As part of Northwestern’s deal with the Trump administration to restore frozen research funding, the federal government mandated the University to continue its Advisory Council to the President on Jewish Life.
The council, which emerged last spring, seeks to support Jewish students and monitor University policies, training and programs, following alleged spikes in antisemitism on campus in 2023 and 2024, said Michael Simon, NU Hillel Executive Director and council member.
Medill junior and council member Claire Conner said the council’s goals shift depending on what is happening on campus. Yet, she said the council’s focus is broader than combating antisemitism.
“We want to make sure that everyone who’s Jewish feels like they belong at Northwestern and are able to succeed as Wildcats, and to feel like they’re a part of this beautiful family that we have here,” Conner said.
The council had its first meeting of the 2025-26 academic year in early November, Simon said. However, former NU President Michael Schill’s resignation in September left council members concerned about its longevity.
“It’s a president’s (council), but it was formed under the previous president,” Simon said. “I don’t think that President Bienen had any mandate that he had to continue the (council), but he made it pretty clear soon after he began that he wanted this committee to continue.”
A University spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Daily that the council remains active under Bienen’s leadership.
Medill senior and council board member Tobias Khabie said NU’s decision to continue the council after Schill’s resignation was a symbol of hope for the Jewish community.
Khabie added that he believed the administration were active listeners and participants in the conversation on how to progress the council under new leadership.
“I still have two quarters left, and it gives me hope that we can work towards a better future for Jewish students at Northwestern,” Khabie said.
In an Aug. 5 progress report on NU’s efforts to combat alleged antisemitism, the University shared that the number of reports of antisemetic discrimination or harassment decreased by 83% between April 2024 and April 2025.
As the council continues into next year, Conner said it remains important to council members that Jewish students feel proud to embrace their culture while simultaneously having the freedom to blend into the NU community.
“I also want Jewish students, including myself, to be able to exist at Northwestern, just as Wildcats,” Conner said. “It’s important to be able to step into a classroom, or into Welsh-Ryan Arena, or into a hammock on the Lakefill and just feel at home in purple and feel at home at Northwestern.”
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