Northwestern Blocks Over 300 Students Over Mandatory Antisemitism Training

Northwestern University required students to complete mandatory antisemitism and anti-bias training videos before registering for fall classes, resulting in at least 300 students being barred from enrollment after refusing to comply. The training, developed in partnership with the Jewish United Fund, has been criticized for bias, factual inaccuracies, and political slant, particularly for portraying Israel in exclusively positive terms, omitting Palestinian perspectives, and equating criticism of Zionism with antisemitism. Students and faculty signed an open letter demanding the suspension of the training and removal of enrollment holds, arguing that the content serves as political indoctrination rather than anti-bias education. University officials maintained that students are not required to agree with the content but must complete the training and adhere to school policies against discrimination and harassment. This controversy highlights broader tensions around free speech, academic compliance, and the handling of antisemitism and Middle East-related issues on campus. Northwestern's approach reflects a growing trend among U.S. universities to adopt mandatory antisemitism trainings amid federal pressures during the Trump administration, though the specific content and reception vary widely.