CAIR Brands UW 'Hostile' for Condemning $1M in Campus Vandalism

The Council on American Islamic Relations' report claims universities are 'hostile' for addressing violent protests and property damage.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) has released a 'Hostile Campus Ratings Report' that claims to measure whether Muslim students are safe and treated fairly on American campuses. However, the report demonizes universities like the University of Washington (UW) for condemning antisemitism and addressing violent protests on campus that caused over $1 million in damage.

Why it matters

This report highlights the growing tensions between universities and activist groups over how to respond to disruptive and destructive campus protests. CAIR's framework treats a university's response to criminal vandalism as a civil-rights liability, rather than addressing the underlying issues of public safety and property damage.

The details

According to the report, UW was rated a 'Hostile Campus' for condemning the vandalism and having the culprits arrested after a violent Gaza encampment took over the Quad, and Antifa and pro-Hamas activists caused over $1 million in damage. CAIR's grading formula starts every school at 100 points, and points are deducted across four categories, with a score of 69% or below deemed a 'Hostile Campus.' UW ultimately received a score of 40% due to deductions for condemning the destruction, making policy changes without consultation, and pursuing disciplinary measures against students involved.

  • The CAIR 'Hostile Campus Ratings Report' was released in 2025.
  • The violent protests and over $1 million in campus damage at the University of Washington occurred in 2025.

The players

Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)

A Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization that has been linked to terror groups and identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in a major terrorism financing trial.

University of Washington (UW)

A public research university in Seattle, Washington that was rated a 'Hostile Campus' by CAIR for condemning over $1 million in campus vandalism and making arrests.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing divide between activist groups and universities over how to respond to disruptive and destructive campus protests. It raises questions about the role of universities in balancing free speech, public safety, and property rights, and whether frameworks like CAIR's 'Hostile Campus Ratings' unfairly penalize schools for taking appropriate action against criminal behavior.