Since October 7th, 2023, antisemitism has been on a horrific rise at BU. Many Jewish students no longer feel safe on campus, with some reporting that "people on their group projects have refused to speak to them, that they have been pushed off the boards of their clubs, and have been called ‘colonizer’ by their peers." Antisemitic graffiti has appeared at BU Hillel (a university-owned Jewish center), and stickers featuring swastikas have been found across campus. These symbols pose a direct threat to Jewish students, leaving many feeling unsafe in their own community.

 

More recently, the now-disaffiliated student group, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), has held several rallies inciting fear among students. While they promote a message of liberation, their actions have, at their core, fueled division and hate. In February 2025, SJP organized a BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) referendum that aimed to have the university disclose its investments and sever ties from Israeli businesses and organizations. This initiative directly targeted Jewish students, many of whom view Israel as their ancestral homeland and share an innate connection with it.