UCSB Student Claims Anti-Semitic Harassment
A former student body president from the University of California, Santa Barbara is taking legal action against the university, alleging it failed to safeguard her from anti-Semitic harassment. Tessa Bechsler, a Jewish student, filed her lawsuit last week, claiming her personal details were disclosed and that she was derogatorily labeled a “Zionist dog,” according to court filings.
Bechsler asserts she was frequently targeted by anti-Israel protesters at a local church after she condemned the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The complaint highlights that UCSB chose not to assist her during a prolonged period of harassment, leaving her to confront an “anti-Semitic mob” largely alone.
UCSB has not issued a public response since the lawsuit was filed and did not immediately reply to inquiries for comment.
The harassment reportedly began shortly after Bechsler’s social media post on October 8, 2023, where she condemned the violence, stating that atrocities such as the killing of civilians and abductions are never justified. This resulted in her facing accusations online of supporting genocide, accompanied by anti-Semitic language.
The harassment intensified in late February 2024 at the UCSB Multicultural Center, where Bechsler’s office was situated, as indicated in the lawsuit.
On February 25 and 26, signs surfaced in the building asserting messages like “Zionists are not welcome” and “You can run but you can’t hide, Tessa Bexler supports genocide,” clearly indicating that she was unwelcome on campus.
The complaint further details how, despite Bechsler’s multiple pleas for help to university officials, her requests largely went ignored, allowing the harassment to escalate, reportedly with the knowledge and involvement of at least one university representative. UCSB is set to respond to the lawsuit by April 7.
The University of California system was recently sued by the Trump administration over alleged anti-Semitic actions occurring at its Los Angeles campus.
