Introduction to the Anti-Defamation League’s Report Cards
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has been issuing report cards to colleges on their response to antisemitism, and the grades are showing signs of growing influence. The group recently announced that several schools have adopted new policies to improve their grades in the month since this year’s report was released.
Upgraded Grades for 19 Colleges
The ADL upped grades for 19 of the 135 schools it assessed this year, including Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, and the University of Southern California. Eleven of those schools implemented new policies in the last month, while the other eight made the Jewish anti-bigotry group aware of existing policies that had not factored into the initial grades. In a statement, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called the revised grades “encouraging,” adding, “These important steps and policies send a clear message that antisemitism will not be tolerated on campus.”
Controversy Surrounding the Report Cards
The ADL’s report cards, now in their second year, remain controversial among Jews on campus for using rubrics that critics argue fail to take the totality of Jewish student life into account and unfairly penalize schools when antisemitic incidents take place, rather than focusing on how the campus responds to them. At the same time, many schools are paying close attention to them: the ADL says that 84% of all the colleges it graded “engaged” with the group on their grades.
New Policies Adopted by Colleges
The new policies some schools adopted to boost their grades include forming new committees and advisory councils on antisemitism and Jewish life, implementing bans on masked protests, launching Jewish alumni groups, and incorporating antisemitism into anti-discrimination training and policies. For example, Purdue University, University of Georgia, and the University of South Florida formed new committees, while Tulane University implemented a ban on masked protests.
Revised Grades and Their Impact
The ADL bumped nearly all of the revised reports up by one letter grade, with the exception of the University of Minnesota, which jumped from an “F” to a “C.” In the process, the revised scores lifted three “F” grades and awarded three new “A” grades. The revised grades demonstrate the ADL’s commitment to recognizing colleges that are taking steps to address antisemitism on campus.
Recent Developments on Campus
None of the ADL’s revised grades take into account the latest development on campus: pro-Palestinian student protesters being arrested by immigration officials and threatened with deportation. Hillel International’s CEO released a statement expressing concern over the deportation effort. The ADL did not respond to a request as to whether such headline-grabbing incidents would factor into their report card grades.
Conclusion
The ADL’s report cards are an important tool for measuring a college’s response to antisemitism. While the report cards have been controversial, they have also prompted colleges to take action to address antisemitism on campus. The revised grades demonstrate the ADL’s commitment to recognizing colleges that are taking steps to address antisemitism, and the new policies adopted by colleges are a positive step towards creating a safer and more inclusive environment for Jewish students.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the ADL’s report cards?
A: The purpose of the ADL’s report cards is to measure a college’s response to antisemitism and to recognize colleges that are taking steps to address it.
Q: How many colleges did the ADL upgrade grades for?
A: The ADL upped grades for 19 of the 135 schools it assessed this year.
Q: What types of policies have colleges adopted to boost their grades?
A: Colleges have adopted policies such as forming new committees and advisory councils on antisemitism and Jewish life, implementing bans on masked protests, launching Jewish alumni groups, and incorporating antisemitism into anti-discrimination training and policies.
Q: Will the ADL’s report cards take into account recent developments on campus, such as pro-Palestinian student protesters being arrested by immigration officials?
A: The ADL did not respond to a request as to whether such incidents would factor into their report card grades.
