University of Connecticut Students Fear Being Identified as Jewish or Muslim Amidst Israel-Hamas Conflict on US Campuses

Police – Accident – Death – Obituary News : University of Connecticut students are facing increasing fear and anxiety as the conflict between Israel and Hamas extends to US campuses. Despite the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia, leaders at top universities across the country have been hesitant to intervene and address the issue. Worried parents are growing increasingly concerned for their children’s safety as protests on both sides erupt in the aftermath of Hamas’ recent act of terror on October 7.

At the University of Connecticut’s main campus in Storrs, students belonging to various campus groups for Muslims, pro-Palestinians, and Jews have all received worried calls from their parents. The Hillel center, a Jewish organization, put up posters of kidnapped Israelis, but they mysteriously vanished overnight, leaving Jewish students feeling unsafe and unsettled.

In addition, terrified Jewish students later saw posters calling for the freedom of Palestine “by any means necessary.” This environment of tension and hostility has led students like Yana Tartakovskiy, a junior at the University of Connecticut, to hide her Star of David necklace out of fear of being identified as Jewish on campus. She expressed her concerns, stating, “I think that anything that has to do with violence, for me personally, affects me a lot. It’s very scary because I feel like words can become actions very quickly, as we’ve seen on other college campuses.”

The University of Connecticut is not the only institution grappling with these issues. New York University (NYU) faced a lawsuit from three Jewish students who felt unprotected by their administration as antisemitism on campus escalated to chants of “gas the Jews” and “Hitler was right.” The lawsuit, filed in a New York federal court, accuses the college of allowing “mobs of students carte blanche to harass and intimidate NYU’s Jewish population” through its inaction.

Muslim students at the University of Connecticut also experience fear and anxiety on campus. Muneeb Syed, the president of the Muslim Student Association, shared that women are opting for hoodies instead of hijabs when walking alone on campus. He also recounted an incident where a Muslim woman leaving a pro-Palestinian rally was harassed by men in a car who pulled over to yell at her.

Students like Lene Maarouf, a recent graduate and member of the Students for Justice in Palestine group, have also experienced harassment. Maarouf received a voicemail from an unknown number that threatened her and used racial slurs. She expressed her concern, wondering what else those individuals might be capable of doing and whether they have connections within the campus community.

The Department of Education has launched investigations into seven schools for cases of antisemitism and Islamophobia. Some universities facing investigations include Cornell University, Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania. These investigations fall under Title IV, a law that prohibits discrimination based on race or ancestry.

While students on all sides of the conflict are fearful and unsettled by the ongoing tensions and hateful behavior, there is disagreement on how to address the issue. Jewish students at Hillel are eager to create a safe environment through increased security, receiving government funding and support from the Department of Homeland Security. However, members of Students for Justice in Palestine, including Maarouf, express distrust in the DHS due to historic profiling of Muslim Americans. They question whether their concerns will be taken seriously.

The University of Connecticut and other higher-education establishments across the country continue to navigate the ongoing tensions related to the Israel-Hamas war. As investigations into cases of antisemitism and Islamophobia unfold, it is crucial for university leaders to prioritize the safety and well-being of all students, regardless of their religious or ethnic backgrounds..