The University released a statement denouncing the vandalism of a Maroons for Israel (MFI) installation on the quad as a violation of “the University’s longstanding commitment to free expression.”
UChicago’s March 13 statement was released hours after the Trump administration told Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson that the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism would be directing its attention to antisemitism at Chicago-area universities.
The Task Force to Combat Antisemitism’s March 13 letter to Johnson and the mayors of New York City, Boston, and Los Angeles informed them that the Trump administration “was aware of allegations that the schools in their respective cities may have failed to protect Jewish students from unlawful discrimination, in potential violation of federal law.”
The Department of Justice (DoJ) said the Task Force would “meet with city leadership, impacted students, local law enforcement, and community members as it gathers information about these incidents and considers whether federal intervention is warranted.”
“Too many elected officials chose not to stand up to a rising tide of antisemitism in our cities and campuses following the horrific events of October 7, 2023,” Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote in a statement accompanying the letter. “Actions have consequences – inaction does, too.”
A University Student Centers–approved MFI installation on the main quad outside Swift Hall was vandalized on March 7, per a MFI statement.
The installation consisted of a crib containing an Israeli flag and a poster with photos of Kfir Bibas, a nine-month-old Israeli taken hostage during the October 7, 2023 attacks and later killed. The poster was partially ripped and left on the ground.
In its statement, the University restated its position regarding damage to approved installations and noted that the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) is currently investigating the incident. The University also shared information about how students can receive support for freedom of expression–related concerns.
“Maintaining UChicago’s environment of free expression for a wide diversity of perspectives takes unremitting effort on everyone’s behalf,” the statement read.
In its March 7 statement posted on Instagram, MFI condemned the vandalism.
“Earlier today, our crib installation highlighting the barbaric murder of Kfir Bibas was vandalized on the University of Chicago quadrangles,” MFI wrote. “We are appalled at this inhumane behavior, which shows insensitivity at best, and support at worst, for the slaughter of an innocent nine month old infant whose only crime was being Jewish.”
“This act of hatred does not discourage us, but only motivates our advocacy on campus,” MFI continued. “We are committed to working with the administration and appropriate personnel to penalize the perpetrators of this heinous act. Jewish students can’t look away from antisemitism, and neither should you.”
Over the last year, MFI’s installations have been vandalized or stolen several times. During the pro-Palestine encampment last spring, Israeli flags and pro-Israel signs on the main quad were repeatedly stolen or removed from their approved locations by unknown individuals. At the time, an MFI representative told the Maroon the “desecration of a University-approved installment” was “despicable and shouldn’t be tolerated at the University of Chicago.”
In November, an MFI banner hanging outside of Kent Chemical Laboratory was stolen.
The University’s public response to the most recent vandalism comes as the Trump administration targets antisemitism at institutions of higher education nationwide.
In February, the Department of Education announced an investigation into Northwestern University, alongside four other universities, for “antisemitic discrimination and harassment” claims related to the university’s handling of pro-Palestine demonstrations. The Department of Education has since sent warning letters to 60 schools on similar grounds.
The DoJ and three other federal agencies canceled $400 million in grants to Columbia University last week “due to the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.” Since then, the Trump administration has demanded that Columbia alter its disciplinary procedures, ban mask-wearing, and place the school’s Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies Department under academic receivership.
On March 8, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and recent Columbia graduate. Khalil, a lead negotiator during Columbia’s 2024 pro-Palestine encampment, is a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and has not been charged with a crime.
Following the Trump administration’s targeting of Columbia, UChicago’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors sent a letter to University President Paul Alivisatos and Provost Katherine Baicker asking them not to comply with federal directives or change University practices beyond what is “strictly required” by law.
“We ask the University to publicly commit to rejecting any efforts to equate political disagreement with religious, racial, or national discrimination and to also not sharing the names or contact information of students, staff, or faculty based on their perceived or actual political opinions or affiliations,” the letter read.
Although UChicago is not currently known to be under federal scrutiny for antisemitism, the University recently received a “D” grade on the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) 2025 campus antisemitism report card, released March 3.
The ADL praised UChicago for its campus Jewish life, which it rated “excellent,” and for the University’s “swift action to address campus encampments.” However, the organization expressed concern about “campus climate and conduct” related to pro-Palestine activism—which the ADL considers antisemitic—and a lack of public disclosure of actions the University has taken to handle antisemitism.
The University disputed the ADL’s negative rating, writing in a March 4 UChicago News statement that the assessment “does not accurately reflect the University or its core values.”
“Antisemitism is antithetical to the University of Chicago’s values, as are other forms of bias and discrimination,” the statement read. “Antisemitism is also incompatible with our deep commitment to diversity and inclusion and ensuring that all members of the campus community can participate fully in the life of the University.”
“The University has consistently said it does not tolerate actions that violate University policy or the law, including multiple messages from University leadership on these points,” the statement continued. “At the same time, UChicago has a longstanding tradition against taking collective stances concerning social or political issues outside the University’s core mission, as articulated in the Kalven Report of 1967.”
The University did not respond to a Maroon request for comment regarding whether UChicago has received any communication from federal agencies related to campus antisemitism.
The DoJ and the Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment.
