In a bid to address the rise in antisemitism on college campuses, Pennsylvania's U.S. Senators, John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, have sent letters to five Pennsylvania universities urging increased protection of Jewish students and organizations. As TribLive reported, the bipartisan request emerged in the wake of an alarming number of antisemitic incidents on campuses during the 2024-25 academic year, and also coincides with the second anniversary of Hamas's attack on Israel.
The senators pushed universities to ensure that Jewish institutions on their campuses are "equipped to protect the students they serve," acknowledging that the required upgrades in security come at significant cost. According to a WTAE report, incidents included vandalism at Chabad houses, targeted threats to Hillel buildings, and physical assaults against Jewish students. The need to staunchly reinforce a space safe for peaceful assembly and religious practice was emphasized, as no student should "have to curtail its services to cover security expenses," the senators added.
The universities addressed in the letters are home to the state’s largest Jewish student populations and include Lehigh University, Penn State University, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), and Temple University. Despite the overall concern raised, no specific campus incidents were detailed in the senators' correspondence.
