California colleges agree settlements over antisemitism complaints

"Two California colleges have reached settlements with Jewish organizations and individuals who filed complaints alleging antisemitism arising from pro-Palestinian campus protests, including a $60,000 payment to an Israeli sociologist and dance researcher who says she was not rehired by the University of California, Berkeley despite the popularity of her class. The UC Berkeley chancellor, Rich Lyons, on Wednesday issued an apology to Yael Nativ, a visiting 2022 professor who was found in a campus investigation to have been the victim of discrimination,"

"At Pomona College, officials said they will hire a federal Title VI civil rights coordinator and create a taskforce, committee or advisory council on Jewish life and antisemitism after a federal complaint filed last year with the education department alleged civil rights law violations during the school's response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Some Jewish students said the protests created a hostile environment for them and said college leaders did little to enforce free speech and nondiscrimination rules."

Two California colleges reached settlements after complaints alleging antisemitism connected to pro-Palestinian campus protests. The University of California, Berkeley provided a $60,000 payment to Yael Nativ, a visiting professor who said she was not rehired despite her class's popularity, and a campus investigation found she was the victim of discrimination. UC Berkeley issued an apology and invited her to teach in a future semester. Pomona College announced plans to hire a federal Title VI civil rights coordinator and to create a taskforce or advisory body on Jewish life and antisemitism after a federal complaint alleging civil rights violations. Some Jewish students reported a hostile environment and cited limited enforcement of free speech and nondiscrimination rules. The cases form part of broader allegations of bias against Jews and Muslims at colleges since the October 2023 Hamas attack.

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