Baruch College: Why Everyone’s Watching the Campus Closely?
Baruch College has raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of Jewish students on campus. The Baruch College Hillel, which supports Jewish students across various City University of New York (CUNY) campuses, has faced disturbing incidents in recent months.
In June, a protest erupted at Baruch College, where some demonstrators, wearing Hamas headbands, displayed a banner with a red triangle over the Hillel’s logo. This symbol closely resembles the red triangle used by Hamas to target Israeli soldiers and tanks in their propaganda videos.
The rally was sparked by the CUNY Hillels organizing student trips to Israel, including a June visit where students volunteered at an Israeli army base. Pro-Palestinian activists responded aggressively, targeting the Hillels as if they were military bases themselves.
The situation worsened recently when demonstrators outside Baruch and Hunter College displayed banners with the message “Bring the war home,” featuring an image of an assault rifle. This marked an escalation in the intensity of the protests against the Hillels.
On Friday, tensions further escalated when the Baruch chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organized a protest outside a kosher restaurant where Hillel was hosting an event. The protestors accused Ilya Bratman, who leads 10 Hillels in Manhattan, of genocide. According to Hillel organizers, some demonstrators made threatening comments towards Jewish students, including one remark that referenced recent violence in Israel with a crude insult.
Bratman expressed concern about the increasing hostility and potential for violence. “We are anticipating violence,” he told me. His worries are not unfounded. Over the weekend, the SJP chapter at Baruch College posted on Instagram urging followers to “adopt the fearlessness of our fighters,” questioning the effectiveness of fundraising and speeches and calling for more radical actions.
The situation at CUNY appears to be more extreme than that of other universities. While other SJP chapters have shown support for Hamas or protested campus Hillels, the intensity of the protests at CUNY stands out. The large size of CUNY, with 250,000 students, means that even a small number of dedicated activists can make a significant impact. Bratman noted that some recent protests involved fewer than 30 people but still managed to create substantial disruption.
CUNY students often remain in New York after graduation and continue their involvement in campus activism, which can sustain ongoing protests. “You only need a few dozen superstar activists to make this a really active, vibrant, ongoing, continuous protest story,” Bratman explained.
While student protests have led to some changes, like canceling or modifying graduations, they have not influenced the broader situation in Israel. Bratman fears that growing frustration among activists might lead to more radical actions in the future. After the threats at the restaurant, many Jewish students at Baruch are feeling unsafe and targeted despite their lack of influence over Israeli policies.
Overall, the situation at Baruch College reflects a troubling trend of escalating hostility towards Jewish students and their support organizations, raising significant concerns about their safety and the future of campus activism.