Barnard School has vowed to fight antisemitism following a lawsuit settlement.
Picture courtesy of Barnard School
Barnard School settled a lawsuit introduced by Jewish college students accusing it of failing to answer antisemitism on campus, with directors pledging to reform protest guidelines and tackle discrimination and harassment, the regulation agency representing the scholars introduced Monday.
College students at Barnard, an all-women faculty affiliated with Columbia College, held many pro-Palestinian demonstrations and sit-ins since April 2024, typically leading to arrests. Some Jewish and Israeli college students reported harassment and discrimination through the protests and in tutorial and social life, which fashioned the idea of the lawsuit.
As a part of the settlement, Barnard will prohibit the usage of facemasks in protests and won’t acknowledge or negotiate with distinguished scholar pro-Palestinian protest teams. The faculty may also rent a Title VI coordinator who will deal with discrimination and harassment complaints in accordance with federal regulation.
Two advocacy teams for Jewish college students — College students Towards Antisemitism and the StandWithUs Heart for Authorized Justice — in addition to a number of named college students filed the lawsuit towards Barnard and Columbia College in Manhattan federal courtroom in February 2024, alleging “rampant antisemitism” throughout each campuses. The settlement solely includes Barnard; the lawsuit towards Columbia, which had way more accusations leveled towards it, will proceed.
Barnard President Laura Ann Rosenbury mentioned in an announcement asserting the settlement that the agreements “build on Barnard’s existing policies” towards discrimination.
“Antisemitism, discrimination, and harassment in any form are antithetical to the values Barnard College champions,” Rosenbury mentioned. “Today’s settlement reflects our ongoing commitment to maintaining a campus that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive for all members of our community.”
The settlement additionally requires Barnard to ship an annual message reminding the college group of its “zero tolerance” coverage for antisemitism and discrimination, and school and college students can be required to finish anti-discrimination coaching. Moreover, Barnard reaffirmed that its endowment can’t be political, dashing protestors’ hopes of a divestment from Israel.
The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, mentioned the settlement demonstrates Barnard’s dedication to responding to scholar considerations.
“Barnard’s commitment to take meaningful actions to combat antisemitism demonstrates its leadership in the fight against antisemitism and upholding the rights of Jewish and Israeli students,” Kasowitz mentioned.
Kasowitz’s regulation agency additionally represented college students who sued New York College and Harvard College over antisemitism, with each lawsuits ending in a settlement. A fourth lawsuit towards the College of Pennsylvania was dismissed by a federal decide, although Kasowitz and the plaintiffs are interesting the ruling.
Barnard college students cited situations of bodily assault, “intimidation and vilification” and verbal and bodily threats within the lawsuit. The plaintiffs additionally alleged the college selectively ignored situations of discrimination towards Jewish and Israeli college students whereas disciplining group members who made different racist statements.
“At a time when meaningful Jewish studies scholarship is more important than ever, we’re delighted to make it available to all who seek it and are especially pleased that Barnard students can now earn credit for their studies,” mentioned JTS provost Jeffrey Kress in an announcement.
Crackdowns at Barnard
Barnard has responded extra aggressively than Columbia to scholar protests and sit-ins, together with expelling college students in February whom it accused of harassing Jewish college students. Each faculties, in addition to many different universities throughout the nation, have struggled between judging what’s protected political speech and what’s harassment or illegal discrimination.
College officers additionally referred to as the New York Police Division to arrest 9 college students throughout a March sit-in after an announcement that there was a “bomb threat” within the constructing. Barnard officers had beforehand provided to satisfy with the protestors in the event that they unmasked; scholar leaders rejected the proposal in favor of constant the sit-in.
Barnard confronted much less scrutiny than Columbia, which not too long ago obtained a warning from the Center States Fee on Greater Training, an accreditation group, that it was not complying with the company’s accreditation insurance policies, citing an anti-discrimination discover from the federal authorities. The college responded that it could work with the company to deal with the problems it famous.
“Columbia is deeply committed to combating antisemitism on our campus and we will continue the important work of ensuring that Columbia is an open and inclusive place where students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds feel safe, supported, and welcome,” the college mentioned.
Columbia can be making an attempt to barter the restoration of $400 million in federal funds to the college, which the Trump administration froze over accusations of antisemitism. Columbia beforehand agreed to make adjustments to protest insurance policies and its Center Jap research division to adjust to the federal authorities’s calls for.
Kasowitz mentioned Barnard’s settlement and coverage adjustments ought to information different universities as they navigate lawsuits and calls for from the Trump administration.
“These commitments are not only the right thing to do, but are essential to creating a welcome and inclusive campus for all members of the Barnard community,” Kasowitz mentioned. “I encourage other colleges and universities to do the right thing and follow Barnard’s lead.”
