UCLA agrees to pay over $6 million in a settlement related to legal disputes surrounding pro-Palestinian demonstrations
In a series of significant developments, two prestigious American universities have agreed to settlements over allegations of antisemitism on their campuses.
Firstly, UCLA has reached a settlement worth more than $6 million in a discrimination lawsuit brought by Jewish students and a faculty member. The lawsuit, filed in June 2024, alleged violations of civil rights, including freedom of speech and equal access to education, and accused the university of fostering an antisemitic environment.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) had previously investigated and found evidence of systemic antisemitism at UCLA, determining that the university had violated federal civil rights laws by failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from a hostile environment dating back to October 2023. This investigation aligns with a broader federal concern over rising antisemitism on university campuses.
The settlement requires UCLA to ensure that Jewish students and faculty are not excluded from any programs, activities, or campus areas. UCLA will also donate to eight organisations, including Hillel at UCLA, the Academic Engagement Network, and the Anti-Defamation League. Additionally, UCLA has allocated $320,000 for its Initiative to Combat Antisemitism.
The settlement comes months after UCLA implemented a "zero tolerance" policy, banning encampments, masks that hide identities, and any protests that block pathways. The policy was introduced in response to pro-Palestinian activist encampments on campus in April 2024 that effectively created a "Jew Exclusion Zone," blocking Jewish and Israeli students from accessing key campus areas such as classrooms and the library.
Meanwhile, Columbia University has agreed to pay $200 million to the Trump administration to restore funding that had been cut over allegations it violated anti-discrimination laws. The settlement at Barnard College, Columbia's women's college, also includes a ban on masks at protests and a refusal to meet or negotiate with a coalition of pro-Palestinian student groups.
The antisemitism allegations at Barnard College centre on incidents where pro-Palestinian activists reportedly set up checkpoints, barriers, and wristbands to control passage, sometimes using intimidation tactics. The settlement immediately drew criticism from students and faculty, with a professor stating that it equates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
The Trump administration had accused Columbia University of "inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students." UC Board of Regents Chair Janet Reilly stated that antisemitism, harassment, and other forms of intimidation have no place at the University of California.
These settlements mark significant accountability measures for the universities and come amidst a broader federal concern over rising antisemitism on university campuses. The DOJ's formal findings and the legal settlements serve as a reminder that universities must uphold their legal obligations to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
- The UCLA settlement, part of a broader federal concern over rising antisemitism on university campuses, involves $6 million for resolving a discrimination lawsuit and includes contributions to organizations focused on education-and-self-development, such as Hillel at UCLA and the Anti-Defamation League.
- Political tensions surrounding antisemitism persist on university campuses, evidenced by the $200 million settlement between Columbia University and the Trump administration, stemming from claims of violating anti-discrimination laws. This settlement also extends to Barnard College, involving terms that restrict mask use during protests and place limits on interactions with pro-Palestinian student groups, raising debates about crime-and-justice and freedom of speech.
