03-03-2025
Vanderbilt University one of top eight schools nationally for curbing antisemitism, new report shows
Vanderbilt University has been ranked in the top eight universities in the country, receiving an A rating, for their efforts to address antisemitism, according to a 2025 report released by the Anti-Defamation League, an advocacy organization that fights antisemitism globally.
The Nashville private university moved up two grade levels in the annual report — one of only ten universities in the country to do so — from last year's C rating.
Eytan Davidson, regional director for ADL Southeast, said the organization is proud of the university, and 'the way they have worked cooperatively and thoughtfully about how to have policies that enhance the campus climate, the college experience, guarantee the rights of everyone — including open expression — and keep everybody safe.'
'The grade that they received in this iteration of the report card reflects the hard work, focus and attention that they've given to making their campus the most welcoming environment for all students,' Davidson said.
The report assessed 135 schools — up from 2024's 85 schools — and graded schools against 30 criterium, separated into categories such as administrative action and policies, campus conduct and climate concerns, as well as Jewish life on campus.
The system ranked eight schools across the nation with an 'A' ranking, 41 with a 'B' ranking, 46 with a 'C,' 27 with a 'D' and 13 with an 'F.'
The eight A-graded schools are:
University of Alabama
Brandeis University
Elon University
CUNY Brooklyn College
CUNY Queens College
University of Miami
Vanderbilt University
Florida International University
The survey also graded Ivy League schools, though none achieved an A rating. Dartmouth College received the highest among Ivy Leagues with a B rating, while University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Cornell and Brown Universities all received a C, with Princeton and Yale Universities receiving a D.
The organization gave 36% of all the schools in the report an A or B in its 2025 Campus Antisemitim Report Card, up from 23.5% in 2024, the first year the report was done.
'Over the past couple of years, we have seen an alarming spike in antisemitism and antisemitic incidents on college campuses across the United States, and that prompted us to create the campus report card,' said Davidson. 'As a result of (last year's) report card, we have further engaged with universities and campuses to try to help them make their campuses welcoming and safe for all students, and specifically put in measures to combat antisemitism and its rise.'
Vanderbilt University is the only Tennessee school graded in the report, which focuses on schools with 'significant Jewish student populations, those of particular concern and those viewed as exemplary in combating antisemitism.'
Davidson said that the higher ranking was a result of the 'swift and decisive' actions by the university in response to the pro-Palestinian protests that occurred on the campus in March 2024.
The protests included a lengthy sit-in at the University Chancellor's office, and saw four students arrested, alongside one reporter.
More: Vanderbilt University claims a commitment to free speech. But does it deliver?
The report praises Vanderbilt's August 2024 update to its student handbook, which banned camping for demonstrations and protests, as well as the school's expansion of its civil discourse programming through the Dialogue Vanderbilt program and its close relationship with the campus' Hillel and Chabad.
Davidson noted that, while Vanderbilt was the only Tennessee school to be graded, he believes that the southeast region is doing 'relatively well compared to the national average,' regarding policies protecting students from antisemitism.
Despite this, Davidson said that the rise in unabashed antisemitism 'across the board,' both in schools and the public sphere, has been concerning.
'The normalization of antisemitism has been alarming across the board,' he said. 'But it's not just the normalization of antisemitism. It is normalization of all forms of hate that we are seeing that is of great concern—not just to Jewish students, but to everyone. We have seen from history that when you have environments where hate can flourish, it leads to worse things. So, as a society, that is something that we have to be aware of. That is the moment we're living in, and I think the report card is a really useful tool for students and parents to get a sense of safety.'
A recent ADL survey conducted with partners of the organization found 83% of Jewish college students experienced or witnessed antisemitism since the Oct. 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, and that 66% of Jewish students were not confident in their university's ability to prevent antisemitic incidents.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: New report: Vanderbilt University ranked in top eight universities for curbing antisemitism
