New York University (NYU) settled a lawsuit Tuesday with Jewish students over claims that the university did not protect them from antisemitism on campus.
The suit was filed in November accusing the university of violating federal civil rights laws by not enforcing its anti-discrimination policy in incidents targeting Jewish students and allowing “pervasive acts of hatred, discrimination, harassment, and intimidation.” NYU was a hotspot for anti-Israel protests in recent months, with police arresting 133 people in a single night and the lawsuit alleging chants such as “Hitler was right,” and “gas the Jews,” being regularly heard.
Protests exploded on college campuses across the country after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that left over 1,200 people dead, leading to safety concerns following violent outbreaks. Many universities were forced to cancel classes and graduation ceremonies.
“NYU has committed to take groundbreaking measures to address antisemitism, including in the wake of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack and ensuing violence in the Middle East,” NYU said in a joint statement announcing the settlement. The students claimed the university had not done enough to condemn Hamas previously.
The settlement included an undisclosed monetary agreement, a commitment to equally enforcing and updating anti-discrimination policies and the creation of a new position overseeing the university’s compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, according to the statement.
“NYU, by entering into this historic settlement, is to be commended for taking a leading position among American universities in combating antisemitism on campus. Other universities should promptly follow their lead,” Marc Kasowitz, counsel for the plaintiffs, said in the statement.
Several lawsuits have been filed against other universities regarding antisemitic instances. Jewish students at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) sued over the university allowing the creation of a “Jew Exclusion Zone” during a violent encampment, while a Columbia University student accused the school of not doing enough to keep Jewish students safe amid ongoing protests.
NYU did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
