Anti-Semitism Task Force

Strengthening Jewish Life and Campus Belonging at Cal Poly 

Cal Poly is committed to fostering a university environment where intellectual inquiry, cultural expression, and personal identity can coexist within a community grounded in mutual respect and shared responsibility. This commitment includes ensuring that Jewish students, faculty, and staff are supported in learning, working, connecting, and participating fully in university life. 

The Cal Poly Antisemitism Task Force was established in 2025 to assess campus climate, better understand the experiences of Jewish community members, identify opportunities for institutional improvement, and develop strategies to strengthen Jewish life while preventing and responding to antisemitism across the university. 

Background 

Cal Poly is home to a vibrant and growing Jewish community. Jewish students participate in religious, cultural, educational, leadership, and social opportunities through organizations including Hillel San Luis Obispo, Chabad of SLO and Cal Poly, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Zeta Beta Tau, Mustangs United for Israel, and other campus and community partners. 

At the same time, national increases in antisemitism following October 7, 2023, have also affected university communities, including Cal Poly. Antisemitic messages and vandalism, hateful rhetoric, incidents involving Jewish organizations, and classroom experiences reported by Jewish students have reinforced the importance of sustained institutional attention. 

The Task Force was formed in recognition that addressing antisemitism cannot be limited to responding to individual incidents. It requires ongoing education, collaboration, assessment, institutional accountability, and continued investment in a campus environment where Jewish identity and Jewish life are understood, respected, and supported. 

Purpose of the Task Force 

The Antisemitism Task Force brought together students, faculty, staff, university leaders, alumni and community partners to examine campus conditions and identify opportunities to strengthen Cal Poly's institutional response to antisemitism and support for Jewish life. 

• Providing university leadership with actionable and sustainable recommendations that support belonging, safety, education, and Jewish life at Cal Poly. 

• Elevating community perspectives and lived experiences to inform institutional strategy. 

• Identifying opportunities for education, dialogue, partnership, assessment, and accountability. 

• Aligning this work with Cal Poly's educational mission, the CSU Student Success Framework, and the university's commitment to inclusive excellence. 

Areas of Focus 

The Task Force organized its work around four university wide priorities. 

Strengthen Jewish Student Life and Sense of Belonging 

Enhance the university environment so Jewish students feel welcomed, supported, and connected across their academic, social, cultural, spiritual, and co-curricular experiences. 

Advance Employee Awareness, Capacity and Allyship 

Equip faculty, staff, administrators, and university partners with greater knowledge and resources to understand antisemitism, support Jewish community members, and foster inclusive learning and working environments. 

Foster a Culturally Inclusive and Respectful Campus and Community Environment 

Strengthen practices, spaces, educational opportunities, and institutional planning that affirm Jewish identity, respect cultural and religious needs, encourage civil discourse, and contribute to a campus climate grounded in dignity and mutual respect. 

Build Sustainable Infrastructure for Assessment, Accountability and Continuous Improvement 

Develop institutional processes for assessment, communication, accountability, and continued engagement so that efforts to address antisemitism and strengthen Jewish life remain part of the university's ongoing work. 

A University-wide Commitment 

Creating meaningful and lasting progress requires participation across the university. 

The Task Force's work recognizes that responsibility for addressing antisemitism and strengthening Jewish life cannot reside within a single office. It requires collaboration across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, administrative units, campus safety, faculty, student organizations, alumni, and community partners. 

This university wide approach emphasizes shared leadership and accountability, continued engagement with Jewish students and organizations, faculty expertise, educational programming and civil discourse, ongoing assessment, and transparent communication with the Cal Poly community. 

Antisemitism Task Force Members 

Jewish Life and Interfaith Resources