Israeli Student Faces Assault at University Amid Protests
Israeli American student sues New School after violent incidents during protests. University accused of inaction.
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An Israeli American student has filed a lawsuit against The New School in New York City, alleging that the university failed to protect her from a series of violent incidents during protests. The Lawfare Project, a civil rights organization, filed the lawsuit on Wednesday, accusing the institution of not taking adequate measures to safeguard Sophie Shabot, the student at the center of the case.
Violent Incidents During Protests
According to the lawsuit, Shabot was subjected to verbal and physical abuse during a December 2023 protest. Protesters reportedly spat on her, shoved her, and chased her out of a building for speaking Hebrew. The incident allegedly occurred while she was in the vicinity of a protest, and the university was said to have stood by without intervening.
In March 2024, another incident unfolded when a group of protesters trapped students, including Shabot, inside an event featuring an Israeli speaker. The protesters pounded on the doors, demanding the students turn over the speaker. A professor at the school then shoved a Jewish student guarding the door, and the university eventually shut down the event. The complaint claims that the organizers had already relocated the event due to security concerns.
Legal Action and Allegations
The complaint alleges that a crowd surrounded Shabot and her friends after hearing them speak Hebrew and drove them from the University Center while a security guard looked on in silence. It also claims that a protester hurled a bottle at her head, nearly striking her. Ziporah Reich, director of litigation at The Lawfare Project, stated that the school looked the other way as Shabot was subjected to appalling verbal and physical assault.
Shabot, who is bringing the suit, said her goal is to ensure that no other student has to endure what she did. She emphasized that what happened to her should not be allowed to happen without accountability.
Legal Claims and Potential Impact
The suit demands a jury trial and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, statutory penalties, and other fees. The Lawfare Project is seeking relief under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and other relevant state and local laws. The suit also asserts claims for breach of contract and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
If the case moves to the discovery phase, The New School will need to turn over potentially tens of thousands of documents surrounding the case, allowing lawyers to investigate possible structural failures at the university that may have contributed to the permissive attitude toward discrimination against Shabot.
Student Senate and Hillel Funding
In May, the student senate voted to strip the campus Hillel of funding, citing concerns over the organization’s participation in certain programs that could be seen as violations of international law. The student government statement referenced the funding of Hillel as supporting violations of international law. However, The New School stated that the student government does not have the authority to strip the Hillel campus of its funding.
Source: Daily Wire
