NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A 146-page report commissioned by Gov. Kathy Hochul has found the City University of New York’s (CUNY) system for handling complaints of antisemitism to be ineffective, and in some cases, “may cause more harm than good.”
The independent review, led by former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, released on Tuesday highlighted a “problematic lack of uniformity” in how antisemitism is addressed across CUNY’s 25 institutions, leading to inconsistent outcomes for similar complaints.
“My top priority as Governor has always been to ensure the safety and security of every New Yorker, and right now, too many students at our colleges and universities do not feel safe. Let me be clear: we will not tolerate threats of antisemitism or hate of any kind,” Hochul said in a statement.
The review, launched in late October 2023 after a rise in hate incidents following Hamas’ terror attack on Israel, involved over 200 interviews with CUNY-affiliated individuals, religious leaders, and free speech experts.
CUNY replied that it "welcomed" the report. “I appreciate the work of Judge Lippman and his team in preparing this review and recommendations and thank Gov. Hochul for her unwavering commitment to higher education and collaboration in keeping our campuses safe,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez.
Lippman’s report found that CUNY’s policies and procedures for addressing antisemitism and discrimination need to be “significantly overhauled and updated” to meet the challenges present on campuses today.
The report also found that CUNY’s decentralized structure—where each campus handles antisemitism complaints independently—has created a fragmented system, resulting in uneven handling of such incidents. This, coupled with outdated policies, has caused confusion and frustration within the CUNY community. While CUNY’s leadership emphasized physical safety and collaborated with local law enforcement to maintain it, many students reported feeling unsafe due to antisemitism and other forms of hate, according to the report.
Judge Lippman Report on Antisemitism and Discrimination Policies and Procedures at CUNY by rabia.gursoy on Scribd
Lippman issued 13 recommendations, including creating a centralized body at CUNY to oversee issues related to antisemitism and discrimination, which would ensure uniformity across campuses, deploy resources, and provide training.
One of the key recommendations includes creating a Center for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging, which would focus on addressing antisemitism and other forms of discrimination while promoting civil discourse and fostering inclusion.
He also called for overhauling CUNY’s complaint portal, which was described as ineffective due to its lack of transparency and accountability. The portal currently does not provide acknowledgment or updates to complainants, leaving many uncertain about the status of their complaints, according to the report.
Other recommendations include establishing a victim’s advocate position, enhancing safety protocols in coordination with law enforcement, and providing standardized training for faculty and diversity officers to ensure consistent handling of complaints.
Lippman also noted the importance of adhering to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which he described as “a valuable tool” for understanding contemporary manifestations of antisemitism.
Hochul, highlighting the urgency of the issue, pointed to the state’s efforts to combat hate, noting that New York has been actively fighting antisemitism even before the Hamas attacks. “I changed the bail laws to crack down on hate crimes and deployed additional State personnel to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force,” Hochul said. “As the tragic anniversary of the October 7th attacks approaches, we will be announcing additional resources to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers.”
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