New Webpage is One Step to Help Address Incidents of Bias and Hate, Including Antisemitism, at CUNY Colleges
University has Also Allocated New Funding to 24 Colleges for Events and Programs that Counter Religious or Ethnic Bigotry
The City University of New York today announced the launch of a centralized online portal for staff and students to report instances of discrimination and retaliation, covering cases of hate speech and violence, as the system responds to a national rise in antisemitism.
“Our University refuses to tolerate discrimination, antisemitism or hate of any kind, and we want every member of the CUNY community to feel welcomed and safe on our campuses,” said Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “We must lead by example. This new reporting portal is one action among many we are taking as a community to combat antisemitism and all forms of hatred at CUNY.”
The online portal – which was started in late fall as part of a sweeping effort to address hate in all forms – will standardize reporting across the system and the information will be shared with college presidents and deans. These campus leaders are required to file semi-annual reports on the cases shared through the portal. The reports will also serve as a basis for the development of policy and training as needed. The tool will allow the University to conduct detailed analyses of the reported incidents, identifying trends and patterns so that the system can enhance its diversity, equity and inclusion programming.
Members of the CUNY community can submit reports to the portal here.
Backdrop of Increasing Antisemitism
This action comes as the nation faces an increase in antisemitic attacks, including a 125% increase in such crimes across New York City, and marks the latest action the University is taking to combat hate in all forms.
In September, CUNY announced a partnership with Hillel International and most recently distributed $600,000 to 24 CUNY colleges for programs, training and events that work to address antisemitism and other forms of bias and designated $150,000 to support campus climate work that is done by the central offices.
These projects include a campus climate survey at Borough of Manhattan Community College and weeklong programing during social justice week; ‘Understanding Jewish Experiences and Antisemitism’ workshop at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a multifaith luncheon; and a Holocaust education program at Queensborough Community College’s Kupferberg Holocaust Center.
Last April, Chancellor Matos Rodríguez and 12 CUNY college presidents participated in a weeklong “Scholars as Bridge Builders” study tour of Israel and the West Bank organized with the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY).
The City University of New York is the nation’s largest urban public university, a transformative engine of social mobility that is a critical component of the lifeblood of New York City. Founded in 1847 as the nation’s first free public institution of higher education, CUNY today has seven community colleges, 11 senior colleges and seven graduate or professional institutions spread across New York City’s five boroughs, serving over 243,000 undergraduate and graduate students and awarding 55,000 degrees each year. CUNY’s mix of quality and affordability propels almost six times as many low-income students into the middle class and beyond as all the Ivy League colleges combined. More than 80 percent of the University’s graduates stay in New York, contributing to all aspects of the city’s economic, civic and cultural life and diversifying the city’s workforce in every sector. CUNY’s graduates and faculty have received many prestigious honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes and 26 MacArthur “Genius” Grants. The University’s historic mission continues to this day: provide a first-rate public education to all students, regardless of means or background.
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