Expand / Collapse search
☰
Freeze Warning
until THU 9:00 AM MST, San Carlos, Globe/Miami, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Mazatzal Mountains
5
Freeze Warning
from THU 10:00 PM MST until FRI 9:00 AM MST, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox
Freeze Warning
from THU 1:00 AM MST until THU 9:00 AM MST, Eastern Cochise County below 5000 ft including Douglas/Wilcox, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Upper San Pedro River Valley including Sierra Vista/Benson, Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys including Clifton/Safford
Winter Weather Advisory
until THU 8:00 PM MST, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau
Freeze Warning
from WED 11:00 PM MST until THU 9:00 AM MST, Northwest Deserts

Jewish students at ASU struggle with stress of protests, Passover and finals

By and
Updated  May 1, 2024 9:52pm MST
Arizona State University
FOX 10 Phoenix

TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State officials said that among 72 people arrested during protests on campus over the weekend, 15 were students or teachers. 

With finals week and the Jewish holiday of Passover taking place this week, Jewish students are navigating the additional stress.

What happened at ASU?

Just a couple of days ago, the lawn in front of Old Main was covered by an encampment of tents filled with protesters of Israel's war in Gaza. Now it's been fenced off by security.

As tensions from pro-Palestine demonstrations at college campuses nationwide escalate, Jewish students at ASU and across the country are ready for the semester to be over.

Jewish ASU students navigate protest challenges

Jewish students at ASU deal with multiple challenges including finals, Passover and verbal assaults from pro-Palestinian supporters who are still lingering around campus. FOX 10's Kenzie Beach has the story.

"You never know what's coming and honestly, we're just trying to get through finals," sophomore Aleeza Feffer says.

Since October 7th, the day Hamas launched an attack on Israel, Feffer says she has been a target on campus and verbal assaults have been shouted at her.

"I was wearing a shirt that literally just said ‘I love being Jewish' and a few guys came up and started yelling at me. ‘Free Palestine!' and ‘Allah Akbar!’ and things in Arabic which I didn't understand, but it was very scary. It was just 1 p.m. and I was trying to get to class," Feffer said.

The incidents have shook students and left them fearful to go about their day-to-day activities.

What are Jewish students going through at ASU?

"As a Jewish student, it's definitely scary. Sometimes I'm scared just to walk to class. Who am I going to face? Am I going to get to class?" Feffer said.

Another student, Shahar Cohen says she is struggling with the anticipation of going to class too.

"[It's] like impending doom almost just because I've seen the way it's progressing in other schools," she said.

‘It’s a big part of my identity'

Feffer and Cohen said they will continue to wear the Star of David proudly with just a few days remaining this semester.

"It's scary sometimes but I'm not going to let it stop me," Feffer said.

"It's a big part of my identity. A lot of my friends are Jewish. I mean, I wear it proudly."