With a recent uptick of hate crimes on college campus, specifically related to antisemitism, where 1/3 of Jewish students report experiencing the issue, interfaith dialogue is of utmost importance. A continued lack of understanding of other cultures has continued to plague the United States over the last few years, as political and religious polarization have reached an all time high. In such a small, tight-knit college community, it is essential that students understand the cultures of others, and respect their differences. With a spike in hate, these communities continue to remain divided, without a clear solution in sight.

Studies have shown that as one form of hate decreases, so does other forms of hate. But only 14% of college students have reported participating in interfaith dialogue on campus, and only 32% have reported developing better skills to interact with people of diverse cultures and political beliefs. College students need to focus on working with diverse cultures, looking out for the issues they are facing, and creating universal efforts to eliminate hate. With many schools lacking an interfaith club, and many without communication between the various religious centers on campus, there needs to be a bigger push for this type of programming.

This petition needs to reach college administrations and college religious centers, to look out for and ensure the creation of interfaith groups and clubs on campus. Religious organizations need to communicate between each other to establish programming and panels that develop a relationship where different cultural groups can look out for each other to collectively decrease hate on campus. Especially in this time of increased polarization, organizations on campus need to help lead the fight for interfaith programming and collaboration to eliminate the rising threat of hate college students continually have to face.