{"id":138571,"date":"2023-12-11T00:10:41","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T05:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=138571"},"modified":"2023-12-11T09:03:41","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T14:03:41","slug":"nyu-indifference-to-antisemitism-violated-jewish-students-civil-rights-lawsuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/nyu-indifference-to-antisemitism-violated-jewish-students-civil-rights-lawsuit\/","title":{"rendered":"NYU ‘indifference’ to antisemitism violated students\u2019 civil rights: lawsuit"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATED<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

‘Each plaintiff has been the target of repeated verbal and physical threats [and] made to feel unsafe on campus,’ lawsuit claims<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Three Jewish New York University students sued the university over its alleged failure to combat campus antisemitism in the wake of Hamas\u2019 Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n

Plaintiffs Bella Inger, Sabrina Maslavi, and Saul Tawil allege<\/a> NYU is \u201cacutely aware of ongoing and disgraceful acts of anti-Jewish bigotry\u201d but \u201chas reacted with, at best, deliberate indifference\u201d by refusing to apply \u201cits own anti-discrimination and conduct policies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Facing “genocidal chants” such as “Hitler was right,” “gas the Jews,” “death to kikes,” and “from the river to the sea,” and other abuse, plaintiffs “have been deprived of the ability and opportunity to fully and meaningfully participate in NYU [programs]” and “have been put at severe risk of extreme emotional and physical injury,” their Nov. 14 complaint stated.<\/p>\n

Saul Tawil voluntarily dismissed claims against NYU on Nov. 16, according to court records<\/a>. The claims by the other two plaintiffs are still pending.<\/p>\n

The College Fix <\/em>emailed the plaintiffs’ attorneys on Dec. 1 and Dec. 5, inquiring about the lawsuit and how the university plans to respond. The Fix<\/em> did not receive a response.<\/p>\n

The plaintiffs seek redress for \u201cNYU\u2019s egregious civil rights violations that have created a hostile educational environment\u201d for Jewish students in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.<\/p>\n

Title VI \u201cprohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance,\u201d including universities that accept federal student loans, according<\/a> to the U.S. Department of Justice.<\/p>\n

The plaintiffs asked the court for an injunction requiring NYU to undertake \u201cinstitutional, far-reaching, and concrete remedial measures,\u201d including terminating \u201cemployees responsible for the antisemitic abuse\u201d and suspending or expelling \u201cstudents who engage in such conduct.”<\/p>\n

\u201cEach plaintiff has been the target of repeated verbal and physical threats, and made to feel unsafe on campus,\u201d the complaint alleges. \u201cThey are forced to confront angry mobs of students and faculty members extolling the Hamas massacre, and calling for the deaths of Jews and the annihilation of Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

The same firm representing the remaining two plaintiffs filed<\/a> another complaint the same day against the University of Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

MORE: GOP legislators send letters to Ivy League schools denouncing antisemitism<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

On Nov. 28, the Brandeis Center filed<\/a> a Title VI complaint against the University of California, Berkeley, over alleged antisemitism.<\/p>\n

The NYU students’ complaint alleges the university failed to protect its Jewish students by inadequately responding to anti-Israel protests, including one sponsored by the national Students for Justice in Palestine.<\/p>\n

The SJP called for a \u201cDay of Resistance\u201d to be held on campuses nationwide on Oct. 12, The Fix <\/em>previously\u00a0reported<\/a>. SJP\u2019s toolkit for the event called the Oct. 7 attacks \u201ca historic win for the Palestinian resistance.\u201d<\/p>\n

SJP provided materials \u201cfeaturing graphics of armed figures on paragliders\u2014a reference to one of the methods Hamas terrorists used to penetrate the Gaza border and perpetrate atrocities against Israeli civilians,\u201d according to the complaint and as confirmed by The Fix<\/em>\u2019s reporting.<\/p>\n

According to the complaint, the university\u2019s only response to planned SJP-related events was to refer students \u201cto campus resources such as Campus Safety and the Wellness Exchange, a hotline for students coping with emotional challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

At an off-campus rally on Oct. 17, NYU students and faculty\u2014whom the complaint does not name\u2014allegedly made \u201cslit-your-throat gestures at Jewish students present, including plaintiffs\u201d and screamed various antisemitic slogans, including \u201cGas the Jews\u201d and \u201cHitler was right,” according to the complaint.<\/p>\n

\u201cRallygoers also threatened Jewish students with rape, including one of [the plaintiff]\u2019s friends, who was shaking with fear,\u201d it alleges.<\/p>\n

On Oct. 8, the day after the terrorist attacks, NYU President Linda Mills emailed a statement<\/a> to students \u201cthat avoided condemning Hamas\u2019s massacre or expressing support for NYU\u2019s Jewish student population,” according to the complaint.<\/p>\n

The complaint alleges \u201cNYU\u2019s refusal to condemn Hamas\u2019s slaughter did nothing other than fan the flames of the antisemitism that was already endemic to life at NYU by emboldening antisemitic students and faculty members to escalate their attacks on Jewish students.\u201d<\/p>\n

It quotes Mills’ Oct. 8 statement as follows: \u201cNo doubt you have heard the news of the multi-pronged and deadly terrorist attack on Israel. The fighting is uncommonly intense, with widespread violence, injuries and loss of life, as well as hostage-taking of Israelis by Hamas.\u201d<\/p>\n

The university updated<\/a> Mills’ statement on Oct. 10 to say: “We want to express NYU\u2019s condemnation of the attack \u2014 the indiscriminate killing of civilian non-combatants and the taking of hostages, including children and the elderly, is reprehensible.”<\/p>\n

NYU launches Center for the Study of Antisemitism, publishes ’roundup’ of statements regarding the war<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The university announced<\/a> the creation of the Center for the Study of Antisemitism on Nov. 15, the day after the students filed their lawsuit.<\/p>\n

The center “will bring together scholars and students from across diverse disciplines…to examine both contemporary and historical manifestations of one of the world\u2019s most enduring forms of hate,” according to the news release. “A new, recent, seven-figure donation to NYU will be used to fund this new academic center.”<\/p>\n

On Dec. 5, NYU published<\/a> an updated \u201cRoundup of Key NYU Statements and Announcements Since Hamas\u2019s Terrorist Attacks on Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Fix<\/em> emailed NYU media specialists John Beckman and Joseph Tirella on Dec. 1 and Dec. 5 to ask whether the announcement and roundup were in response to the Nov. 14 lawsuit and for the university’s response to the allegations. NYU has yet to respond.<\/p>\n

In April 2019, NYU student Adela Cojab filed a federal civil rights complaint against the university for turning a blind eye to the \u201canti-semitic vandalism, verbal attacks and outright violence\u201d by its Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, The Fix<\/em> previously reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The OCR conducted an investigation, resulting in a September 2020 agreement between the OCR and NYU, The Fix<\/em> reported<\/a>. Under the agreement, the university revised its anti-discrimination policy to ban \u201cdiscrimination on the basis of shared ancestry and ethnic characteristics, including anti-Semitism.”<\/p>\n

MORE: NYU refuses to rehire Arabic translator for anti-Israel graffiti<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Editor’s Note:<\/strong>\u00a0This article has been updated with the name of the student, Saul Tawil, who voluntarily dismissed his claim on Nov 16.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

IMAGE: Orthodox Union: Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus<\/p>\n

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