Latest news with #Cronan
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge calls out university for making Jewish students hide in a 'proverbial attic,' allows lawsuit to proceed
A New York judge called out a university in New York for its lack of action amid increasing antisemitism while denying its motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Jewish students. The judge said that Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, a small private four-year college located in Lower Manhattan, must face charges for neglecting to help Jewish students who had to lock themselves in a library during an anti-Israel rally on Oct. 25, 2023. "Title VI places responsibility on colleges and universities to protect their Jewish students from harassment, not on those students to hide themselves away in a proverbial attic or attempt to escape from a place they have a right to be," US District Judge John Cronan wrote Wednesday in the opinion. Jewish Community Responds To Trump Executive Order Vowing To Deport Pro-hamas Activists With Student Visas "The physically threatening or humiliating conduct that the Complaint alleges Jewish students in the library experienced 'is entirely outside the ambit of the free speech clause,' … and was objectively severe," Cronan wrote. Cronan added, "The Court is dismayed by Cooper Union's suggestion that the Jewish students should have hidden upstairs or left the building, or that locking the library doors was enough to discharge its obligations under Title VI." Read On The Fox News App Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination over race, color, and national origin for any activity or program receiving federal funding. He also pointed out that the New York state laws "provide comparable—if not greater—protections against discriminatory harassment in education than Title VI." Chants 'Calling For The Murder Of Jews' Were Shouted At Me During Cooper Union Protest, Student Recalls A Cooper Union spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital, "We are a college dedicated to being a welcoming and safe place of learning for all students. Since October 2023, reports on social media and in the news have cited inaccurate information, mischaracterizing the circumstances and our dedication to our students. Cooper Union never suggested that students should hide, nor as the evidence will show, were the library doors locked. Rather, Cooper Union offered students options of support, including the ability to leave safely." Trump Takes Aim At Campus Antisemitsm, Vows To Cancel Visas For Hamas Sympathizers Multiple universities have faced lawsuits over anti-Israel protests on their campuses since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. In January, Harvard University settled two lawsuits it was in alleging the university had "an unbearable educational environment" and disregarded "severe and pervasive anti-Semitism on campus." On July 9, 2024, New York University settled a lawsuit also pertaining to protests also sparked by the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack. President Donald Trump issued an executive order last week that it "shall be the policy of the United States to combat anti-Semitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools, to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence."Original article source: Judge calls out university for making Jewish students hide in a 'proverbial attic,' allows lawsuit to proceed
Fox News
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Judge calls out university for making Jewish students hide in a 'proverbial attic,' allows lawsuit to proceed
A New York judge called out a university in New York for its lack of action amid increasing antisemitism while denying its motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Jewish students. The judge said that Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, a small private four-year college located in Lower Manhattan, must face charges for neglecting to help Jewish students who had to lock themselves in a library during an anti-Israel rally on Oct. 25, 2023. "Title VI places responsibility on colleges and universities to protect their Jewish students from harassment, not on those students to hide themselves away in a proverbial attic or attempt to escape from a place they have a right to be," US District Judge John Cronan wrote Wednesday in the opinion. "The physically threatening or humiliating conduct that the Complaint alleges Jewish students in the library experienced 'is entirely outside the ambit of the free speech clause,' … and was objectively severe," Cronan wrote. Cronan added, "The Court is dismayed by Cooper Union's suggestion that the Jewish students should have hidden upstairs or left the building, or that locking the library doors was enough to discharge its obligations under Title VI." Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination over race, color, and national origin for any activity or program receiving federal funding. He also pointed out that the New York state laws "provide comparable—if not greater—protections against discriminatory harassment in education than Title VI." A Cooper Union spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital, "We are a college dedicated to being a welcoming and safe place of learning for all students. Since October 2023, reports on social media and in the news have cited inaccurate information, mischaracterizing the circumstances and our dedication to our students. Cooper Union never suggested that students should hide, nor as the evidence will show, were the library doors locked. Rather, Cooper Union offered students options of support, including the ability to leave safely." Multiple universities have faced lawsuits over anti-Israel protests on their campuses since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. In January, Harvard University settled two lawsuits it was in alleging the university had "an unbearable educational environment" and disregarded "severe and pervasive anti-Semitism on campus." On July 9, 2024, New York University settled a lawsuit also pertaining to protests also sparked by the Oct. 7, 2023 terrorist attack. President Donald Trump issued an executive order last week that it "shall be the policy of the United States to combat anti-Semitism vigorously, using all available and appropriate legal tools, to prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account the perpetrators of unlawful anti-Semitic harassment and violence."
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cooper Union in NYC must face Jewish students' lawsuit over pro-Palestinian rally
By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge in Manhattan said the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art must face a lawsuit claiming it did nothing to help Jewish students who locked themselves in a library for protection from pro-Palestinian demonstrators. U.S. District Judge John Cronan ruled on Wednesday that the private college must face claims it violated federal and New York civil rights laws by subjecting Jewish students to "severe and pervasive" antisemitic abuse that did not qualify as constitutionally protected speech. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Cronan, appointed to the bench by President Donald Trump, also said the 10 plaintiffs can seek punitive damages and an injunction to end what they called an antisemitic, anti-Israel campus environment. The judge dismissed some other claims. Cooper Union and its lawyers did not immediately respond to request for comment. Lawyers for the students had no immediate comment. Many U.S. colleges and universities have faced lawsuits claiming they encouraged or permitted antisemitism after Hamas fighters attacked Israel in October, 2023, precipitating an Israeli assault on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Some have settled, including Harvard University last month and New York University last July. Cronan ruled one week after Trump issued an executive order to push colleges to report possible antisemitic conduct by foreign students, to help authorities "prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account" any perpetrators. Jewish students said that at the Oct. 25, 2023 Cooper Union rally, demonstrators stormed past security guards and banged loudly on the library's doors and nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, making hateful chants and carrying antisemitic signs. The students said school administrators did nothing during the 20-minute ordeal, and told law enforcement to back off even as the school's president left the building through a back door. They said Cooper Union's fostering of a hostile educational environment violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars federal funds recipients from allowing discrimination based on race, religion and national origin. Some demonstrators told media at the time of the protest they were not targeting individual students, and were not engaged in antisemitism. Cooper Union argued that the demonstrators engaged in political speech protected by the First Amendment, and there was no proof it was deliberately indifferent to the harassment. But the judge said he was "dismayed" by Cooper Union's suggestion that the students could have hidden elsewhere or left, and that it did enough by locking the library doors. "These events took place in 2023 - not 1943 - and Title VI places responsibility on colleges and universities to protect their Jewish students from harassment," Cronan wrote. "The physically threatening or humiliating conduct that the complaint alleges Jewish students in the library experienced is entirely outside the ambit of the free speech clause," he added. Cooper Union is located in Manhattan's East Village, and offers degrees in art, architecture and engineering. The case is Gartenberg et al v Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 24-02669.
Reuters
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Cooper Union in NYC must face Jewish students' lawsuit over pro-Palestinian rally
Summary Students faced 'severe and pervasive' antisemitic abuse Trump ordered greater vigilance by colleges No immediate comment from Cooper Union NEW YORK, Feb 5 (Reuters) - A federal judge in Manhattan said the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art must face a lawsuit claiming it did nothing to help Jewish students who locked themselves in a library for protection from pro-Palestinian demonstrators. U.S. District Judge John Cronan ruled on Wednesday that the private college must face claims it violated federal and New York civil rights laws by subjecting Jewish students to "severe and pervasive" antisemitic abuse that did not qualify as constitutionally protected speech. Cronan, appointed to the bench by President Donald Trump, also said the 10 plaintiffs can seek punitive damages and an injunction to end what they called an antisemitic, anti-Israel campus environment. The judge dismissed some other claims. Cooper Union and its lawyers did not immediately respond to request for comment. Lawyers for the students had no immediate comment. Many U.S. colleges and universities have faced lawsuits claiming they encouraged or permitted antisemitism after Hamas fighters attacked Israel in October, 2023, precipitating an Israeli assault on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Some have settled, including Harvard University last month and New York University last July. Cronan ruled one week after Trump issued an executive order to push colleges to report possible antisemitic conduct by foreign students, to help authorities "prosecute, remove, or otherwise hold to account" any perpetrators. Jewish students said that at the Oct. 25, 2023 Cooper Union rally, demonstrators stormed past security guards and banged loudly on the library's doors and nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, making hateful chants and carrying antisemitic signs. The students said school administrators did nothing during the 20-minute ordeal, and told law enforcement to back off even as the school's president left the building through a back door. They said Cooper Union's fostering of a hostile educational environment violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars federal funds recipients from allowing discrimination based on race, religion and national origin. Some demonstrators told media at the time of the protest they were not targeting individual students, and were not engaged in antisemitism. Cooper Union argued that the demonstrators engaged in political speech protected by the First Amendment, and there was no proof it was deliberately indifferent to the harassment. But the judge said he was "dismayed" by Cooper Union's suggestion that the students could have hidden elsewhere or left, and that it did enough by locking the library doors. "These events took place in 2023 - not 1943 - and Title VI places responsibility on colleges and universities to protect their Jewish students from harassment," Cronan wrote. "The physically threatening or humiliating conduct that the complaint alleges Jewish students in the library experienced is entirely outside the ambit of the free speech clause," he added. Cooper Union is located in Manhattan's East Village, and offers degrees in art, architecture and engineering. The case is Gartenberg et al v Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 24-02669.
