Since the terrorist attack in Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, 73% of Jewish students on American campuses have reported experiencing antisemitism. Today only 38.6% of Jewish students feel comfortable with others on campus knowing they’re Jewish – down from 63.7% before the terrorist attack.

Controversial comments by the presidents of Harvard, MIT and University of Pennsylvania at a congressional hearing on antisemitism prompted ongoing concern over how universities ought to respond to major events like this, and how that translates to whether certain groups are welcome on campus. Sutherland’s constitutional law and religious freedom policy fellow, Bill Duncan, says that he believes religious universities may provide a partial answer to the problem.

“Religious universities are built for times like this,” Duncan said. “Secular schools, by design, will not have a preset commonality amongst students,” which can lead to tension that religious universities wouldn’t otherwise encounter.

Religious schools, unlike secular schools, can be open about their commitment, which many students specifically choose the school to pursue.

In a 2023 article, Duncan highlighted how “religious schools may actually have an advantage in creating a feeling of belonging … even when personal religious affiliation varies … [providing] an initial unifying factor for a student body and even extend[ing] to faculty and staff.”

The data supports Duncan’s claim of unity. According to the Israel on Campus Coalition’s antisemitic incident report for the 2021-22 academic year, only two antisemitic incidents occurred on religious campuses out of the 225 incidents on the 1,100 campuses surveyed. Of those two, neither were violent.

Catholic universities in America have even offered support to Jewish students by implementing expedited transfer requests.

“We see this as a small way, a small thing we can do, to really love our Jewish brethren and to have solidarity with them,” said Franciscan University’s vice president of campus affairs, Stephen Hildebrand.

As tensions rise on college campuses, it’s important for students and families to know their options and the positive impact and sense of belonging that a religious university can provide. Through a common commitment with a shared understanding of respect for each other, religious universities offer reprieve from an otherwise divisive culture.

For a more in-depth perspective on this article, read our Insights piece here.