Supporting Students Combating Antisemitism

Andy Huston

Written by Andy Huston (Minnesota, '01), Executive Director

This fall semester began under the shadow of uncertainty, as campuses across North America grappled with the aftershocks of the spring semester's encampments and rising antisemitic tensions. Sigma Alpha Mu recognized the need to prepare for a challenging environment. For students to thrive academically and socially, their foundational needs—safety, security, and mental well-being—must be met. This ties to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Sadly, for many Jewish students, concerns about physical safety and the emotional impact of recent events on campuses have made it increasingly difficult to feel secure.

This reality motivated us to invest in thoughtful planning and proactive initiatives over the summer, ensuring our members and their peers feel supported, empowered, and equipped to navigate this uncertain landscape. By addressing these challenges head-on, Sigma Alpha Mu is reaffirming its commitment to combating antisemitism, building allies, and fostering inclusive communities where all students can succeed.

Demanding Change

Understanding the gravity of rising antisemitism on college campuses, Sigma Alpha Mu joined forces with leading organizations like the AntiDefamation League (ADL), American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CoP), Hillel International, and Jewish Federations of North America to advocate for a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at safeguarding

Jewish students and promoting a culture of inclusivity.

These key demands of university administrators included calling for immediate action to protect Jewish students, including:

• Developing comprehensive antisemitism strategies by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and ensuring it informs university policies.

• Providing visible support to Jewish students by addressing incidents of bias in real time and denouncing antisemitism unequivocally.

• Establishing dedicated staff resources for Jewish student concerns, ensuring incidents of harassment or discrimination are handled sensitively and swiftly.

• Integrating antisemitism awareness into existing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to ensure Jewish students are recognized within broader inclusion efforts.

These measures not only set a standard for universities but also align with Sigma Alpha Mu’s vision of being the first choice of collegians seeking a forward-thinking, inclusive fraternity which enhances the university experience and prepares the fraternity member for a fulfilling life.

Educating for Empowerment

Education remains a cornerstone of Sigma Alpha Mu’s approach to combating antisemitism. This summer, our Convention delegates received expert-led training to understand the historical and contemporary impacts of antisemitism, particularly how it has affected our members in the past year. The training emphasized emotional resilience through brotherhood and empowered all members—including nonJewish fratres—to recognize and support peers who may be struggling. We continue to host virtual educational programs to provide chapters and volunteers with timely and relevant information.

Building Allies

To expand this reach, Sigma Alpha Mu partnered with Alpha Epsilon Phi, Sigma Delta Tau, Zeta Beta Tau, and the ADL to train the headquarters staff of other fraternities and sororities on how to address antisemitism effectively. By engaging the entire Greek life community, we’re building a coalition of allies committed to fostering safe, inclusive campuses. As a co-host of the Summit Against Hate, held in conjunction with the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors annual meeting, Sigma Alpha Mu is sparking critical conversations about combating hate within the Greek life community with university administrators.

Supporting Chapters

Executive Director Andy Huston further amplified Sigma Alpha Mu’s influence by contributing to the ADL’s Campus Antisemitism Report Card. This initiative evaluates universities’ responses to antisemitism and provides actionable feedback to improve campus climates for Jewish students. This report card is instructive as the fraternity supports its chapters in the broader landscape of the institutional policies and responses to incidents. Additionally, through our partnership with the Piazza Center for Research on the Jewish Fraternity and Sorority Experience, we’re taking steps to ground our work in data to ensure we meet the needs of Jewish students.

Sigma Alpha Mu has implemented tangible measures to support our members and their communities. These efforts are supporting safety and enhancing Jewish joy. We’ve raised funds for chapter security grants to enhance safety at chapter houses and continue evaluating property needs.

Chapters are also leveraging Sigma Alpha Mu Foundation’s Jewish Endeavors Initiative grants to host impactful programs like the Israel Block Party at the University of Texas and collaborative events with Hillel and Chabad.

We also continue to promote the CALL initiative, that enables any student, family, faculty, or staff member to report antisemitic incidents quickly and easily.

By texting "CALLhelp" to 51555 or visiting legal-protection.org, individuals can access support and legal resources to address discrimination, harassment, or violence. Sigma Alpha Mu’s efforts continue to exemplify our values. By working with university administrators, parents, other organizations and community partners, we are advocating for safer, more welcoming campuses. As alumni, your continued support ensures that our fraternity remains a force for positive change, standing united against hate and fostering a future where all students feel safe, supported, and empowered. Together, we are making a lasting impact—on our members, our campuses, and the world.