Seven in 10 college students say most or nearly all students on their college campus feel welcomed, valued and supported, according to a July 2025 survey by Inside Higher Ed and Generation Lab. The data, collected from over 260 two- and four-year colleges across the country, paints a relatively rosy picture of students' sentiments on campus this fall against the backdrop of free speech restrictions, tense protests and cutbacks to programs that serve students from racial minorities.
California, described by one observer in the late 19th century as "the Jews' earthly paradise" for the economic and social promise it held, seems to have become newly hostile to Jewish people in recent years. More than any other place on Earth, Jews have shaped much of California's progress, from Levi Strauss and the founders of the entertainment industry to numerous other leaders in culture, science, real estate and finance.
Before the training, my instinct was to say, Oh, you disagree with me? I'm going to prove you wrong with hardcore facts that you can't dispute,' but I learned to step back from that emotion, Jeremiah says. Being right might give you a little self-gratification, but it doesn't necessarily solve the issue if you're just making the other person feel defensive. Jeremiah's reflection captures the promise of promoting constructive dialogue at a university as vast and diverse as CUNY.
