Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, has called for the City University of New York (CUNY) to implement the recommendations of Judge Jonathan Lippman after more than 10 months of investigation into the school’s antisemitism and anti-discrimination policies.
“CUNY’s current policies and procedures for preventing and addressing antisemitism and discrimination need to be significantly overhauled and updated,” Lippman wrote in a report offering a range of remedies.
“Hate on campus has surged nationwide over the past year, and we needed a candid review of how best to protect our students,” Hochul said in a statement on Tuesday. “After reviewing Judge Lippman’s report, I have directed CUNY to implement his 13 recommendations, which I believe will make a significant impact in preventing and addressing future incidents.”
One of these proposals calls for CUNY to “use the principles of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism as a guide to help determine what may constitute antisemitism, in line with Gov. Hochul’s 2022 proclamation identifying the IHRA definition as a valuable tool.”
After describing a hate crime on campus, Lippman wrote that “of particular note, the protesters appear to have couched some of their deplorable attacks in antizionist rhetoric, which only confirms a point I make in my report—that antizionism can constitute antisemitism.”
Other proscribed actions in the report include centralizing resources to counter discrimination; overhauling reporting procedures; aiding victims in navigating investigative processes; coordinating with law enforcement to establish safety protocols; and training staff.
The report also urges modernizing institutional understandings of antisemitism by “including the use of social media.”
Hochul called for “every college and university in New York state to review Judge Lippman’s recommendations as a guide to help ensure that their campus community is a welcoming and safe place for people of every faith and background.”
