The police are currently investigating the September 25 incident at the Rutgers campus in New Brunswick when the members of Alpha Epsilon Pi awoke to broken eggs outside their house. AEPi is a male fraternity known for being predominantly Jewish. This was the second incident of vandalism targeted at the fraternity in the last few months.
That day was important for Jews because it was the Jewish New Year, also known as Rosh Hashanah. The other time AEPi was subjected to antisemitic actions was on April 28, or Passover. Cars circled the property while waving Palestinian flags, throwing various items, spitting, and shouting derogatory words. Broken eggs were found outside the property as well. Governor Phil Murphy declared these as acts of antisemitism and posted on Twitter that
“Antisemitism has no place in New Jersey.”
This is not the first time Jews have been targeted in college settings. At CUNY-Brooklyn, a man was reported to have been beaten up and called a “dirty Jew.” At Northwestern University, a swastika was found graffitied on the wall and in the men’s bathroom.
What does all this mean for the Jewish students who are considering applying to Rutgers or any college next fall? Will they be hesitant due to the current circumstances? Lia Blank, a senior at Highland Park High School, says, “It’s something that I’ve become desensitized to, so this specific event won’t stop me from applying.” She also remarked, “Unfortunately, I know something like this can and will happen anywhere.” However, another student expressed their worry, saying, “Egging a fraternity may seem like a harmless joke…but it's just not kind and
part of the reason why I'm so hesitant in letting others know I am Jewish.”
Not only prospective Rutgers students are chiming in on this issue. Talia Hercman, a Highland Park resident says, “Rutgers should approach this situation with care if they want more Orthodox Jewish students to attend the school, let alone apply.”
The Anti-Defamation League reported that antisemitism reached an all-time high in New Jersey last year, rising by 25% from 2020 with 370 incidents. This trajectory will continue if nothing is changed. Rutgers University and other institutions across the country are now faced with a tough decision: standing by or implementing steps to prevent these incidents.