Report Reveals Widespread Antisemitism Among Students and Faculty in Canadian Universities
A recent national report commissioned by the Canadian government reveals alarming levels of antisemitism experienced by Jewish students in Canadian higher education institutions. According to the CASE report, published this month, approximately 95.7% of Jewish students surveyed either witnessed or experienced at least one antisemitic incident in the past year. The survey, conducted by the Canadian Association for Studies and the Metropolis Institute, included about 900 Jewish students and 755 students from the general population.
The findings show that 84% of respondents view antisemitism as a serious problem on campuses, with 70% believing universities do not address it adequately. Moreover, 68% do not feel safe or included on campus. The impact on students’ daily lives is significant: 72% limit what they say in class about their Jewish identity, 57% avoid displaying Jewish symbols for safety reasons, and 32% have considered dropping courses or programs due to antisemitic attitudes from lecturers. Additionally, 36% encountered biased or antisemitic academic content, and 34% reported lecturers introducing topics about Israel, Judaism, or Zionism unrelated to course material.
Extreme incidents were also reported, including 71% witnessing antisemitic vandalism, 54% experiencing threats or intimidation, and 22% encountering or observing physical violence targeting Jews on campus. While 51% of these incidents were attributed to fellow students, faculty involvement was notable: 18% involved lecturers, 7% teaching assistants, and 7% administrative staff.
The report highlights severe psychological and social consequences, with 72% of Jewish students stating that campus antisemitism harmed their mental health and about 60% losing friends due to the issue. Many students have altered their academic participation, with over 71% restricting discussions about Judaism, 56% avoiding Jewish symbols, and 41% skipping classes or events. Academic performance has also suffered, with 40% reporting declines and a quarter considering leaving their university entirely.
Institutional responses are widely seen as inadequate; only 33% of incidents were reported to authorities, and 63% of those who reported were dissatisfied with the handling. Lack of trust in the system was the main reason for underreporting, with fears of retaliation and perceptions that complaints would be ignored. The report documents cases where university administrations and diversity committees dismissed complaints about harassment and even tolerated content glorifying terrorism.
Experts warn that antisemitism on campuses has evolved into a systemic crisis undermining equality and safety principles. Faculty members have been documented introducing hostile and antisemitic material unrelated to their courses, punishing students for their views, and promoting aggressive political activism. Examples include a lecturer interrupting a cancer presentation to denounce Israel as "a sea of savages," and another claiming students who support Israel and do not condemn "genocide" are unfit to be doctors. Other lecturers distributed Holocaust denial materials, equated Zionism with Nazism, and gave zero grades to students mentioning Hamas violence.
Students also report practical obstacles to learning safely, such as canceled classes for anti-Israel protests, ideological tests for departmental participation, and politically biased grading. The campus environment forces many Jewish students to conceal their identity, avoid speaking Hebrew publicly, and face exclusion from research collaborations based on their national and religious identity.
