- The survey was commissioned by Deborah Lyons, the last special envoy on antisemitism, and canvassed 900 Jewish university students.
- The survey was conducted in November and December after respondents were recruited through Jewish university groups.
- The Heritage Department published the survey on Wednesday.
- The Association for Canadian Studies oversaw the survey, and its head, Jack Jedwab, spoke at a news conference on Parliament Hill.
- A group of mostly Jewish academics is calling on Ottawa to enforce existing codes of conduct and record data on incidents.
- Independent Jewish Voices criticized the survey’s methodology and framing.
- The vast majority of respondents said they had experienced or witnessed antisemitism on campus.
- More than two-thirds said their university does not take antisemitism seriously and is not a safe place for Jewish students.
- A fifth of respondents reported physical violence directed at Jews on campus.
- Respondents suggested antisemitic comments are coming not just from other students but also from faculty.
- Some reported being asked by faculty to justify Israeli military actions in Gaza or being told that Jews belong in Poland.
- Nearly half of respondents felt pressured to share opinions about Israel with other students, while a third felt pressure to conform to a professor’s views on the Middle East.
- Just as many reported a professor introducing Jews, Judaism, Israel or Zionism in ways unrelated to the course.
- Professors are essentially teaching people what to think and not how to think, and Cary Kogan called for strengthening of academic freedom.
- Martha Piper, former president of the University of British Columbia, said universities can learn from past work to weed out discrimination and urged Ottawa to monitor and warn against hate on campus.
- The government eliminated Deborah Lyons's role as envoy on antisemitism and folded it into a general advisory council on inclusion.
- Critics say the restructuring has undermined anti antisemitism efforts and accountability.
- Martha Piper suggested Ottawa should monitor enforcement and issue warnings to deter hate on campus.
- A Leger survey of non-Jews on perceptions of antisemitism is expected to be published in about two months.
- Wednesday’s report notes the upcoming Leger study may show that the majority do not consider several forms of anti-Jewish targeting as antisemitic.
- Nir Hagigi of Independent Jewish Voices said the report describes concerns about the methodology but that the experiences reported deserve to be heard, even if they cannot be generalized.
- Upcoming Leger survey of non-Jewish perceptions of antisemitism is expected to be released in about two months.
A survey of 900 Jewish university students conducted last November–December, overseen by the Association for Canadian Studies, found pervasive antisemitism on Canadian campuses. The findings, released by the Heritage Department, show that the vast majority of respondents experienced or witnessed antisemitism and that more than two-thirds say their university does not take antisemitism seriously or provide a safe environment for Jewish students. Respondents described hostile comments, pressure to discuss Israel, and campus climate factors that researchers say threaten academic freedom and safety.124569101214
A fifth of respondents reported physical violence directed at Jews on campus. In some cases, respondents recounted verbal harassment escalating to threats, while others noted underreporting and fear of retaliation.1113
The respondents suggested antisemitic comments are coming not just from students but also from faculty. Several described faculty asking them to justify Israeli actions in Gaza or telling them Jews belong in Poland, illustrating that bias can appear in classrooms.
Nearly half of respondents said they felt pressured to share their opinions about Israel with other students, while a third said they felt pressure to conform to a professor's views on the Middle East.
Just as many reported a professor introducing Jews, Judaism, Israel or Zionism in ways unrelated to the course. The survey cites University of Ottawa professor Cary Kogan, who argues that professors are shaping thought rather than encouraging critical thinking, and that academia must defend academic freedom.31516
“Any group that would report 95 per cent incidents either experienced or witnessed is a systemic phenomenon,” said Jack Jedwab, head of the Association for Canadian Studies, at a news conference on Parliament Hill. The findings underscore concerns about campus safety, reporting, and the role of higher education in democracies.
“More than two-thirds of respondents said their university does not take antisemitism seriously, and a fifth reported physical violence. The survey also found faculty were a source of antisemitic comments, with some students asked to justify Israeli military actions or told Jews belong in Poland.”
The Globe and Mail
