Meeting Member Nily Rozic, and Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky announce the passage of landmark-legislation to determine Title Vi
coordinators on New York school campuses.
Courtesy of the workplace of AM Rozic.
Two Queens lawmakers have handed landmark laws geared toward defending school college students from discrimination and harassment on campus, notably in response to rising incidents of antisemitism.
Meeting Member Nily Rozic and State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky introduced the unanimous, bipartisan passage of their invoice (A5448B/S4559B) on Monday, June 9. The laws requires all schools and universities in New York to designate a Title VI Coordinator to supervise civil rights compliance and tackle complaints associated to race, shade, and nationwide origin.
The invoice now heads to Gov. Kathy Hochul for approval.
Rozic, who represents Meeting District 25, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Flushing, Queensboro Hill, Hillcrest, Contemporary Meadows, Oakland Gardens, Bayside, and Douglaston, and Stavisky, who represents Senate District 11, launched the laws following a rise in discrimination concentrating on Jewish college students and different marginalized teams on school campuses.
The Title VI Coordinator could be accountable for imposing federal civil rights protections below Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and relevant state legal guidelines. The laws additionally calls on the New York State Division of Human Rights to develop coaching applications to help these coordinators.
College students maintain a rally in help of Israel and demand larger safety from anti-semitism on campus at Columbia College final 12 months . (Picture by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis through Getty Photographs)
“In recent years, we have seen a troubling rise in campus bias and harassment that threatens the safe, inclusive environment our students deserve—and New York must confront that without equivocation or hesitation,” Rozic mentioned. “I am grateful to Senator Stavisky for her partnership, and urge Governor Hochul to stand with us by signing this bill into law.”
Stavisky added that the measure builds upon laws she sponsored in 2022 requiring schools and universities to report hate crimes on their web sites.
“The rise of antisemitism and other forms of hate on college campuses must end,” Stavisky mentioned. “Last year, the American Jewish Committee reported that 35% of Jewish students were subjected to various forms of antisemitism.”
The laws additionally comes at a vital time: 60 schools and universities throughout the USA — together with eight in New York — are presently below federal investigation for antisemitic discrimination and harassment. In March, the U.S. Division of Schooling’s Workplace for Civil Rights notified the establishments of potential enforcement actions for failing to satisfy their obligations below Title VI.
Stavisky urged Hochul to signal the invoice, saying it could “send a strong message that hate, in all its ugly forms, has no place on college campuses—or anywhere.”
The laws has drawn widespread help from Jewish advocacy organizations.
“UJA-Federation of New York thanks Assembly Member Rozic and Senator Stavisky for their leadership and efforts in getting this timely and critical bill passed,” mentioned Eric S. Goldstein, CEO of the UJA-Federation of New York. “With a surge in antisemitism, Jewish students have faced unacceptable discrimination and hate at school. This bill creates a safer, more inclusive learning environment for all students.”
Josh Kramer, director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) New York, mentioned the laws will assist break down obstacles that stop college students from reporting antisemitic incidents.
“Across New York, Jewish students are facing harassment, intimidation, and silence,” Kramer mentioned. “The passage of Senator Toby Stavisky and Assembly Member Nily Rozic’s Title VI Coordinator bill by the New York State Legislature is a critical step toward changing that reality.”
Scott Richman, regional director for the New York and New Jersey Anti-Defamation League, additionally praised the invoice as a key answer to guard college students dealing with hate on campus.
“This bill offers a crucial solution to ensure that colleges and universities are properly resourced to address and combat discrimination and hate on campus,” Richman mentioned. “We extend our thanks to Assemblywoman Rozic and Senator Stavisky for their leadership on this issue and their commitment to ensuring every college is a place where students are safe, respected, included, and free to learn without fear.”
