A federal lawsuit alleging that New York University failed to seriously address anti-Semitism on campus as the war between Israel and Hamas escalated has been settled for a “disclosure” amount, the two sides announced Tuesday.
“We are committed to continuing our tireless efforts to combat discrimination, including anti-Semitism, and the settlement of this lawsuit is another step in that direction,” NYU President Linda Mills said in a statement.
The announcement came after the court canceled oral arguments on Monday in NYU’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which had originally been scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Details of the settlement, involving the university and four plaintiffs – Jewish students at New York University – will be “confidential,” including its “financial” terms, the university and lawyers for the opposing parties said in a joint statement.
But the university said it would create a new coordinator for Title VI, the civil rights-era law that protects people with protected characteristics, to ensure that NYU “responds appropriately and consistently to allegations of discrimination or harassment.”
The university also said it would review guidelines from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on the use of the definition of anti-Semitism and update expectations in its student code of conduct document accordingly.
“NYU should be commended for taking a leadership position among American universities in the fight against anti-Semitism on its campuses by participating in this historic settlement,” said Marc Kasowitz, an attorney for the students. Led anti-Semitism lawsuits against multiple institutions of higher educationIn a statement,
“Other universities should quickly follow suit.”
