At the same time some University of Rochester students participated in a "Shut it Down for Palestine" rally on campus on Thursday, a handful of other U of R students met with the university’s provost about their concerns.

Those and other Jewish and Israeli students say they do not feel safe.

They had previously let the administration know about their concerns, so the provost invited them to a meeting to hear from them directly.

"I know personally I don't feel very comfortable on campus," said Gilad Katz, an Israeli Jew and a sophomore at the University of Rochester. "I feel like there's a lot of hatred not only towards the Israelis, but towards the Jews especially. I know I feel very targeted. Even today, for example, with the rally. I just don't feel comfortable walking to classes or even going to my dorm.” 

Thursday's Pro-Palestine rally drew a crowd to the campus library.

"Even though everyone should feel comfortable to share their opinion, there's a very vast difference between freedom of speech and hate speech, and sometimes that line is crossed and we don't notice it,” said Katz. “But whether the intent was there, there is a negative connotation that is associated with that.”

“I'm especially concerned with the amount of off-campus presence on our campus there has been at all of these rallies,” said University of Rochester student, Laura Loveland. “It's one thing if there's an issue with students on campus feeling a certain way and expressing their personal beliefs, but it becomes another thing entirely when they're off-campus individuals, community members coming onto our campus to help lead these rallies and organize these rallies.” 

Katz and his fellow Jewish students Loveland and Matthew Freeman, say they are pleased Provost David Figlio met with them face-to-face. Spectrum News 1 caught up with them heading into the meeting.

“I'm hoping that the provost will help us feel supported by the university and hopefully, the university will feel comfortable releasing statements decrying the hate speech that has been displayed on this campus and making sure that the Israeli and Jewish communities on this campus understand that they are supported," said Loveland.

All three of these students have loved ones in Israel.

“It's been really hard, like some people who mean a lot to me, just never knowing if I'm going to be able to see or hear from them again," said Freeman. "And then to be here, where we're supposed to be a full campus community where everyone's supported, to then hear calls that — to me — sound as though it's calling for killing off the Israelis and all the Jews, it's really difficult to hear all that, even if the intent isn't necessarily that, that's how it is often received."

“I have people there who are suffering and I have people who are in pain, my loved ones are in pain, and I'm in pain on campus. And I would really love for the administration to be able to step up, and address these concerns," said Katz.

After the meeting, Katz said he and the other students had an open conversation with David Figlio and the students feel understood and heard and the lines of communication remain open for more discussion.

The U of R issed a statement Thursday night, saying in part:

"These are challenging and unsettling times. From the terrorist attack on Israel and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, to incidents of vandalism and hate speech on campus, now more than ever it is important that we all do our part to ensure that the University of Rochester remains a place where thoughtful and respectful discussions flourish in accordance with our Meliora values.

President Mangelsdorf and Provost Figlio are very attuned to what is happening on campus, and they are committed to the safety, security, and well-being of all our students. Just as important, they are encouraged by the care and consideration shown in our campus community and remind us that anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, and other forms of hatred based on religion, ethnicity, or individual identity have no place at Rochester."