Three students have sued NYU for failing to protect them from the “simmering Jewish hatred that permeates the school,” which has intensified in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.
Jewish students Bella Ingber, Sabrina Maslavi and Saul Tawil have accused their college of “egregious civil rights violations” by allegedly allowing other students to chant anti-Semitic slogans such as “Gas the Jews” and “Hitler was right” without facing any consequences would have.
Their lawsuit, filed in New York federal court, says the college, through its “actions and omissions” last month, “gave a horde of students carte blanche to harass and intimidate NYU’s Jewish population.”
It says: “The ancient virus of anti-Semitism is alive and well at New York University” and has worsened after Hamas’ horrific invasion of Israel on October 7 brought tensions to a boiling point.
Ingber, Maslavi and Tawil criticized the university for allegedly violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin.
They said they tried to address their concerns, but administration brushed them off and told them to call a hotline for students with “emotional challenges.”
Three students have sued NYU for failing to protect them from the “simmering Jewish hatred that permeates the school,” which has intensified in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. Pictured: NYU staff and students during a strike and protest in support of Palestine in Manhattan on November 9th
The plaintiffs say anti-Semitism has been a “growing institutional problem” on American college campuses for decades — and that NYU is “among the worst.” Pictured: an agitator holding a sign in front of an NYU building – who took part in a protest on November 2nd
NYU has denied its claims, telling that they “do not accurately describe the conditions on our campus” and that it “looks forward to setting the record straight in court.”
But the plaintiffs say anti-Semitism has been a “growing institutional problem” on American college campuses for decades — and that NYU is “among the worst.”
“This case stems from NYU’s serious civil rights violations that created a hostile educational environment in which plaintiffs and other Jewish NYU students were subjected to pervasive acts of hate, discrimination, harassment, and intimidation,” the lawsuit states.
“For years, NYU – keenly aware of ongoing and shameful acts of anti-Jewish bigotry – has responded with, at best, willful indifference, refusing to enforce its own anti-discrimination and conduct policies, which it readily employs to protect other targets of bigotry. and instead foster an environment in which students and faculty members are permitted to repeatedly abuse, denigrate, denigrate, and threaten Jewish students with impunity.
“Confronted with such genocidal chants as ‘Hitler was right’, ‘Gas the Jews’, ‘Death to the Kikes’ and ‘From the River to the Sea’ and other insults, the plaintiffs were not only deprived of this ability” and the opportunity to fully and to participate meaningfully in NYU’s educational and other programs, but they have suffered and are at high risk of extreme emotional and physical harm.”
Inger, Maslavi and Tawil say anti-Semitism on college campuses has increased by 40 percent and that NYU has long been aware of the “simmering Jewish hatred that permeates the school.”
They claim that the alleged problems were allowed to increase because, instead of implementing “urgently necessary protective and disciplinary measures to restore order and security on campus,” the administration “pressured Jewish students.”
According to her lawsuit, college officials insisted that Jewish students’ fears were “exaggerated” and told them “to simply call Wellness Exchange, a hotline for students coping with emotional challenges.”
After the terrorist attack and as Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza, NYU students called for mass protests to support Palestine.
Many demonstrations turned toxic as anti-Semitic banners and chants appeared. A handful of young people even waved signs that read “Keep the World Clean” and featured a picture of a trash can with the Star of David inside.
The school has been in the headlines for numerous incidents, including students removing posters posted on campus for kidnapped Israeli victims.
Another incident occurred when Ryna Workman, an NYU law student, was removed as president of the bar association for describing the Hamas attack as “necessary” in a newsletter. NYU said it was investigating the incident.
NYU spokesman John Beckman has denied the claims made in the lawsuit, saying in a statement sent to that the college takes all forms of hate “extremely seriously.”
“The allegations in this lawsuit do not accurately describe the conditions on our campus or the many steps NYU has taken to combat anti-Semitism and ensure campus safety,” Beckman said.
“Anti-Semitism violates our rules; “We take the issues of anti-Semitism and all other forms of hate extremely seriously and are committed to protecting our community and creating an environment in which all students can live and learn in peace.”
Beckman said the university was “one of the first in the United States to publicly condemn Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel” and that through its Tel Aviv program it maintains “arguably the largest academic presence of any major U.S. university in Israel.”
Their lawsuit, filed in New York federal court, says the college, through its “actions and omissions” last month, “gave a horde of students carte blanche to harass and intimidate NYU’s Jewish population.” Pictured: NYU protest on October 25th
NYU has denied its claims, telling that they “do not accurately describe the conditions on our campus” and that it “looks forward to setting the record straight in court.” Pictured: A handful of youths waved a sign that read “Keep the World Clean” with an image of a trash can with the Star of David inside at an NYU pro-Palestine protest
He added that NYU has “repeatedly communicated to our community about our efforts to ensure safety,” including an increased campus safety officer and NYPD presence.
The university also informed students “about the expectations of appropriate behavior” and “the fact that anti-Semitism violates our rules and violators will face disciplinary action,” the statement said.
It “promptly reviewed reported complaints of anti-Semitism and related misconduct and initiated investigations.”
“NYU looks forward to setting the record straight, challenging the one-sided narrative of this lawsuit, highlighting the many efforts NYU has made to combat anti-Semitism and create a safe environment for Jewish and non-Jewish students, and prevail in court,” Beckman said.
The three students say NYU did not follow its procedures to end discrimination and that when they enrolled they fully expected to be able to express their identities and ancestry.
The lawsuit asks a judge to force NYU to protect students, including firing deans and administrators responsible for the alleged atmosphere. They are also asking for an unspecified amount of money.