On Oct. 10, at 5 p.m Tulane University released its first statement on social media from President Michael A. Fitts and Robin Forman, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, addressing the war between Israel and the Palestinian city of Gaza. Almost immediately, students, faculty and alums voiced stark disappointment with the lack of support Tulane offered the state of Israel in response to this inhumane genocide. 

Tulane’s initial statement was vague and deemphasized the massacre in Israel. It said, “The violence and loss of life over the last few days in the Middle East have been heartbreaking. We are grieving over the truly horrific attacks by Hamas on Israel and the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza… We want to acknowledge and continue to focus on supporting our community abroad and on campus.” 

Although Tulane’s initial response to the conflict in the Middle East was amiss, on Thursday, Oct. 12, Fitts sent a second letter to all students and faculty adjusting his message. In the amended statement, Fitts said “I unequivocally condemn the attacks by Hamas on Israel and all forms of terrorism and hate. I was deeply affected by these heinous acts, as were so many Tulanians. My thoughts remain with the Jewish community in the wake of these attacks.”

While this message is a step in the right direction for the university, we can only hope that their actions moving forward speak louder than their words. Though the administration was lackluster with their initial reaction, the student body acted quickly within smaller communities and immediately began organizing relief funds for Israel. 

According to Hillel International, Tulane has the country’s third-largest Jewish population of any private university, standing at 43.7% of its undergraduate student body. Jewish students account for 3,214 out of 7,350 undergraduates. Two Jewish organizations affiliated with the university, Tulane Hillel and the Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center, provide the student body with Kosher meals, religious services, birthright trips and Jewish studies. 

The university showed it supports students affected by the war in its first statement; only after two days of public outcry did it explicitly condemn terrorism. 

This egregious misstep is the main reason for backlash from the university’s students and alumni. Unfortunately, some students are unsurprised by Tulane’s initial lack of support, as the administration has often been inept when addressing matters that affect a large portion of the student body and faculty. Current Tulane alumni actively serving in the Israeli Defense Force are traumatized and abused by the Hamas terrorist organization. Astonishingly, they can’t rely on their alma mater to immediately stand with them. 

University leadership failed its community with its first response to this war. Reactions to the second statement, though, were much more positive.

While Tulane took their time to figure out what to say and what to do, Tulane-affiliated Greek sororities and fraternities immediately took initiative to support Israel. 

Some of the Greek organizations on Tulane’s campus are historically Jewish, which heavily influences the members within their chapters. By Wednesday, Oct. 11, student organizations had already organized fundraisers to support the IDF and Magen David Adom organization. Tulane’s Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and Pi Beta Phi sorority had a lemonade and bake sale on McAlister Place Wednesday afternoon, and Sigma Delta Tau sorority held a ‘Dippin Dots’ fundraiser at their chapter house on Broadway Street.

 Hanna Hayes, the president of panhellenic sorority Sigma Delta Tau, said, “As the president of Sigma Delta Tau, a historical Jewish organization, I stand with Israel. Sigma Delta Tau was founded by Jewish women who were discriminated against by existing Greek organizations and worked to create a place that encourages community, sisterhood, and safety for all. For many of us in SDT and Tulane, Israel is a very special place. We are offering resources not only to our chapter members but also by being active on our social platforms to make sure these resources are accessible to people outside of our chapter. We have fundraisers and events to send donations to the IDF and other Israeli resources and relief funds … My goal, as the chapter president of a Jewish-affiliated organization, is to provide resources and ensure our house is a safe community for everyone, both inside and outside of our chapter. Many of our sisters are involved in different organizations and efforts to support Israel and honor their Jewish heritage, and we are proud to offer them the space to do so. Our hearts are broken during this time, and we send our thoughts and prayers to those affected in Israel and across the world. Love in SDT💙🇮🇱.” 

This statement shows Sigma Delta Tau’s allegiance to the state of Israel and announces their official involvement in raising money and sending supplies to Jewish members inside and outside their community, something Tulane has still failed to do. 

Tulane’s Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority president, Elyse Rice, added, “As president of AEPhi, our Jewish-founded sorority, and our leadership here at Tulane, we must be vocal during this dark time. Together, we must go to rallies, encourage other Jewish sorority sisters to attend, bring non-Jews, and be vocal and determined to have our voices heard. And while we pray for our brothers and sisters in Israel who are being murdered by Hamas, raped, and mutilated, it is our job as Jews and AEPhis to join together with Jews worldwide and fight back.”

Rice continued: “Israel is in the heart and soul of American Jews. Many of us have been, and when this war passes, we will go together. Our past president, Amit Jakob, is currently living there and with her roommates set up a fundraiser to purchase necessary materials for soldiers. As a sorority, we have been raising money for several organizations across Israel and volunteer organizations supporting relief efforts including Magen David Adam, One Heart, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. 

“At AEPhi, we believe in Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, and this is beyond “repairing.” This is fighting for the life of Israel, for families and friends, and for Jews. As Golda Meir said, “We can forgive [Hamas] for killing our children. We cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children. We will only have peace with [Hamas] when they learn to love their children more than they hate us,” Rice said.

The Tulane University Jewish Law Student Association and Tulane Student and Alumni Signatories sent a letter to President Fitts on Wednesday, Oct. 11 with 1,469 signatures. The letter aims to educate and impart the devastation of Tulane’s student body and reiterate the unusually high Jewish population at the university, which desperately needs tangible support. The letter ends: “[Tulane] must condemn terrorism, antisemitism, and the mass murder of Jewish people. Do better for your Jewish students.” Tulane’s students, experiencing emotional dysphoria and grief, are desperate to feel safe at their university. 

The Tulane chapter of Students Supporting Israel organized a march against terrorism at Tulane University on Oct. 11. Students, faculty and community members marched from Brown Field outside the Reily Student Recreation Center to Hillel at 912 Broadway Street, where a vigil was held for those we have lost.

It is disheartening that Tulane University administration has still not organized a movement supporting their students. Yet, it is comforting to know that this generation of young adults is ready to lead their peers. 

I stand with Israel. Am Yisrael Chai.