In other parts of the country, college campuses are welcoming back students, while preparing to respond to the increase in safety and security incidents, stemming from antisemitic activity affecting Jewish students.

But in South Palm Beach County, students are peacefully returning to class without the stress being experienced at other universities. Thanks, in part, to security trainings and outreach coordinated by local law enforcement, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County and SCN, it has been all quiet on local campuses.

Federation’s Community Security Director Brandon Waller credits the City of Boca Raton Police Department with spearheading security meetings, involving leadership and staff at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Lynn University, Palm Beach State College and Everglades University. Waller led SCN trainings with students and staff of Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach County at FAU and with FAU campus police.

“Everyone has been fully engaged with learning how to respond and deal with disruptive behavior and antisemitic activity, but we’ve been relieved to discover that our local campuses have been quiet and peaceful,” he said. “Only one student had something to share at my trainings, and her concerns were promptly addressed.”

Nationally, other campuses are receiving different kinds of support.

SCN, the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, in partnership with Hillel International, announced an effort to expand resources to more than 50 college and university campuses, as the fall semester gets underway.

“Operation SecureOurCampuses” will leverage SCN’s national, regional, and local resources, along with the national network of security professionals, to deploy critical resources to protect Jewish students at colleges and universities, to include: full-time intelligence analysts dedicated to monitoring campus developments and providing intelligence support; assessments of Jewish facilities on campuses; direct consultations on physical security and emergency plans and procedures; and enhanced coordination with law enforcement and public safety officials and centers of Jewish life, including fraternal organizations, religious institutions, and other campus groups.

SCN is also launching a new training initiative designed specifically for Jewish students, faculty, and staff that will be made available to the identified campuses. The training will provide Jewish students with critical skills in situational awareness and instruction on what to do if confronted by protesters and demonstrators, how to report incidents, to include with law enforcement, and how to respond in potentially life-threatening situations. Operation SecureOurCampuses builds on the existing safety and security program SCN runs in partnership with Hillel International.

Thankfully, with you, we can continue to collaborate with local law enforcement agencies, our partner agency, Hillel, and SCN to ensure our local university students are prepared and protected.

To learn how to support Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach’s Security efforts or to sign-up for a training, please visit jewishboca.org/security or call Brandon Waller at 561-852-3362.