College Extends Transfer Deadline to Give Refuge to Jewish Students

A college recently announced an extension to its transfer deadline in an effort to assist Jewish students amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests at different campuses across the U.S.

On Monday, Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, announced that it was extending its deadline for transfer students for the Fall 2024 semester till May 31.

"I am sure many of you have seen or read about the numerous protests on college and university campuses, where Jewish students are being targeted and attacked physically and verbally, preventing them from pursuing their studies and activities outside of class, just because they are Jewish or support Israel," Brandeis University President Ron Liebowitz said in a letter on Monday.

According to the letter, the university was founded by the American Jewish Community in 1948 and noted that "we are proud of the supports we have in place to allow Jewish students to thrive."

"Due to the current climate on many campuses around the world, we are now expanding the opportunity for students to seek the learning environment of our campus by extending the transfer application deadline to May 31, with notification by July 1," Liebowitz said in the letter.

"Students elsewhere should know we welcome all—Jews and students from every background—who seek an excellent undergraduate education and an environment striving to be free of harassment and Jew-hatred to apply," the letter added.

At Columbia University, pro-Palestinian protesters set up a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on campus last week to protest the university's "continued financial investment in corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine."

Over the past several months, tensions on university campuses across the U.S. have remained high as Israel continues its war in Gaza, which began after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7 that left 1,200 people dead and saw over 200 more taken hostage. More than 34,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the war began, The Associated Press reported, citing local health officials.

On Tuesday, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced that school officials were negotiating with student protest organizers to de-escalate the encampment.

"Those talks are facing a deadline of midnight tonight to reach agreement," the president said. "I very much hope these discussions are successful. If they are not, we will have to consider alternative options for clearing the West Lawn and restoring calm to campus so that students can complete the term and graduate."

Liebowitz told Newsweek on Wednesday that Brandeis University has always encouraged students "to protest for Palestinians as long as that line is not crossed."

While speaking about the announcement from the university, Liebowitz said it comes "in response to the sense that some Jewish students feel that their studies are impaired by all that is going on and by the atmosphere on campus."

Liebowitz told Newsweek that it is too early to tell if there's been an increase in Jewish students applying to transfer, but he noted that they have received "positive feedback about this."

"I think people need to think through this, especially students, go through the semester, finish their exams. That's why we extended the deadline to give those students an opportunity to think through these things," Liebowitz said.

However, on Wednesday morning, Reuters reported that Columbia University extended its deadline for negotiations with students by 48 hours, with the school saying that "significant progress" was made.

Update 4/24/24, 2:17 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with comment from Ron Liebowitz.

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