California Colleges Address Antisemitism Complaints with Settlements

SAN FRANCISCO — Two California colleges have reached settlements with Jewish organizations and individuals over complaints of antisemitism linked to pro-Palestinian campus protests. This includes a $60,000 payment to Yael Nativ, an Israeli sociologist and dance researcher, who alleged that she was not rehired by the University of California, Berkeley, despite her class's popularity.

On Wednesday, UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons apologized to Nativ, affirming that she had been a victim of discrimination according to a campus investigation. Nativ is also invited to teach her class during a semester of her choice.

This legal action stemmed from Nativ's lawsuit filed earlier this year after she requested the university to address the findings of the campus report by rehiring her and implementing measures to prevent future incidents. She described the university's response as inadequate.

Meanwhile, Pomona College announced plans to hire a federal Title VI civil rights coordinator and establish a task force focused on Jewish life and antisemitism. This follows a federal complaint filed last year that alleged violations of civil rights laws concerning the college's handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Some Jewish students reported feeling a "hostile environment" during these protests, claiming that college leaders failed to uphold free speech and non-discrimination policies.

These cases reflect growing concerns about bias against both Jews and Muslims in U.S. colleges, particularly in the wake of the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which sparked significant conflict in the region.

Additionally, UC Berkeley recently announced a six-month suspension without pay for a computer science lecturer, Peyrin Kao, due to alleged political advocacy for Palestine in the classroom.