US DOE opens probe into allegations of antisemitism at SUNY New Paltz
The US Department of Education is investigating allegations of antisemitism made by two Jewish students at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Cassandra Blotner and Ofek Preis claim they were booted from an on-campus sexual abuse survivors group over their support of Israel and Zionism. The DOE’s Office for Civil Rights has opened a probe into a complaint filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights on behalf of the students, alleging that the college failed to address the alleged discrimination and harassment the coeds were subjected to.
The department will determine if the antisemitism and anti-Zionism the students say they faced violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin at institutions that receive federal funding.
The students’ complaint alleges that SUNY New Paltz permitted “a hostile atmosphere” toward Jewish and Israeli sexual assault victims to proliferate on its campus to the extent that the students fear for their safety. The complaint stems from a December 2022 incident in which Blotner — co-founder of the sexual assault survivor student group New Paltz Accountability (NPA) — posted an infographic to her personal Instagram page in support of Zionism and Israeli nationalism.
The post angered members of the NPA, who subsequently “kicked Blotner out of the group and later cancelled, stalked and harassed her,” the Brandeis Center alleged in a press release. Preis, who was also a member of NPA, shared the same post on her own Instagram and was effectively shut out of the group’s activities and communications as organizers blocked her access to shared documents, according to the students’ account.
NPA then published numerous public statements against Zionism, which reportedly fueled other students to harass Blotner on social media, the students alleged. People reportedly left comments like “Cassie needs to go” and called her a “dumb bitch” who supports “mass genocide.”
The two students told SUNY New Paltz that they worried for their safety, but the university declined Blotner’s request for a security escort to accompany her to class. NPA’s posts and the subsequent harassment made Blotner “feel so anxious about her safety she was unable to attend class,” the Brandeis Center stated.
The incident “resulted in a hostile environment for the larger community of Jewish and Israeli survivors of sexual assault at SUNY New Paltz,” the center alleged.
In response to the complaint being filed last year, SUNY New Paltz said it condemns any attacks on Jewish students but also will not infringe on students’ First Amendment rights. “We unequivocally condemn any attacks on SUNY students who are Jewish, and we will not tolerate anti-Semitic harassment and intimidation on campus,” the statement said.
“As a public institution, we value the First Amendment and uphold the free exchange of ideas,” SUNY New Paltz added.
FAQs:
What is the complaint filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights?
The complaint filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights alleges that the college failed to address the alleged discrimination and harassment the Jewish students were subjected to.
What does the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights investigate?
The DOE’s Office for Civil Rights investigates allegations of discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age.
What is the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin by federal and state governments as well as some public places.
What is Zionism?
Zionism is a political movement that arose in the late 19th century in response to growing anti-Semitism and sought to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine, which was then under Ottoman rule.
What is anti-Zionism?
Anti-Zionism is opposition to the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. It is often associated with criticism of the Israeli government’s policies towards Palestinians. Some people view anti-Zionism as a form of anti-Semitism.
Investigation Launched by US Department of Education into Accusations of Anti-Semitism Rampant at SUNY New Paltz
The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating complaints of antisemitism made by two Jewish students at the State University of New York at New Paltz. The students, Cassandra Blotner and Ofek Preis, allege that they were removed from an on-campus sexual abuse survivors group because of their support of Israel and Zionism. The complaint, filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights on behalf of the students, claims that the college failed to address the discrimination and harassment the students faced. The DOJ will determine if the alleged antisemitism and anti-Zionism violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin at institutions that receive federal funding.