Fighting
Antisemitism at
Northwestern

What is CAAN?

The Coalition Against Antisemitism at Northwestern (CAAN) is a dedicated alliance of thousands of Jewish and non-Jewish stakeholders, including Northwestern students, parents, alumni, faculty, trustees, interfaith partners, government officials, and legal experts. Together we work tirelessly to combat antisemitism, hate and prejudice, championing education and advocacy to promote a safer, more inclusive community.

Share our mission and join us in making a difference.

What is antisemitism?

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) defines antisemitism as, “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” The IHRA Definition, along with its 11 clarifying examples, is a definitional tool to identify both classic and contemporary manifestations of antisemitism.

November 6, 2026 Update:

CAAN Condemns Exclusion of Wildcats for Israel from Northwestern Cultural Festival

Coalition Demands Accountability, Equal Treatment, and Enforcement of Northwestern's Federal Civil Rights Obligations

EVANSTON, IL — November 6, 2026 — The Coalition Against Antisemitism at Northwestern (CAAN) condemns Spoon University Northwestern's deliberate exclusion of Wildcats for Israel (WFI), a Northwestern Hillel student organization, from its Cultural Food Fest following objections from other campus organizations.

Spoon, a Northwestern Registered Student Organization (RSO), acknowledged removing WFI while characterizing its original invitation as an oversight. In a written statement, Spoon's leadership declared: “Because of this, and because Wildcats for Israel is a political action group, not a cultural organization, we have removed them from the event and later decided to cancel Cultural Food Fest.”

Northwestern confirmed that its Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance has launched a formal investigation following a discrimination complaint against Spoon University. The University has also frozen Spoon's standing as an RSO, temporarily preventing it from holding meetings or participating in University events.

No student should have to renounce their connection to Israel to participate fully in campus life. Inclusion cannot be conditional on political conformity.

Wendy Sachs, Northwestern Medill '93 alumna and director of OCTOBER 8, stated: “It is chilling that in 2026, at my own alma mater, we are witnessing Jewish and Israeli students being singled out and excluded from a celebration of cultural diversity.”

Spoon's justification raises questions about a potential double standard. The Asian Pacific American Coalition (APAC), one of the organizations objecting to WFI's participation, publicly identifies itself as a sociopolitical advocacy organization. Why was political advocacy considered grounds for excluding Wildcats for Israel but apparently acceptable for other participating organizations?

Students have every right to criticize Israel and express political disagreement. But political disagreement cannot justify discrimination based on Jewish ancestry, Israeli national origin, or Zionist identity when it serves as a proxy for protected Jewish or Israeli identity.

CAAN has filed a formal complaint with Northwestern's senior leadership and civil rights officials. Freezing Spoon's RSO standing is an important initial step, but the investigation must establish what happened, why WFI was singled out, and whether Northwestern policies and federal civil rights obligations were violated.

Northwestern's November 28, 2025 federal resolution agreement followed the federal government's freeze of more than $1 billion in University research funding amid investigations into antisemitism and other compliance concerns. Northwestern cannot afford to sweep these commitments – or allegations of discriminatory exclusion – under the rug.

A University that proudly calls its community the Wildcats must make clear that all Wildcats belong – including those whose Jewish identity and connection to Israel make others uncomfortable.

CAAN has requested a written response from Northwestern within five business days.

About CAAN
The Coalition Against Antisemitism at Northwestern is an independent organization dedicated to combating antisemitism, advocating for the safety and equal treatment of Jewish students, and promoting institutional accountability at Northwestern University.

Additional coverage: Northwestern News Network video report

October 20, 2026 Update:

**Fox 32 Interview with CAAN President Michael Teplitsky about OCTOBER 7 Fire Alarm Disruption at Northwestern**

October 6, 2026 Update:

**CAAN Statement on Disruption of OCTOBER 7 at Northwestern**

Evanston, Illinois – October 6, 2026 — Tonight, a fire alarm interrupted OCTOBER 7, a play drawn directly from the testimony of survivors and eyewitnesses to the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 massacre. Approximately 1,200 people were killed, most of them civilians, and 251 people were taken hostage in the attack. The alarm forced the evacuation of Cahn Auditorium on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus. The performance was hosted by Northwestern Hillel.

The sound of the alarm had an especially painful resonance with the events being portrayed: the October 7 attack itself began amid rocket barrages and air-raid sirens warning civilians to seek shelter.

At this time, the cause of the alarm and whether it was intentionally activated to disrupt the performance have not been established. Northwestern University Police are involved. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Hate Crimes Unit is also aware of the incident and has advised attendees with relevant information to file police reports. Just last month, that office secured a seven-year prison sentence in an antisemitic hate crime case involving the defacement of Northwestern’s campus with swastikas and other Nazi symbols.

CAAN calls on Northwestern to promptly conduct a thorough investigation to determine what happened, whether the alarm was intentionally triggered, and whether antisemitic bias – including bias based on Jewish or Israeli shared ancestry – played any role. If intentional misconduct is established, those responsible must be identified and held accountable under University policy and applicable law.

If the alarm was intentionally triggered to disrupt this Northwestern Hillel-hosted event centered on October 7 survivor testimony, it would raise serious federal civil rights concerns under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and could also implicate Northwestern’s November 2025 Resolution Agreement with the United States.

Northwestern specifically agreed to maintain and enforce policies prohibiting “any disruption, prevention, obstruction, or attempt to prevent or obstruct” University activities, co-curricular activities, and University or public events. The Agreement further requires Northwestern to maintain sufficient security – including Northwestern University Police and cooperation with other law-enforcement agencies – to prevent and investigate violations and, where practicable, intervene while they are occurring.

Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist students have the same civil rights as every other member of the Northwestern community – including the right to gather, speak, commemorate, and participate fully in campus life without intimidation, harassment, disruption, or interference.

The testimony of October 7 survivors deserves to be heard. It will not be silenced.

Videos / documentation:

Coalition Against Antisemitism at Northwestern (CAAN)

Video Highlights

Read how CAAN has been influencing policy and documenting antisemitic activity at Northwestern.

Read Here
CAAN partners with lawmakers, lobbyists, and lawyers to keep Northwestern a safe, discrimination-free campus.

CAAN Legal Work
Make sure to document all examples of antisemitic incidents that you see on and off campus.

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🟪 A New Chapter at Northwestern. We welcome Mung Chiang as the newly announced 18th president of @NorthwesternU. Arriving from Purdue with a distinguished record of visionary leadership, President Chiang is widely recognized as an innovator who values free expression and collaborative growth. At this pivotal moment, Northwestern needs strong, principled leadership to move the community forward. CAAN is encouraged by this appointment and looks forward to working with President Chiang’s administration to help build a campus grounded in safety, transparency, and accountability—where antisemitism, anti-Zionism and all forms of hate are actively confronted, and every student and faculty member is treated with respect. #CAAN #Northwestern #MungChiang #EndAntisemitism

On Yom HaShoah, we pause to remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and the countless lives forever changed by hatred and dehumanization.  Remembrance is not only about memory — it is also about education, so future generations understand where antisemitism and anti-Zionism can lead and why it must be confronted.  May memory become learning, and learning become action.  #YomHaShoah #HolocaustRemembrance #NeverForget #NeverAgain #YesWeCAAN #AntisemitismEducation

At Wednesday’s press conference in Evanston, the Coalition Against Antisemitism at Northwestern (CAAN) called the recently announced Resolution Agreement a crucial first step — but emphasized that real accountability and reform are only beginning. CAAN President Michael Teplitsky was joined by Barry Jonas (GW Program on Extremism), Yossi Held (StandWithUs Midwest), Alison Pure-Slovin (Simon Wiesenthal Center), and @NorthwesternU students Max Schlanger and Christina Sher to outline next steps for oversight, Title VI compliance, and protection of Jewish students’ civil rights. #CAAN #Northwestern #PressConference #StopAntisemitism #TitleVI

CAAN’s coordinated advocacy, federal engagement, and unrelenting pressure on @NorthwesternU leadership were central to forcing meaningful change — from demanding the termination of the Deering Meadow Agreement to insisting on real Title VI enforcement and restored protections for Jewish students. By organizing Jewish students and alumni, documenting antisemitism, and partnering with allies in the U.S. government, CAAN helped create the conditions that made this agreement both possible and urgent. CAAN is grateful to Interim @NorthwesternPresident Bienen and the Northwestern Board of Trustees for ultimately choosing to work constructively with federal agencies to restore frozen research funding and prioritize the safety of Jewish students, faculty, women, and the entire campus community. This is not about politics; it is about safety, civil rights, and accountability. This win is a major step, but it is not the end. CAAN will continue to monitor implementation, push for genuine (not symbolic) Title VI compliance, and demand deep internal reforms to confront antisemitism and problematic foreign influence, including from Qatar. Share to stand with Jewish students at Northwestern and beyond.

🚨 Is it education? Or is it indoctrination? 🎓🚫 If you take a class on “Biomedicine and World History,” you expect to learn about health. You don’t expect a syllabus filled with Hamas-sympathetic essays and guest lectures from SJP organizers. Yet, that is exactly what is happening at @NorthwesternU. Faculty are ignoring Title VI and creating a hostile learning environment for Jewish and Israeli students by embedding political agendas into unrelated coursework. The worst part? Students are too afraid of academic retaliation to speak up, and the Administration is too passive to stop it. 👉 Swipe to see the evidence the University is ignoring. #CAAN #TitleVI #CivilRights #JewishOnCampus #StopAntisemitism

Who are we? We are CAAN – the Coalition Against Antisemitism at Northwestern. For two years, we have fought antisemitism at @NorthwesternU in Evanston and in Washington, D.C., working to hold the University accountable and protect its students and faculty. Northwestern is currently evaluating whether to renew its campus in Qatar. The contract for NU-Q is set to expire at the end of the 2027–2028 academic year. Qatar’s restrictive regime, its record on academic freedom and human rights, and its direct ideological influence have contributed to the antisemitism and pervasive harassment of Jewish students that form the basis of Northwestern’s ongoing Title VI violations. Given this, we demand that the Northwestern Board of Trustees not renew this partnership. When classrooms reflect the pressures of an authoritarian host, true scholarship is lost. CAAN stands for open inquiry, academic integrity, and a campus free from hate and misinformation. Join us at YesWeCAAN.org as we continue working to restore honesty, transparency, and accountability to Northwestern. #CAAN #Northwestern #StopAntisemitism #AcademicIntegrity #EndHatredOnCampus

We are overjoyed that the remaining living hostages are finally home in Israel. We pray all the remaining deceased hostages are brought back to their families, and we hold hope that lasting peace in the region will come — a peace strong enough to quiet the wave of antisemitism that has plagued our world these past two years. Yet much more work remains here at home. We must ensure that education in America rejects the indoctrination of our children to believe that Jews, Israelis, or Zionists are wrong for wanting to live and worship freely — in peace, safety, and mutual respect. CAAN will continue its mission to combat antisemitism, hate and prejudice, championing education and advocacy to promote a safer, more inclusive community at @NorthwesternU.

2 years — 730 days — have passed since the hostages were taken on October 7, 2023. As the holiday of Sukkot begins tonight — the “Festival of Booths,” but also called Z’man Simchateinu, the “Season of Our Rejoicing” — CAAN remains steadfast in our hope that EVERY remaining hostage will be returned home in the coming days. Only then can this truly be a season of rejoicing — for their families, and for all who stand with Israel and the Jewish people. #CAAN #2Years #BringThemHome #Sukkot #ZmanSimchateinu #NeverForget

@NorthwesternU is enforcing enrollment holds on students who refuse the required antisemitism/anti-discrimination training—a necessary step to protect all students’ civil rights. CAAN supports this move while urging the University to ensure neutral enforcement, prevent foreign-funded influence, and apply rules evenly across all groups. Read the full statement on our website for sources, details, and recommendations.

CAAN member @scott_shay’s latest article exposes why @NorthwesternU’s crisis isn’t just a local issue—it’s a warning for universities nationwide. His five-point action plan makes clear: when academic freedom and integrity are at stake, every campus community must demand real reform. CAAN stands with Shay and calls on everyone who values pluralism, open debate, and student safety to read his piece and join our push for genuine change at Northwestern and beyond. Read at YesWeCAAN.org/in-the-news or the Jewish Journal website.

CAAN calls on @NorthwesternU and @NorthwesternPresident Bienen to confront the truth: professors with ties to terror financing have no place in classrooms, and Jewish students deserve safety—not fear. Abusharif’s record, and his continued role at NU-Q, along with visiting Professor Mkhaimar Abusada’s connection with organizations linked to Hamas and the PFLP, highlight Northwestern’s deeper crisis of foreign influence, unchecked antisemitism, and failed accountability. Integrity starts by ending these compromises. We look forward to working with you to return Northwestern to an institution which promotes civil discourse and safety for all. #CAAN #StopAntisemitism #NoHateAtNorthwestern

📢 Leadership Update at Northwestern We warmly welcome back Henry S. Bienen as interim president of @NorthwesternU. With over three decades of dedicated service to this community, @NorthwesternPresident Bienen brings principled leadership, deep experience, and a profound understanding of Northwestern’s values and its people. At this critical and challenging time, his steady hand and insight are exactly what Northwestern needs to help guide the university forward and combat antisemitism and all forms of hate on campus. CAAN is encouraged by this appointment and looks forward to working constructively with President Bienen to ensure Northwestern becomes a campus defined by integrity, accountability, safety, and respect for all members of its community. #CAAN #Northwestern #Bienen #StopAntisemitism #Leadership #StudentSafety #Accountability #Experience #Principles #Commitment

🚨 10 Shocking Revelations from Schill’s Testimony 🚨 Link to full testimony in bio. On Aug. 5, 2025, resigning @NorthwesternU President Michael Schill faced Congress for the 2nd time in 14 months. What emerged was a damning record of failures: no discipline for encampment leaders, contracts with Qatar that gag criticism, professors tied to terror groups, and a provost caught coaching BDS activists. Swipe through for the most disturbing takeaways ➡️ #Northwestern #SchillTestimony #CAAN #EndAntisemitism

🚨BREAKING: President Schill resigns🚨 CAAN is proud to have played a role in holding failed leadership accountable. But let’s be clear: antisemitism at Northwestern does not end with his departure. It remains—and so does our fight. From last spring’s unchecked hate to incidents just two weeks ago, Jewish students and community members continue to be let down. With classes starting soon, the Board of Trustees must act now—not only to name an interim, but to commit to permanent leadership changes that ensure safety, accountability, and a truly hate‑free campus for ALL. We won’t stop until every Wildcat can thrive without fear. #Northwestern #CAAN #EndAntisemitism

Antisemitic Threats Near Former Pro-Terror Encampment at @NorthwesternU. On August 15, 2025, a student, his family and companions faced antisemitic abuse on Sheridan Rd.—steps from Deering Meadow, the site of Spring 2024’s pro-terror encampments. Over a year later, bias and harassment persist at Northwestern and in Evanston, with no meaningful changes or public updates from the University. If you witness or experience hateful acts, report them to the authorities and CAAN. We must take action—silence allows hate to continue. #CAAN #Northwestern #Evanston #Chicago #StopTheHate #EndJewHatred #CombatAntisemtism

CAAN will be watching closely as @NorthwesternPresident Schill returns to Congress on August 5th. After a year of egregious antisemitism, a lack of accountability and consequences, and little progress for Jewish students, we’re eager to see how he’ll defend his actions and the Deering Meadow Agreement. #NoHateAtNorthwestern #StopAntisemitism #Accountability #ProtectJewishStudents

This @DailyNU poll, taken April 20–26, 2025, directly undermines @NorthwesternU‘s recent public claim that antisemitism on campus is “under control“ (University Statement, March 31, 2025). The numbers speak for themselves. Silence and spin are no longer credible responses.

@NorthwesternU students @maxschlanger and @oryahalom_ spoke with Chicago reporters from Washington, D.C., where they joined 16 other Jewish Northwestern students on a CAAN-organized trip to advocate for greater campus safety and ensuring consequences for discrimination, hate and harassment by students and outside agitators. #StopAntisemitism #SafeCampus #CAAN

The U.S. government now requires ALL universities—including Northwestern—to fully disclose every dollar received from foreign sources, or risk losing vital federal funding. Northwestern’s Qatar campus, NU-Q, established through a $602 million partnership with the Qatar Foundation, has long raised concerns about foreign influence, academic freedom, and ties to Al Jazeera—a state-owned media network repeatedly flagged for antisemitism, state propaganda, and ties to terrorist organizations. Some investigations have uncovered rampant extremism and support for terror among NU-Q faculty and students. Northwestern only ended its formal partnership with Al Jazeera in July 2024, after direct Congressional pressure, and quietly did so. This Executive Order is about protecting our campuses from foreign exploitation, propaganda, and national security risks. The Board of Trustees has the power to act now—by ending risky partnerships and ensuring full transparency. It’s time for accountability. CAAN calls on @NorthwesternU and @NorthwesternPresident Schill to immediately disclose all foreign funding and sever ties that threaten academic integrity and campus safety. #YesWeCAAN #TransparencyNow #Northwestern #ForeignInfluence #ProtectOurCampuses #StopAntisemitism