The failure of the chancellor of the City University of New York (CUNY) to have answers to questions about how it was combating antisemitism on its campus prompted sharp criticism from members of the City Council during a long hearing on the issue.
Felix Matos Rodriguez was grilled during a more than five-hour hearing on November 25 by the Committee on Higher Education following the release of a comprehensive report prepared by Jonathan Lippman, New York’s former chief judge and a team from the Latham & Watkins law firm. The report found that CUNY’s current system of handling complaints regarding antisemitism, discrimination and retaliation is “ineffective and needs to be completely overhauled,” leaving many students feeling unsafe. The report, requested by Governor Kathy Hochul, made 13 recommendations for rectifying the situation.
Numerous Jewish leaders, students and faculty testified about the longstanding antisemitism problem at CUNY’s 25 campuses, which has been growing over the last several years, but has intensified since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel and the resulting war with Gaza.
CUNY Jewish students and staff have been harassed and threatened by pro-Palestinian groups, resulting in legal actions and a previous hearing by the City Council.
The council hearing, which also featured horrifying testimonies by students of harassment and antisemitism that made them feel unsafe in classrooms, activities and hallways, was at times contentious, with committee members expressing exasperation at Rodriguez’s inability to answer questions about how many protesters have been arrested for failing to show identification to safety officers, how many students and faculty have been disciplined for not following campus rules of conduct, whether any employees had been fired for antisemitism, how many students filed antisemitism complaints on a portal set up to report discrimination, and more.
Councilwoman Julie Menin (D-Manhattan) said in meetings with Jewish CUNY students she was “absolutely appalled by what I heard,” including statements by students at Baruch College in Manhattan that were told by its president, S. David Wu, that he couldn’t keep them safe, security cameras were broken and there was a lack of security personnel.
“I think Judge Lippman’s report is crystal clear: This is a crisis of antisemitism,” she said, also adding of Rodriquez’s testimony, “It’s just wholly unsatisfactory. It’s not enough just to show up.” She found it “outrageous” that Rodriguez couldn’t answer the most rudimentary questions.
Committee Chair Eric Dinowitz, a CUNY graduate himself, also expressed frustration about the lack of specific information about many issues.
“Without the data it’s impossible to have a meaningful, productive conversation,” said the Bronx Democratic councilman, while also noting he believed the chancellor came because “I think you know in your heart this is an important issue.”
Rodriquez said combating antisemitism was a top priority and outlined a series of initiatives he has undertaken to stem anti-Jewish hate. They include a partnership with Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative, creation of the Advisory Council on Jewish Life, a systemwide campus climate survey launched two weeks prior, and the establishment this past summer of the Center for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging to foster understanding between diverse communities and centralize efforts to combat discrimination systemwide. He said he met with members of UJA-Federation of New York to discuss additional safety measures and developed a Freedom of Expression Working Group to clarify policy on freedom of speech. CUNY is also purchasing a case management system to update and make the university’s portal for reporting discrimination and antisemitism more efficient.
“Tensions and challenges do arise, but we have rules and regulations in place to investigate and do not hesitate to enforce them, “ said Rodriquez. “When students cross the line we take action.”
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) pointed out that students have told her the only place they feel safe is at Hillel House, and demanded time, place and manner restrictions be developed by CUNY.
The portal was a particular area of contention with students charging that it has been ineffective, with complaints seemingly rarely acted on or responses taking well beyond the 60-day timeframe for action, thus making them feel unsafe. However, Rodriquez testified that once the new system is established data will be posted publicly on incidents and students informed of the outcome of their issue in a timely manner.
Kayla Aaron, a Baruch College delegate to the CUNY Student Senate and the only student on the chancellor’s Advisory Council on Jewish Life, told the committee antisemitism had been a problem on campus for many years. Even before the October 7 attacks, a professor said to her in front of the entire class, “I knew you controlled the world.”
Under questioning by the committee Aaron said she had filed a complaint over the antisemitic remark, but she only got a response after going in person after some time had passed. Ultimately, the professor was removed for sexual misconduct, not for the antisemitism. She said she knows of complaints filed as far back as October 8, 2023 that still have not been answered while organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine continue to protest and harass Jewish students. “It is abhorrent to me that I am forced to fund through my tuition the very organizations calling for the murder of my Jewish brothers and sisters,” said Aaron.
Maya Gavriel, an Emerson Fellow with StandWithUs at Baruch, called for the university to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism as a guide to help determine what constitutes antisemitism as recommended in the Lippman report.
“Being a student who has personally experienced antisemitism where students have openly targeted me with harmful stereotypes and excluded me because of my Israeli background, I know the frustration of being ignored when incidents get reported,” she said. “I saw no reprimand for these actions and was left feeling invisible and unsupported by my administration. The lack of clear, universally accepted guidelines for identifying antisemitism allowed for this antisemitism to go unchecked. The IHRA definition would provide CUNY with a clear comprehensive framework to define antisemitism in all its forms.”
Ilya Bratman, the Hillel director at nine Manhattan campuses—including three in the CUNY system—also testified: “We cannot continue to fight this onslaught of hostility if we cannot define antisemitism and clearly delineate the types of cases that cross the line. There is immense confusion around this issue that promotes continued lawlessness. How can we hold faculty accountable if definitions are not clear?”
Dinowitz also questioned how CUNY is implementing a recommendation in the Lippman report that it coordinate more closely with law enforcement. He cited an incident outside Hunter College Hillel in Manhattan, located just two or three feet from campus, where pro-Palestinian protesters chanted, “It is right to rebel. Hillel go to hell,” holding images of assault rifles.
“I think most people would find that sort of language and imagery threatening,” said Dinowitz, adding the response received from CUNY was that there is nothing it can do because it wasn’t on campus. CUNY put out a statement condemning the incident, but Rodriquez said incidents occurring on city streets are under the jurisdiction of the NYPD, with whom the university is in regular contact.
Dinowitz also cited the lack of consequences for student and faculty perpetrators, noting, “It can’t be the case that students that are victims continue to remain victims while for the perpetrators of the act there are no consequences,” and said that “Zionism cannot be a code word for antisemitism.”
Debra Rubin has had a long career in journalism writing for secular weekly and daily newspapers and Jewish publications. She most recently served as Middlesex/Monmouth bureau chief for the New Jersey Jewish News. She also worked with the media at several nonprofits, including serving as assistant public relations director of HIAS and assistant director of media relations at Yeshiva University.
