Letter: Response to ‘Florida lawmakers propose expansion of Jewish Student Safety Initiative to seven state university campuses’

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor, 

My name is Gabriela Cohen, and I am a graduate student in Florida Atlantic University’s MSW program. I am writing in response to your article on expanding the Jewish Student Safety Initiative. I strongly support this effort, which addresses the urgent need to protect the safety and well-being of Jewish students on Florida campuses. 

Jewish students, like all students, have the right to feel safe and welcome on campus. Lawmakers must act now, and university leaders must enforce policies without delay. True safety goes beyond physical security — it means students can express their identity without fear of harassment, threats, or discrimination. As a Jewish student, I know this issue is urgent, personal, and long overdue. 

The 2025 pilot program at the University of Florida, Florida State University, and the University of South Florida combined security upgrades, antisemitism education, enhanced incident response, expanded counseling, and systematic data tracking. Expanding it to Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of Miami is essential, as state research shows many Jewish students continue to face antisemitism and feel unsafe expressing their identity: 47% of Jewish students experienced antisemitism in the past year, 67% reported feeling uncomfortable expressing their Jewish identity on campus, and 56% know peers who avoid activities due to safety concerns. 

I have witnessed firsthand how ignorance and misinformation amplify this problem. These dangers are real and documented. Across Florida campuses, incidents include: 

• Florida State University (2022): A student was physically assaulted in a campus gym for wearing an Israel Defense Forces shirt. 
• University of Florida: A student faced campus discipline after posting antisemitic content online. 
• University of Central Florida: A fraternity chapter was temporarily suspended after photos surfaced showing a blindfolded student holding a Nazi swastika during a hazing ritual, condemned as hateful and antisemitic by university officials. 
• Florida International University (January 2024): Members of a Students for Justice in Palestine group disrupted a Holocaust video screening hosted by Hillel and interfered with a Shabbat dinner, forcing campus police to intervene. 
• Florida Atlantic University (2023): During a student club fair, a banner referencing antisemitic comments by rapper Ye displayed hateful messaging toward Jewish people, creating fear and discomfort among Jewish students. 
• University of South Florida: A fraternity chapter was suspended after members drew swastikas on a Jewish pledge during an initiation event. 
• University of Miami (January 2026): A student verbally harassed members of a Jewish student group at a campus event, making offensive statements about Jewish people. 

These incidents show that antisemitism on campus is widespread, persistent, and harmful, directly preventing Jewish students from participating fully and safely in university life. 

The issue affects more than Jewish students. Families worry about their children’s safety. Universities struggle to maintain truly inclusive environments. Communities are impacted when students fear expressing their identity. Funding this initiative is essential — it is an urgent investment in education, accountability, security, and the well-being of every student on Florida campuses. 

Lawmakers must act now to expand the Jewish Student Safety Initiative. Community members must actively support it by advocating for funding, attending campus forums, reporting antisemitic incidents, and holding universities accountable. Every student has the right to be safe and freely express their identity. 

Gabriela Cohen, Boca Raton

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