FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 22 August 2024
CHICAGO, IL — In response to the increase in safety and security incidents stemming from antisemitic activity affecting Jewish students, faculty, and staff on university and college campuses, the Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, in partnership with Hillel International, has announced an effort to expand resources to over 50 college and university campuses as the fall semester gets underway.
“Operation SecureOurCampuses” will leverage SCN’s national, regional, and local resources, along with the national network of security professionals, to deploy critical resources to protect Jewish students at colleges and universities, to include: full-time intelligence analysts dedicated to monitoring campus developments and providing intelligence support; assessments of Jewish facilities on campuses; direct consultations on physical security and emergency plans and procedures; and enhanced coordination with law enforcement and public safety officials and centers of Jewish life, including fraternal organizations, religious institutions, and other campus groups.
SCN is also launching a new training initiative designed specifically for Jewish students, faculty, and staff that will be made available to the identified campuses. The training will provide Jewish students with critical skills in situational awareness and instruction on what to do if confronted by protesters and demonstrators, how to report incidents, to include with law enforcement, and how to respond in potentially life-threatening situations. Operation SecureOurCampuses builds on the existing safety and security program SCN runs in partnership with Hillel International.
“Creating vibrant Jewish life on campus depends on having safe environments for Jewish college students, which is why we are so proud to work alongside SCN in strengthening our security support for campus Hillels worldwide,” said Adam Lehman, President and CEO of Hillel International. “Together, we will continue to invest in expanded security resources that facilitate safe and secure opportunities for students to take advantage of the broad array of Jewish experiences and programs available through Hillel and its partners.”
“The unacceptable threat environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff on campuses across the country demands an immediate and robust response,” said SCN National Director and CEO Michael Masters. “We are committed to ensuring that members of the community feel safe and supported as they pursue their education — they should be able to walk across our campuses free from fear, harassment, or targeted violence. Operation SecureOurCampuses, coordinated with key partners across the community and public safety, is a proactive measure to address these threats and work closely with our partners to protect every center of Jewish life on campus.”
Already, and ahead of the new academic year, SCN co-hosted a campus safety roundtable discussion with the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which had participation of law enforcement and public safety officials from 92 universities across 24 states, including representatives from the FBI, law enforcement association leaders, and Jewish security professionals. The roundtable resulted in 10 key recommendations for campus administrators and leadership to adopt to protect Jewish students and staff. These recommendations focus on proactive planning, enforcing established security policies and procedures, and close cooperation with law enforcement.
Additionally, Hillel’s Director of Campus Safety and Security, a member of SCN’s team, and the SCN Operations team have been preparing Jewish campus organizations with guidance and resources, including training, assessments, and event security planning. Since 07 October 2023, the team has trained over 200 individuals, briefed over 350 community members, and assisted in building security plans for over 10 events in partnership with Hillel International across more than 33 states.
In advance of the start of the school year, Hillel International, along with other leading Jewish and educational partners, announced a series of recommendations to campus administrators on how to prepare for the fall and ensure the safety of Jewish students and their entire campus communities by enforcing their codes of conduct, maintaining clear reporting avenues for antisemitic incidents, and ensuring campus staff are trained to address violations of campus rules.
Following the 07 October Hamas terrorist attacks, SCN tracked 674 incidents of campus threats and suspicious activities targeting the Jewish community from 07 October 2023 through July 2024. During this period of unrest, many universities struggled to protect Jewish students and faculty, who encountered hostile protests, unlawful encampments, violent incidents, and targeted harassment.
SCN’s campus security initiatives reflect a broader commitment to the safety and security of the Jewish community. By working closely with universities, law enforcement, Jewish organizations, and students, SCN is helping ensure that campuses remain places of learning, free from fear, violence, and unlawful intimidation.