WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) have urged leaders of five Pennsylvania universities to take stronger action against antisemitism, citing a continued surge in incidents nearly two years after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
The senators addressed letters to Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi, Temple University President John Fry, University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel, University of Pennsylvania President J. Larry Jameson, and Lehigh University President Joseph J. Helble. These institutions enroll the largest Jewish student populations in the state.
“As the 2025-2026 school year begins, we write to urge you, as a leader of a Pennsylvania university with a large Jewish student population, to commit to ensuring Jewish institutions on your campus are equipped to protect the students they serve, including by allocating the resources to do so,” the senators wrote.
The letter pointed to an escalation of antisemitic incidents documented by Hillel International during the 2024-2025 school year, including vandalism, assaults, and illegal encampments. In Pennsylvania, Chabad houses have been damaged, Hillel buildings targeted, and Jewish students assaulted. McCormick and Fetterman emphasized that Jewish organizations have often borne the cost of additional security themselves.
“No student should feel like they must risk their safety to exercise their First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble and freely practice their religion. No campus institution should have to curtail its services to cover security expenses,” the senators wrote.
The lawmakers also commended recent actions by universities, including enforcing codes of conduct, removing illegal encampments, and suspending student groups accused of harassment. However, they stressed that further collaboration with Jewish institutions is necessary to ensure students can safely and fully participate in campus life.
“Most disturbingly, Jewish students are once again hiding their Judaism,” the letter stated. “It is incumbent on all of us – especially our nation’s universities – to ensure vibrant Jewish life is not compromised or driven into the shadows.”
The appeal reflects broader national debates over campus safety, free expression, and the responsibilities of higher education institutions as tensions over the Israel-Hamas conflict continue to reverberate across U.S. colleges.
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