The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found “reasonable cause to believe” that the University of Illinois Chicago discriminated against three Jewish and Israeli professors, StandWithUs said on Tuesday.
According to the pro-Israel nonprofit, the EEOC investigation found sufficient evidence that the professors were subjected to discriminatory harassment at UIC’s Chicago campus since at least January 2022, potentially violating Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. (JNS sought comment from the university.)
StandWithUs supported each professor in their complaints with the commission.
“This exposes systemic antisemitism that the university had every opportunity to address and didn’t,” stated Deedee Bitran, senior counsel and director of the pro bono network at the Saidoff Legal Department at StandWithUs
“The faculty members did what the law asks of them,” she said. “Now it’s UIC’s turn.”
The university told JNS that it “condemns antisemitism, hate and discrimination in all its forms.”
“We take seriously any allegations of harassment or bias within our campus community,” it said. “The university is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment and will evaluate the EEOC findings and respond accordingly.”
