Title VI complaint filed by Jewish on Campus, the Brandeis Center, and two students against SUNY New Paltz resolved in December

In 2021, two Jewish students at SUNY New Paltz were removed from a support group built for survivors of sexual assault—just because of their ancestral identity connected to Israel. Since then, stories like this have become all too common—Jewish and Israeli survivors have been ignored and disparaged. Violence continues to be denied. Together with these brave students and the Brandeis Center, we filed a civil rights complaint, sharing their story and demanding justice.

In December, after years of fighting, it was resolved—affirming that antisemitic discrimination, including against Israelis, violates SUNY New Paltz’s policies. Now, SUNY New Paltz will require student organizations to undergo training on Title VI and antisemitism. Administrators at dozens of SUNY campuses, including New Paltz, have now been trained to recognize antisemitic discrimination based on shared ancestry that violates Title VI.

Following our complaint’s resolution, SUNY New Paltz released a powerful statement affirming Zionism as an integral component of Jewish identity:

“We recognize that Zionism is a key component of the shared ancestral and ethnic identity of many students on our campus. Efforts to stigmatize Zionism and make SUNY New Paltz students feel unsafe or unwelcome expressing this aspect of their Jewish identity is contrary to our university’s basic values of mutual respect and inclusion.”

This outcome sets a powerful example of action that must be taken to ensure Jews are included and safe in higher education.

SUNY New Paltz alum Cassie Blotner said, “We didn’t just seek justice—we sought healing. This win is for every Jewish student and every survivor reclaiming their voice.”

“⁠This is what we’ve been working tirelessly for these last few years: To ensure the discrimination and neglect we went through won’t happen to anyone else,” said SUNY New Paltz alum Ofek Preis.

We recognize the significance of this moment in the broader context, following years of antisemitism targeting survivors.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month—dedicated to raising awareness, supporting survivors, and promoting prevention. May is Jewish American Heritage Month—a celebration of the rich history, culture, and contributions of the Jewish community.

At this nexus point, we center the intersection of antisemitism and sexual violence, and we uplift the stories of Jewish and Israeli survivors.