Barnard College resolves lawsuit initiated by Jewish students, reaching an accord to abstain from engaging with pro-Palestinian organization.
Barnard College has recently announced a significant shift in its policies regarding antisemitism, following a settlement with two Jewish advocacy groups: Students Against Antisemitism and StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice. The settlement, which comes after a federal lawsuit brought last February, aims to address allegations of antisemitism on campus, particularly during periods of intense pro-Palestinian activism.
One of the key changes is the prohibition of face coverings at protests. Barnard has agreed to bar the use of face coverings during campus protests, a direct response to concerns that masks were used to conceal identities during some pro-Palestinian demonstrations linked to incidents of harassment.
The college has also committed to declining formal recognition or engagement with leading student pro-Palestinian activist groups implicated in the lawsuit. This move signals a stance to more strictly regulate campus activism perceived to contribute to antisemitism.
To comply with federal civil rights laws, Barnard will appoint a Title VI coordinator responsible for handling discrimination and harassment complaints, specifically related to antisemitism and anti-Israel discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
In addition, students and faculty will be required to undergo training on campus discrimination policies and educate the community on antisemitism. The aim is to foster a safer, more inclusive environment.
Starting in the fall semester of 2025, Barnard’s Office of the President will issue an annual message reaffirming the college's zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination against Jews and Israelis, reinforcing institutional commitment.
Criticism of the settlement has been voiced by some students and faculty, who claim it stifles legitimate pro-Palestinian activism. However, Barnard's president, Laura Ann Rosenbury, stated that the agreement reflects the college's commitment to a safe, welcoming, and inclusive campus for all.
The settlement follows a series of legal settlements involving universities addressing antisemitism, with New York University and Harvard University being among them. The litigation against Columbia remains ongoing, though the university has already agreed to revamp its policies around protests, among other concessions made under threat from the Trump administration.
Barnard's endowment will not be used for expressing political positions, including actions aimed at penalizing the government of a country or commercial/financial activity within that country. The college will also adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism and its examples, which include certain critiques of Israel.
The settlement underscores a shift towards more explicit regulation of activism and clearer institutional policies against antisemitism, while aligning with federal civil rights requirements. Barnard College's efforts to combat antisemitism are being closely watched by other colleges and universities, with calls for them to follow Barnard's lead in combating antisemitism.
- In adherence to the settlement, Barnard College will prevent formal recognition or engagement with leading student pro-Palestinian activist groups linked to allegations of antisemitism, as part of an ongoing effort to address education-and-self-development issues and promote general news related to the college's commitment to combating antisemitism.
- In the future, Barnard College will actively engage in politics by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism and its examples, including critiques of Israel, as an effort to ensure us, as students and faculty, interact in a safer, more inclusive environment that adheres to federal civil rights laws.
