Jewish at Boston College

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are crosses and religious iconography all over campus. My Episcopalian child found it too much.

That would be really scary!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are crosses and religious iconography all over campus. My Episcopalian child found it too much.

Crosses at a Catholic college? You have to be kidding. They have no right to have religious symbols. You have every right to be shocked, surprised, and appalled. I hope you sent a strongly worded letter to the administration.

[Anonymous]

There are quite a few Jewish professors at BC & some of their kids are students there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For many reasons, DD is very interested in BC. It's the perfect size in a fabulous college town, has a great amount of school spirit, has a beautiful campus, with the kind of major she is interested in. I'm curious if there are any DCUMs that have a Jewish kid at BC and how that has been. I looked at the Hillel site, and there is an 'okay' sized Jewish population. Generally, Jesuit Universities are very cool with our people, so I wanted to just get some first hand experiences. TIA!

If true, that’s a lot! DD is at Harvard and they have many Jewish students.

My nephew started this fall and really likes it. Has gone to Hillel on Friday nights. My sister sent me a stat I almodt couldn’t believe. BC has more Jewish undergrads than Harvard!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a BC grad, I can tell you it would be considered extremely uncool there to be biased against Jews.

That may be true, but friendships are different than romantic relationships. I guess I think of college as a place that many people meet their future spouses or even have their first serious relationship. I know that's not the point of college, but it's a nice side benefit, IMO. So, my question would be - in such a Catholic school, would my non-Catholic kid be someone that most people would be open to dating (assuming my kid doesn't care about the religion themselves)? If many people would want to stick with someone Catholic or only consider them if they convert, I would choose another school.

Most of the kids are aspiring to be lapsed Catholics. I wouldn’t worry about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are crosses and religious iconography all over campus. My Episcopalian child found it too much.

The horror! And to offend an Anglican, even!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are quite a few Jewish professors at BC & some of their kids are students there.

really? im surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For many reasons, DD is very interested in BC. It's the perfect size in a fabulous college town, has a great amount of school spirit, has a beautiful campus, with the kind of major she is interested in. I'm curious if there are any DCUMs that have a Jewish kid at BC and how that has been. I looked at the Hillel site, and there is an 'okay' sized Jewish population. Generally, Jesuit Universities are very cool with our people, so I wanted to just get some first hand experiences. TIA!

Very safe. There is a strong Judeo Christian relationship among Catholics especially among Jesuits. There were zero protests at BC. It is a traditional sort of conservative vibe - that would be more of the thought about fitting in - more preppy rather than religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it would be fine, but jesuit schools are very Catholic. 70% at BC. Look at Georgetown instead.

Georgetown is Jesuit.

True, but Georgetown is so international compared to BC, that the Catholicism feels more watered down.

And more muslim students at Georgetown and more vocal speaking out against Israel which can feel yucky for a Jewish student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is Jewish identity to your child? If not very important, then BC is fine. If your kid definitely wants to join Hillel and Jewish identity is a big part of your kid's life, then there are schools that would be a better fit.

My concern is more for the safety of my Jewish child on campus. Obviously Columbia is not a safe environment!

I know UVA was recently sued for failing to take any steps to protect Jewish students.

I’ve also heard horrendous stories about Brown, U. Of Wisconsin, and U. Of Georgia.

Some safer campuses for Jewish students might be Northeastern or even right here in town, at American U.

LOL people get bombed and starved and you say Columbia isn’t “safe.” Pull your head out of your ass, gain some perspective and use the word “safety” in a responsible way. Thanks.

PP is responsibly using the term to discuss the safety of her Jewish kid at college campuses in the College and University discussion. It's sad that the concern for the safety of Jewish students makes you so angry.

In a different tone I will say that that there haven’t been any safety concerns at BC. Harvard’s protests against Israel wasn’t violent, no one got hurt. There were signs about “no Zionist allowed” but nothing really directed at Jews in America. It was about Israel and Netanyahu. Trump and Steven Miller used a lot of propaganda claiming all these campuses are antisemetic so people would turn their attention away from the genocide.

But Jewish students in the Northeast are completely safe.

[Anonymous]

If your Jewish identity is important to you, consider Brandeis and Tufts instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are quite a few Jewish professors at BC & some of their kids are students there.

really? im surprised.

You don’t know the area very well. It’s majority Catholic and one of the largest populations of Jewish people in the country. I married a Jewish man and I am a Catholic and it’s pretty common. Neither of us grew up with religion those are just the religions we had at birth.

It’s a good idea for different religions to get to know a little about other religions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it would be fine, but jesuit schools are very Catholic. 70% at BC. Look at Georgetown instead.

Georgetown is Jesuit.

True, but Georgetown is so international compared to BC, that the Catholicism feels more watered down.

And more muslim students at Georgetown and more vocal speaking out against Israel which can feel yucky for a Jewish student.

It doesn’t feel yucky when other countries are protesting the US why feel yucky about Israel. It’s the country not the people. Israelis have been protesting against Netanyahu. Let’s hope neither country loses that right to protest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it would be fine, but jesuit schools are very Catholic. 70% at BC. Look at Georgetown instead.

Georgetown is Jesuit.

True, but Georgetown is so international compared to BC, that the Catholicism feels more watered down.

And more muslim students at Georgetown and more vocal speaking out against Israel which can feel yucky for a Jewish student.

It is such a shame that Georgetown is rejecting its Catholic heritage and allpwing antisemitism to flourish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it would be fine, but jesuit schools are very Catholic. 70% at BC. Look at Georgetown instead.

Georgetown is Jesuit.

True, but Georgetown is so international compared to BC, that the Catholicism feels more watered down.

And more muslim students at Georgetown and more vocal speaking out against Israel which can feel yucky for a Jewish student.

It doesn’t feel yucky when other countries are protesting the US why feel yucky about Israel. It’s the country not the people. Israelis have been protesting against Netanyahu. Let’s hope neither country loses that right to protest.

Catholic schools should be safe spaces for Jewish students.