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U-M

Student assaulted after being asked his religion; investigated as ethnic intimidation

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MIaggravated assaultadvisoryhigh confidence
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Under Investigation

At approximately 12:30 a.m. EDT on September 15, 2024, a 19-year-old Jewish University of Michigan student was assaulted near S. Forest Avenue and Hill Street after a group of men asked his religion and he answered. The Ann Arbor Police Department investigated the attack as a 'bias-motivated assault' and 'ethnic intimidation', and U-M's Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) issued a Security Bulletin two days later condemning the attack.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
1
Institution
University of Michigan
Public R1 · MI
All U-M cases →
~52,065 studentsRaveDPSS Security Bulletin
Official alert policy
Read when and how U-M says it will use U-M Emergency Alert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatimU-M DPSS Security Bulletin2379 chars
Security Bulletin: Ethnic Intimidation – Aggravated Assault This Security Bulletin has been updated to include the Chief of Police’s statement on 9/16 at 1:40 p.m. The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) was notified this afternoon that the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) is investigating an alleged assault incident that occurred in the area of S. Forest Avenue and Hill Street on September 15, 2024, at approximately 12:30 a.m. The victim stated they were walking with friends, and was asked what their religious affiliation was by the suspects. After answering, the suspects assaulted the victim and then fled the area on foot. This is an ongoing investigation and details are still being confirmed. If you have any information, please contact the AAPD tip line at 734.794.6939 or email tips@a2gov.org. You can also call DPSS at 734.763.1131. Safety and Security Tips: • Look assertive and be aware of your surroundings. • Trust your intuition. If a particular situation makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, choose an alternative. • Walk with a friend or co-worker in well-lit areas. • If you feel threatened, look for a blue light emergency phone or call 911 from any phone. • If you see something, say something. Report suspicious behavior. Call 911 • Confidential Tip Line 1-800-863-1355. Statement from the University of Michigan Police Department (UMPD) Chief of Police Crystal James: “As an update to the Ann Arbor Police Department’s (AAPD) investigation, the Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) condemns ethnic intimidation to the highest degree. This past weekend, a Jewish member of our community reported being a victim of antisemitism when assaulted by a group of individuals. DPSS continues leveraging all available resources and is working closely with our AAPD partners and others across the campus to support the investigation and ensure the safety of our university and surrounding areas. There is no place for hate crimes or violence within our community, and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to hold those responsible accountable. It is important that anyone with information regarding the assault contact the AAPD tip line at 734.794.6939, email tips@a2gov.org, or call DPSS at 734.763.1131. Additionally, if you or someone you know has been a victim of a hate crime, contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately.”
Corrected to exact Chief of Police statement as published on the official DPSS security bulletin (including curly quotation marks)
Bulletin updated 9/16/2024 at 1:40 p.m. to include this statement
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

Security Bulletin: Ethnic Intimidation – Aggravated Assault This Security Bulletin has been updated to include the Chief of Police’s statement on 9/16 at 1:40 p.m. The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) was notified this afternoon that the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) is investigating an alleged assault incident that occurred in the area of S. Forest Avenue and Hill Street on September 15, 2024, at approximately 12:30 a.m. The victim stated they were walking with friends, and was asked what their religious affiliation was by the suspects. After answering, the suspects assaulted the victim and then fled the area on foot. This is an ongoing investigation and details are still being confirmed. If you have any information, please contact the AAPD tip line at 734.794.6939 or email tips@a2gov.org. You can also call DPSS at 734.763.1131. Safety and Security Tips: • Look assertive and be aware of your surroundings. • Trust your intuition. If a particular situation makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, choose an alternative. • Walk with a friend or co-worker in well-lit areas. • If you feel threatened, look for a blue light emergency phone or call 911 from any phone. • If you see something, say something. Report suspicious behavior. Call 911 • Confidential Tip Line 1-800-863-1355. Statement from the University of Michigan Police Department (UMPD) Chief of Police Crystal James: “As an update to the Ann Arbor Police Department’s (AAPD) investigation, the Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) condemns ethnic intimidation to the highest degree. This past weekend, a Jewish member of our community reported being a victim of antisemitism when assaulted by a group of individuals. DPSS continues leveraging all available resources and is working closely with our AAPD partners and others across the campus to support the investigation and ensure the safety of our university and surrounding areas. There is no place for hate crimes or violence within our community, and we will remain vigilant in our efforts to hold those responsible accountable. It is important that anyone with information regarding the assault contact the AAPD tip line at 734.794.6939, email tips@a2gov.org, or call DPSS at 734.763.1131. Additionally, if you or someone you know has been a victim of a hate crime, contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately.”

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree that a sender is identified: Identifies sender "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)".

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Identifies sender "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)".
    2. present: Identifies sender as "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)".
    3. present: Names "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" and "AAPD", identifying the sender.
    4. present: Names "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    5. present: Identifies "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    6. present: The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) is named as the sender.
    7. present: Names "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" and "AAPD" as authorities.
    8. present: Sent by "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)", naming the issuing authority.
    9. present: Identifies the sender as "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)".
    10. present: Identifies "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    11. present: Sender is "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)".
    12. present: Identifies "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    13. present: Identifies "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    14. present: Identifies "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    15. present: From "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)", identifying the sender.
    16. present: Identifies sender as "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)".
    17. present: Identifies sender as "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)".
    18. present: Names "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as sender.
    19. present: Names "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    20. present: Identifies "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    21. present: Identifies "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    22. present: From "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)", identifying the sender.
    23. present: The message names "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    24. present: It names "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)" as the sender.
    25. present: Identifies the sender as "The Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS)", a named authority.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree that a hazard is named: Names the specific hazard "ethnic intimidation" and a Jewish member "assaulted".

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Names the specific hazard "ethnic intimidation" and a Jewish member "assaulted".
    2. present: Names the hazard, an "antisemitism" assault and "hate crimes or violence".
    3. present: It names "ethnic intimidation", "antisemitism", and an "assault" hate crime, specific threats.
    4. present: It names "ethnic intimidation" and an "assaulted" Jewish member, an assault/hate-crime hazard.
    5. present: Names "ethnic intimidation" and a victim "assaulted by a group", a specific hate crime.
    6. present: Names specific crimes: "ethnic intimidation", "antisemitism", and being "assaulted".
    7. present: Describes "antisemitism when assaulted by a group", a specific assault/hate-crime threat.
    8. present: Describes "ethnic intimidation" and an assault, a specific hate-crime threat.
    9. present: Names the specific hazard: a "Jewish member of our community... assaulted by a group of individuals", a hate-crime assault.
    10. present: Names the specific threat, a Jewish member "assaulted by a group", an ethnic-intimidation hate crime.
    11. present: Names the hazard "ethnic intimidation" and an "assault", a hate crime.
    12. present: Names the hazard as "antisemitism when assaulted", an assault and hate crime.
    13. present: Names the specific hazard: a "victim of antisemitism when assaulted by a group".
    14. present: Names the hazard as ethnic intimidation and a Jewish member being "assaulted", an assault/hate crime.
    15. present: Names the hazard as antisemitic assault and a hate crime, a specific threat.
    16. present: Names the hazard: a Jewish member "assaulted by a group of individuals", a hate crime/assault.
    17. present: Names the threat: "ethnic intimidation"/"antisemitism when assaulted", a hate-crime assault.
    18. present: Names "ethnic intimidation" and an "assault", specific crime threats.
    19. present: Names "ethnic intimidation" and an antisemitic "assault", a specific threat.
    20. present: Names the hazard as a hate crime, a Jewish member "assaulted by a group of individuals".
    21. present: Names the hazard as ethnic intimidation and a "Jewish member of our community reported being a victim of antisemitism when assaulted".
    22. present: Names "ethnic intimidation" and "antisemitism when assaulted", a specific hate-crime threat.
    23. present: It names a specific threat, an "assault" and "antisemitism" hate crime.
    24. present: It names "ethnic intimidation", "antisemitism", and an "assault", specific threats.
    25. present: Names the threat, "ethnic intimidation" and an assault, a hate crime.
  • Locationpresent22/25

    Final assessment

    Near unanimous agreement among the reads that a location is given: References "our community" and "campus" and "surrounding areas". A few dissenters read it the other way, noting says only "our community" with no building, street, or campus area named.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: References "our community" and "campus" and "surrounding areas".
    2. present: Refers to "our community" and "surrounding areas" on campus.
    3. present: It refers to "our community" and "campus and surrounding areas", a place reference.
    4. present: It references "our community" and "campus" plus "surrounding areas" as locations.
    5. present: Refers to "our university and surrounding areas", a location, though vague.
    6. present: References "our community", "campus", and "surrounding areas".
    7. present: Refers to "our community" and "surrounding areas"; campus context, a place.
    8. present: References "our university and surrounding areas" and "within our community", indicating on/near campus.
    9. present: References "campus" and "our university and surrounding areas".
    10. present: References "our community", "campus", and "surrounding areas".
    11. present: References "our community" and "campus and surrounding areas" as the place.
    12. present: References "campus" and "surrounding areas" as the location.
    13. absent: Says only "our community" with no building, street, or campus area named.
    14. absent: Says "across the campus" and "surrounding areas" generally but does not specify where the assault occurred.
    15. present: References "our community" and "surrounding areas" of the university.
    16. present: Refers to "our community" and "surrounding areas" but vaguely; still references campus/community as place.
    17. present: References "our community" and "campus", a location.
    18. present: References "our community" and "campus" though location is general.
    19. present: References "our community" and "campus", though general it indicates the campus area.
    20. absent: Says "our community" generally but names no building, street, or campus location for the assault.
    21. present: References "our community" and "campus" and "surrounding areas".
    22. present: References "our community", "campus", and "surrounding areas", on-campus places.
    23. present: It refers to "our community" and "our university and surrounding areas", campus locations.
    24. present: It references "our community" and "campus" plus "surrounding areas".
    25. present: References "our community" and "campus" and "surrounding areas", indicating campus location.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree that guidance is given: Instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" and "contact 911".

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" and "contact 911".
    2. present: Instructs recipients to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately" if victimized.
    3. present: It instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" and victims to "contact 911", protective actions.
    4. present: It instructs recipients to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately" and to report information.
    5. present: Instructs anyone with information to contact AAPD or DPSS and victims to call 911 or DPSS.
    6. present: Instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" and victims to "contact 911".
    7. present: Instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" and victims to "contact 911".
    8. present: Instructs anyone with information or any victim to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately", an action to take.
    9. present: Instructs recipients to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately" if they are a victim, a protective action.
    10. present: Instructs recipients with information to contact AAPD/DPSS and victims to "contact 911", protective actions.
    11. present: Instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" or "contact 911", actions to take.
    12. present: Tells victims to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately" and report information, protective actions.
    13. present: Instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" or "call 911".
    14. present: Instructs anyone with information or any victim to contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS, protective/reporting actions.
    15. present: Instructs anyone with information or victims to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately".
    16. present: Instructs anyone with information to contact AAPD/DPSS and victims to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately".
    17. present: Instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" and victims to "contact 911", protective actions.
    18. present: Instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" and victims to "contact 911".
    19. present: Instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" or "call 911", protective and reporting actions.
    20. present: Instructs anyone with information to contact the tip line and victims to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately".
    21. present: Instructs anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" and victims to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately".
    22. present: Tells anyone with information to contact tip lines and victims to contact 911.
    23. present: It instructs anyone with information or victims to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately", a protective action.
    24. present: It urges anyone with information to "contact the AAPD tip line" and victims to "contact 911, AAPD, or DPSS immediately".
    25. present: Urges anyone with information to contact AAPD or DPSS and victims to "contact 911", actionable instructions.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads agree that timing is conveyed: Conveys recency with "This past weekend" and "continues leveraging".

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Conveys recency with "This past weekend" and "continues leveraging".
    2. present: Gives recency, "This past weekend".
    3. present: It says the assault happened "This past weekend", a recency reference.
    4. present: It says "This past weekend", a recency cue.
    5. present: Says "This past weekend", a recency cue.
    6. present: States "This past weekend", conveying recency.
    7. present: Says "This past weekend", conveying recency.
    8. present: Says the assault happened "This past weekend", conveying recency.
    9. present: Conveys recency with "This past weekend" and "continues".
    10. present: Says "This past weekend", a recency cue.
    11. present: Uses recency cue "This past weekend".
    12. present: Says it occurred "This past weekend", a recency cue.
    13. present: Uses the recency cue "This past weekend" to indicate when it occurred.
    14. present: Gives recency with "This past weekend".
    15. present: Says the assault occurred "This past weekend".
    16. present: Uses "This past weekend", a recency cue for when the assault occurred.
    17. present: Conveys recency with "This past weekend" and "continues leveraging".
    18. present: States "This past weekend", a recency cue.
    19. present: Says "This past weekend", a recency cue.
    20. present: Conveys recency with "This past weekend".
    21. present: Gives recency with "This past weekend" and "immediately".
    22. present: Says "This past weekend", conveying recency.
    23. present: It gives recency, "This past weekend", a time reference.
    24. present: It says the assault happened "This past weekend", a recency reference.
    25. present: Says "This past weekend", conveying recency of the incident.
  • Impactpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present by unanimous 25-0 read; the ethnic intimidation alert conveys a threat of harm to a targeted person beyond merely naming the incident.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Reports a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group, a stated physical harm and hate crime.
    2. present: Reports a Jewish community member was assaulted in an ethnic intimidation incident, a stated harm.
    3. present: Describes a Jewish community member assaulted by a group, a stated violent harm to a person.
    4. present: It reports a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group, an explicit physical harm and hate crime.
    5. present: It reports a Jewish member was assaulted in an antisemitic attack, a stated harm to a person.
    6. present: Reports a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group, a stated violent harm to a victim.
    7. present: It reports a Jewish member was assaulted by a group of individuals which is a stated physical harm.
    8. present: Reports a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group, a stated physical harm and hate crime.
    9. present: Reports a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group, a stated harm to a person, and condemns the hate crime.
    10. present: The message states a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group of individuals, an explicit harm to a person.
    11. present: Reports a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group in an antisemitic attack, a stated harm to a person.
    12. present: The notice describes a Jewish community member being assaulted in an antisemitic hate crime, a stated harm to a person.
    13. present: The message reports a Jewish community member was assaulted in an antisemitic hate crime, a stated harm to a person.
    14. present: Reports a Jewish community member was assaulted in an antisemitic attack, a stated harm to a person.
    15. present: Reports a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group, a stated harm and hate crime.
    16. present: The message reports a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group, an explicit physical harm to a victim.
    17. present: It reports a Jewish community member was assaulted in an antisemitic hate crime, a stated harm to a victim.
    18. present: The message states a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group of individuals, an explicit physical harm.
    19. present: It reports a Jewish community member was assaulted in an antisemitic attack, a stated physical harm to a person.
    20. present: Reports a Jewish member was assaulted by a group, a stated harm, and condemns hate crimes and violence.
    21. present: Reports a Jewish member was assaulted by a group which is a stated physical harm to a person.
    22. present: Describes a community member assaulted in an antisemitic hate crime, a stated harm to a person.
    23. present: Reports a Jewish member was assaulted by a group in an antisemitic attack, a stated harm to a person.
    24. present: The notice reports a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group in an antisemitic ethnic intimidation, a stated harm to a victim.
    25. present: Reports a Jewish community member was assaulted by a group, a stated physical harm and hate crime.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

The University of Michigan, a public R1 university in Ann Arbor with approximately 52,000 students, has one of the largest Jewish student populations in the Big Ten. In the early hours of September 15, 2024, a 19-year-old Jewish student was walking with friends in the South University area when a group of men approached and asked his religion; when he answered, the men threw him to the ground, kicked him, and spat on him before fleeing on foot. The Ann Arbor Police Department classified the incident as a 'bias-motivated assault' and ethnic intimidation and the University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security issued a Security Bulletin condemning the attack. The case became a national flashpoint as the ADL offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The incident occurred against the backdrop of the 2023-24 academic-year surge in campus antisemitic violence (Michigan was already under federal investigation for its handling of antisemitism complaints) and the alert language is notable for its restraint: U-M characterized the assault as ethnic intimidation but did not invoke the Clery 'timely warning' classification, instead using DPSS's advisory Security Bulletin channel.
Analysis

Key Findings

U-M's DPSS used the Security Bulletin (advisory) channel rather than a formal Clery timely warning, institutional choice that affected legal classification
The bulletin's word 'ethnic intimidation' references Michigan's hate-crime statute (MCL 750.147b) rather than federal hate-crime language
The 2-day delay between incident (Sept 15 ~12:30 a.m. EDT) and bulletin (~Sept 17) reflects coordination with AAPD
AAPD (not DPSS) was the lead investigator because the assault occurred off the university footprint; this divided jurisdiction is reflected in the bulletin's tip-line guidance
The bulletin omits suspect description, location, and time, unusually brief structure for a U-M public-safety communication
The case occurred during a documented surge in campus antisemitic violence: the ADL reported 28 assaults on Jewish students nationwide in the 2023-24 academic year
Outcome
The 19-year-old student suffered minor injuries (bruising and abrasions) and did not require hospitalization. The Mizel Family Foundation pledged $5,000 toward information leading to arrest; an anonymous Michigan donor matched, bringing the reward to $10,000. The Ann Arbor Police Department continued investigating; no public arrest has been announced.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    Security Bulletin 09/15/24: Ethnic Intimidation & Aggravated Assault [Updated] — U-M DPSS
    dpss.umich.edu
    archived copy
  2. News
    U of Michigan condemns assault of Jewish student on campus — Jewish Telegraphic Agency
    jta.org
    archived copy
  3. Student Paper
    AAPD reports bias-motivated assault against Jewish individual — Michigan Daily
    michigandaily.com
    archived copy
  4. Source
    ADL Condemns Attack on University of Michigan Jewish Student; Offers $10,000 Reward — ADL
    adl.org
    archived copy
  5. Source
    University of Michigan — ADL Campus Antisemitism Report Card
    adl.org
    archived copy
  6. News
    Jewish student attacked in Michigan after being asked his ethnicity — Times of Israel
    timesofisrael.com
    archived copy
  7. Official
    Security Bulletin: Ethnic Intimidation – Aggravated Assault (UPDATED) — news.dpss
    news.dpss.umich.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "University of Michigan: Student assaulted after being asked his religion; investigated as ethnic intimidation." Incident of September 15, 2024. Added May 2026; last updated July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/university-of-michigan-ethnic-intimidation-jewish-student-2024-09-15/

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Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
hate-crimeantisemitismaggravated-assaultethnic-intimidationuniversity-of-michiganmichiganann-arbordpsssecurity-bulletinjewish-student-violencepost-october-7Under Investigation
Added May 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion