Anti-Semitism turned CUNY school into ‘hostile’ workplace: suit

Hunter College has developed into a “hostile work environment” for Jews due to its administration’s strict refusal to accept antisemitismCUNY school’s Jewish studies director alleges in a fiery federal lawsuit.

Leah Garrett, head of the school’s Center for Jewish Studies, criticized public university leaders for turning a blind eye to anti-Semitism. demonstrations That included allowing students on its Upper East Side campus after Oct. 7 to wave posters dripping with blood from the Star of David and demanding the expulsion of Zionists, according to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday.

“After October 7, I was horrified and distraught to see that on Hunter’s campus, there was a widespread and compelling and continuing series of anti-Semitism that I had to deal with, that my students had to deal with, that my faculty had to deal with. Had to deal with,” Garrett told The Post.

“The administration is doing virtually nothing to stop it,” he said.

In November 2023, Hunter College leadership dug in their heels for hours after Garrett urged them to cover up swastikas drawn on posters of Israeli hostages around campus, according to the lawsuit, which claimed the bureaucracy And their hands were tied for legal reasons.

Months later, CUNY leaders failed to address the professor’s safety concerns when an anti-Israel student group at the college published the professor’s photo on social media, and at least one student emailed him an anti-Semitic message, including Claimed that Satanists were “more moral” than the Jews. Read the complaint.

Garrett, who was hired by Hunter College in 2018 and will earn $172,710 in fiscal year 2023, “was left to navigate an increasingly hostile work environment and the only academic advocate for Jewish students and faculty.” As was forced to take on the additional burden of functioning,” according to court records.

CUNY violated Garrett’s civil rights and breached his contract by allowing antisemitism According to the complaint, apart from acting negligently, driving erratically on the premises.

“Hopefully, this lawsuit will shine a bright light on another CUNY dumpster fire,” said City Councilman Kalman Yeager (D-Brooklyn), who recently co-wrote a scathing letter CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodríguez called for an investigation of an anti-Israel professor who allegedly helped organize one. destructive Rally at City College in April.

Garrett is seeking compensation, the amount of which will be determined at trial, and is being represented by the Lawfare Project and the firm Alston & Bird.

A Hunter College spokesperson declined to comment on pending litigation, but said the school has “no tolerance for any form of anti-Semitism or hatred.”