New Journal Article: Jewish Fraternity and Sorority Members’ Responses to Antisemitism
I am pleased to share the publication of a new coauthored research article with Dr. Jenny L. Small and Dr. Danielle Lund, titled “Jewish Fraternity and Sorority Members’ Coping and Sensemaking Responses to Antisemitism,” published in the Journal of College Student Development, Volume 67, Issue 5 (September/October 2026).
This article examines how Jewish fraternity and sorority members experience, interpret, and respond to antisemitism within contemporary college environments. Drawing from a national qualitative research study, we explored how Jewish students navigated campus climates marked by heightened tensions, uncertainty, and emotional strain following October 7, 2023.
Through focus groups with members of traditionally Jewish fraternities and sororities, participants shared experiences ranging from everyday slights and social exclusion to threats of violence and physical assaults. Our findings identified five distinct coping and sensemaking responses: resisting antisemitism, socially distancing from peers and campus communities, minimizing or downplaying antisemitic incidents, maintaining hypervigilance around personal safety, and concealing Jewish identities in public and digital spaces.
This study represents an important extension of my broader scholarship examining fraternity and sorority life, student identity, organizational cultures, and the ways collegiate environments shape students' experiences of belonging and marginalization. My scholarly interest in fraternity and sorority communities centers on understanding these organizations not simply as social structures, but as consequential environments where students negotiate identity, develop relationships, and navigate broader institutional and societal challenges. Examining the experiences of Jewish fraternity and sorority members provides an opportunity to consider how culturally and religiously affiliated organizations intersect with students' experiences of discrimination, identity expression, and campus belonging.
Of particular significance to my research agenda is how fraternity and sorority membership intersects with students' efforts to make sense of challenging campus environments. Our findings demonstrate that responses to antisemitism extend beyond individual incidents and influence how students participate in campus life, engage with peers, express their identities, and assess their personal safety. These experiences invite higher education scholars and practitioners to reconsider assumptions about inclusion, community, and the protective or supportive functions of student organizations.
For higher education professionals, this research underscores the importance of recognizing antisemitism as a student development, belonging, and campus safety concern. The findings point to the need for intentional professional development, culturally responsive student support, and institutional practices that acknowledge the emotional and psychological consequences of antisemitism. They also encourage fraternity and sorority advisors, student affairs practitioners, and campus leaders to consider how Jewish students experience institutional support and navigate decisions about identity disclosure, community participation, and personal safety.
I view this publication as a meaningful contribution to the growing body of scholarship connecting fraternity and sorority life with broader questions of identity, campus climate, and student development. It reinforces the importance of examining whose experiences are centered in our understanding of collegiate belonging and how institutions can better support students navigating discrimination and exclusion.
Read the full article: Jewish Fraternity and Sorority Members’ Coping and Sensemaking Responses to Antisemitism
Small, J. L., Lund, D., & Sasso, P. (2026). Jewish fraternity and sorority members’ coping and sensemaking responses to antisemitism. Journal of College Student Development, 67(5), 529–546. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2026.a1002682
