at the University of Maryland, where approximately 19% of students are Jewish, the administration initially seemed more prepared for the challenges ahead. UMD police stepped up to physically protect the Jewish community when violence spiked across other campuses. However, physical safety proved insufficient when campus climate remained hostile.
The administration's tone-deaf response became apparent during a November 2023, town hall meeting at Hillel which addressed a pro-Palestinian rally where participants called to "Globalize the Intifada" and wrote "Holocaust 2.0" in front of one of the libraries. During the meeting, Vice President for Belonging Georgina Dodge dismissed Jewish students' fears as being "only in the head," while Vice President of Student Affairs Patty Perillo justified "intifada" as merely a "Palestinian call for peaceful protest." The administration failed to assure the Jewish community that they stood with them.
The university's reactive approach reached new lows during the October 7th commemoration controversy. To prevent a Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) event, UMD banned all non-University-funded activities for the day. When SJP sued and won an expedited hearing, they hosted an event that sympathized with Hamas terrorists and mourned the perpetrators of the largest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Most outrageously, UMD recently settled with SJP for $100,000 in what the organization called "an unprecedented financial settlement." The Republican Caucus of the State of Maryland condemned this settlement with "a de facto wing of Hamas." This settlement doesn't just fail to deter future antisemitic activities—it incentivizes them.
Student Leadership Where Administration Falls Short
While our administrators have engaged in reactive approaches, Jewish students and allies have demonstrated proactive leadership. At Georgetown, Students Supporting Israel (SSI) and allies spearheaded a bipartisan letter signed by eight members of Congress calling on the administration to act against the BDS referendum. Additionally, student body elections saw candidates who opposed the referendum, including myself, win a majority of the student government senate.
At UMD, despite a divestment ballot referendum passing for the first time after four previous defeats, the Jewish community responded not with panic but with renewed resolve. We celebrated Passover that very night, telling the ancient story of how our enemies try to defeat us in every generation—and how we always prevail.
The Path Forward: Prevention Over Reaction
We urge both universities to shift from reactive crisis management to proactive prevention. Georgetown should incorporate the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into school policy, enabling its use in bias response protocols, student and staff training, and campus programming. This comprehensive framework for identifying anti-Jewish prejudice would provide clear guidelines before crises emerge.
UMD must move beyond damage control and financial settlements that reward antisemitic behavior. Both universities need systematic policy changes that create genuinely welcoming environments for Jewish students—not just crisis response teams.
Georgetown has shown it can act with clarity when confronted with antisemitism, and UMD has demonstrated a commitment to physical safety. But lasting change will come only when both universities shift from reaction to prevention. By adopting comprehensive antisemitism policies, investing in proactive training and programming, and committing to prevention rather than crisis management, these institutions can demonstrate real leadership.
Our Resolve Remains Unshaken
As for Jewish students, we will continue to prevail. We are experiencing challenging times on our campuses and around the world, but we will continue to raise our voices in defense of our values.
We hope that Georgetown and the University of Maryland will match our resolve and ensure our campuses remain places where Jewish students are not just defended in moments of crisis but feel safe and welcome every single day.
Jacob Intrator is the president of SSI (Students Supporting Israel) at Georgetown University. Uriel Appel is the president and founder of SSI at the University of Maryland.
This op-ed is published in partnership with a coalition of organizations that fight antisemitism across the world. Read the previous article by Adam Milstein.