I was sitting in the opening session of Interfaith America’s “Empowering Students to be Leaders of Pluralism” when the news broke: Haverford College had settled a lawsuit with the Deborah Project, a group representing “Jews at Haverford” who had experienced antisemitism on campus.
The story behind why I was at the summit and what happened next illustrates important ways that Philly Hillel has approached campus climate change post–October 7.
At the Interfaith America Leadership Summit in Chicago, I was joined by Haverford College’s new Director of Interfaith Life & Practice, Susan Grunder, and four students who are part of a larger “Interfaith Circle,” meant to bridge faith communities on campus. The summit attendees included two Jewish students, one Muslim student, and one Quaker student. The Circle also includes a Catholic student, a Hindu student, and a Protestant student. I start there because students are Hillel’s focus, and I am very excited to see this Circle form and to empower these students to lead pluralism at Haverford.
Also attending the Summit were administrators and faculty who were there as part of a “Prejudice to Pluralism” grant that Susan Grunder helped advance. This group included Interim Vice President and Dean of the College, Scott Wojciechowski; faculty member Ariana Huberman; Director of Quaker Affairs Lori Sinitzky; and Susan. Together (see photo), we are bringing to campus something that has been desperately missing: practices that encourage nuanced conversations and thoughtful exploration.
It took years of work to get to the Summit. I spent two years serving on search committees to define and fill Susan’s role. In those years, Philly Hillel worked closely with Haverford administrators, pressing them to join Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI). Our Director of Community Relations, Marisa Gorovitz, and I supported them as they applied and built a good team. They have met every milestone so far, including attending a conference on antisemitism and campus climate; implementing antisemitism trainings for staff; and setting in motion a meaningful climate survey to inform improvement plans.
Marisa also worked successfully with Jewish faculty at Haverford and Bryn Mawr on a BiCo Academic Grant to explore creating a Jewish Studies minor. We are very excited to move both CCI and Jewish Studies forward over the coming year.
Yes, the lawsuit pushed Haverford College to acknowledge significant wrongs. The settlement also commits the college to many efforts that align with the work I named. For those who wonder if the college will fulfill its obligations, I can assure you that we are already helping get them there.
That brings me to the last part of the story. Shortly after the news broke, Haverford College President Wendy Raymond invited me to sit on an Antisemitism Committee that is forming as part of the settlement. President Raymond and I know each other now, and I agreed to serve because I see how to advance this work. Culture change happens at the pace of people. I know who is with us in addressing antisemitism and improving the campus climate for all. Some were with me in Chicago, and there are many others.
Our efforts have affirmed our belief that antisemitism is best addressed in three ways:
- Having safe and celebratory space for Jews to explore, experience and enjoy their Jewishness
- Ensuring policies for protection exist and are enforced
- Humanizing ourselves and others to allow connections that change hearts and minds
Philly Hillel, Haverford Jewish Student Union (JSU), BiCo Chabad and others strove to establish those spaces, to grow them, and to enhance them. Jewish life on campus today is vibrant!
There have been a number of policy updates, especially in the last sixteen months, that have improved campus climate; the lawsuit made clear where these had been needed.
The last method listed, though, is critical in that it happens at the grassroots level. In today’s world, we need opportunities to be seen as fully human, complex, and in relationship to other people also needing to be seen. The Interfaith America Summit reminded us of that, and our success with administrators so far is based on it.
We know where the challenges still lie ahead. We have been engaged in this painstaking process since before the lawsuit was filed. The settlement made headlines and is an important part of holding the college accountable, and we will continue to hold the college accountable through the presidential transition next summer and beyond. We have been and will continue to be engaged in the hard work of culture change. Haverford is just one of the places we are doing that.