( New York Jewish Week ) — A third-party review of antisemitism and discrimination at the City University of New York called for a total overhaul of the system’s policies related to antisemitism and the creation of a center to address antisemitism and other forms of discrimination.
Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered the independent evaluation of CUNY’s “policies and procedures” last October, as anti-Israel activities rocked CUNY campuses in the weeks after Hamas’ invasion of Israel on Oct. 7.
Protests and turmoil over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, along with allegations of antisemitism , have continued across the CUNY system’s 25 campuses over the past year, restarting as its 225,000 students returned to campus in recent weeks. Dozens of students were arrested at pro-Palestinian encampments last spring, and Hillel events have faced protests .
Judge Jonathan Lippman, a former chief judge of New York State and a CUNY graduate, headed the evaluation and is the lead author of the report, which was published on Tuesday, with assistance from his law firm, Latham & Watkins. It recommends far-reaching changes, which Hochul has ordered CUNY to implement.