CHICAGO (WLS) — DePaul University has implemented a new “identification verification” policy recently, following advocacy from the Chicago Jewish Alliance subsequent to an assault on two Jewish students in November.
The updated policy, in effect since last Friday, mandates that individuals (students, faculty, and staff) must temporarily lower their masks or face coverings upon request from a Public Safety official, as communicated in an email sent out by DePaul University’s President Robert Manuel.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
Following an incident where Max Long and Michael Kaminsky, two Jewish students, were reportedly assaulted last month, resulting in injuries including a concussion and broken wrist, a suspect was apprehended and charged with aggravated battery and hate crime offenses.
Following the attack, the Chicago Jewish Alliance met with President Manuel to discuss “the campus climate that led to Max and Michael actually being attacked,” co-founder Josh Weiner previously told the I-Team.
This policy shift comes days before President Manuel is scheduled to testify before a congressional committee hearing centered on “stopping the spread of antisemitism on American campuses.” That hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. Manuel will also be joined by the presidents of Haverford and Cal Poly colleges.
The Chicago Jewish Alliance said in a statement, “This policy reflects a direct outcome of the five initiatives we presented to President Manuel on April 17. It’s a step in the right direction-one we pushed for-but policy alone isn’t progress. Implementation is. We welcome DePaul’s willingness to move in this direction and will continue working closely with the administration to ensure these measures are fully enacted, not just announced. Much more remains to be done to make DePaul a safe and accountable environment for all students, including its Jewish community.”
The video in the player above is from an earlier report.
Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
