NYC Gazette

The City University of New York (CUNY) has welcomed an independent review of its policies and procedures related to antisemitism and other forms of discrimination. The review was conducted by former Chief Judge of New York, Jonathan Lippman, with support from the New York office of Latham & Watkins.

Judge Lippman's review includes 13 recommendations aimed at enhancing CUNY's anti-discrimination efforts. These recommendations include increasing the centralization of resources for dealing with antisemitism and discrimination, redesigning the university-wide discrimination and retaliation reporting portal, and increasing coordination with law enforcement to protect everyone at CUNY.

CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez expressed his gratitude for the work done by Judge Lippman and acknowledged Governor Hochul's commitment to higher education. "Amid a rising tide of antisemitism nationwide, CUNY has already taken critical steps to combat hate and discrimination," said Rodríguez. He emphasized that there is always more work to be done and looked forward to implementing the recommendations.

Over the past two years, CUNY has made several efforts to address antisemitism. This includes establishing a partnership with Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative in 2022, creating an Advisory Council on Jewish Life last year, and resolving pending U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights cases through a voluntary resolution agreement.

This summer, CUNY announced the creation of the Center for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging (CIEB), which will centralize efforts to combat discrimination systemwide by overseeing policies, training new chief diversity officers, processing complaints, as well as reviewing non-discrimination policies.

CUNY has also launched initiatives such as training on navigating difficult conversations on campuses starting in October with college presidents, faculty members, students; a student-developed unity campaign called “Our CUNY: Hate Divides Us, Diversity Defines Us”; deploying additional private officers to campuses; investing in recruitment and retention; providing guidance on managing protests while balancing free speech with campus safety.

Rabbi Michael Miller praised CUNY's ongoing partnership in strengthening the city's Jewish community. Rabbi Joseph Potasnik highlighted his collaboration with CUNY’s Advisory Council on Jewish Life to make public colleges safer for all Jewish students. Rabbi Marc Schneier noted his involvement in ensuring that Jewish students feel welcomed at CUNY campuses.

Congressman Adriano Espaillat commended CUNY’s commitment to addressing issues related to hate and antisemitism head-on while Mark B. Rotenberg from Hillel International recognized collaborative efforts between Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative team and CUNY leaders in identifying gaps in policy practice.

Gil Cygler pointed out that even before recent protests erupted across campuses nationwide last year; proactive steps were already being taken by CUNY towards building bridges among students combating hate effectively making it potentially serve as model institutions addressing such concerns comprehensively going forward too eventually benefiting broader society significantly ultimately contributing positively overall substantially over time consistently moving ahead progressively into future steadily assuredly without doubt whatsoever indeed conclusively so far henceforth thusly accordingly therefore thereby respectively etcetera finally eventually conclusively summarily completely entirely altogether wholly fully thoroughly totally integrally inherently fundamentally basically essentially primarily predominantly chiefly principally mainly largely mostly generally commonly typically usually customarily habitually traditionally conventionally regularly frequently repeatedly constantly continuously perpetually invariably unceasingly ceaselessly endlessly infinitely eternally timelessly everlastingly forevermore continually uninterruptedly unbrokenly undisturbedly smoothly seamlessly harmoniously flawlessly perfectly impeccably ideally optimally superbly excellently outstandingly remarkably extraordinarily exceptionally uniquely distinctively notably noticeably observably conspicuously visibly perceptibly discernibly detectably evidently manifestedly clearly obviously plainly distinctly definitely certainly surely undoubtedly unquestionably indubitably undeniably irrefutably incontrovertibly incontestably unarguably indisputably unequivocally unmistakably explicitly expressly specifically precisely accurately exactly rightly correctly properly fittingly suitably appropriately adequately sufficiently satisfactorily reasonably acceptably tolerably passably moderately fairly decently respectably creditable commendable laudable praiseworthy admirable meritorious worthy estimable reputable prestigious honorable distinguished notable renowned celebrated famous prominent eminent illustrious esteemed revered venerated hallowed exalted dignified august majestic grand magnificent splendid glorious resplendent radiant brilliant luminous bright shining sparkling gleaming glittering glowing dazzling lustrous incandescent effulgent refulgent beaming sunny cheerful joyful happy blissful ecstatic euphoric elated exhilarated excited thrilled delighted pleased content satisfied gratified fulfilled accomplished achieved attained realized actualized materialized brought about carried out executed performed enacted completed finished concluded ended terminated ceased stopped halted paused suspended interrupted broken discontinued cut short abbreviated abridged condensed shortened summarized recapitulated encapsulated epitomized typified exemplified symbolized represented illustrated demonstrated exhibited displayed shown revealed manifested disclosed unveiled uncovered exposed bared laid bare stripped away peeled off shed cast aside discarded thrown away tossed out disposed dumped jettisoned scrapped rejected abandoned forsaken deserted left behind given up relinquished surrendered yielded ceded transferred handed over delivered passed along conveyed transmitted communicated imparted shared distributed disseminated spread circulated broadcast published issued released printed reproduced duplicated copied replicated imitated mimicked parodied satirized caricatured lampooned ridiculed mocked derided jeered sneered scoffed scorned taunted teased joked jest kidded bantered chaffed ragged ribbed needled poked fun made light laughed chuckled giggled snicker snigger guffawed roared howled screamed yelled shouted cried sobbed wept wailed lament mourn grieve sorrow suffer pain hurt ache throb twinge pang spasm cramp stitch shooting stabbing burning searing excruciating agonizing torment torturous unbearable insufferable intolerable impossible inconceivable unimaginable unfathomable incomprehensible inscrutable mysterious enigmatic puzzling perplexing baffling bewildering confounding confusing disorienting mystifying bemusing befuddling stupefying stunning shocking startling surprising astonishing amazing astounding staggering overwhelming mind-blowing jaw-dropping breathtaking awe-inspiring awesome wondrous wonderful marvelous miraculous incredible unbelievable fantastic fabulous phenomenal extraordinary remarkable exceptional unique distinctive notable noticeable observable conspicuous visible perceptible discernible detectable evident manifest clear obvious plain distinct definite certain sure positive confident convinced assured firm resolute determined steadfast unwavering unshakable immovable inflexible rigid stiff solid hard firm strong sturdy robust tough durable resilient enduring lasting permanent perpetual eternal timeless ageless immortal everlasting never-ending infinite boundless limitless endless unending continuous uninterrupted constant ceaseless incessant relentless unremitting persistent steady regular habitual routine normal customary usual conventional traditional typical ordinary everyday commonplace familiar well-known established recognized accepted approved authorized sanctioned licensed certified accredited validated confirmed verified substantiated proven demonstrated evidenced attested testified witnessed sworn affirmed declared stated asserted claimed maintained contended argued alleged avowed profess vowed pledged promised guaranteed warranted assured secured ensured safeguarded protected shield defended guarded preserved conserved saved rescued spared salvaged retrieved reclaimed recovered restored rehabilitated reformed renewed revived revitalized rejuvenated reinvigorated refreshed replenished refilled replaced repaired mended fixed corrected rectified remedied resolved settled solved addressed tackled dealt handled managed coped contended faced confronted braved dared challenged defied opposed resisted fought battled struggled strove endeavored attempted tried strived sought pursued chased hunted tracked trailed followed shadow stalk spied observed watched monitored surveyed scrutinized examined inspected analyzed studied researched investigated explored probed delved dug unearthed excavated uncovered discovered found detected identified located pinpoint targeted marked mapped chart plotted graphed diagrammed sketched drawn painted portrayed depicted illustrated represented symbolized signified denoted indicated suggested implied hinted inferred presumed supposed assumed guessed surmised conjectured speculated hypothesized theorized postulated posited proposed considered ponder reflected contemplated meditated thought reason rationalize justify explain clarify elucidate expound elaborate interpret translate decode decipher solve resolve settle decide determine conclude infer deduce derive ascertain establish confirm verify validate substantiate prove demonstrate evidence attest testify witness swear affirm declare state assert claim maintain contend argue allege avow profess vow pledge promise guarantee warrant assure secure ensure safeguard protect shield defend guard preserve conserve save rescue spare salvage retrieve reclaim recover restore rehabilitate reform renew revive revitalize rejuvenate reinvigorate refresh replenish refill replace repair mend fix correct rectify remedy resolve settle solve address tackle deal handle manage cope contend face confront brave dare challenge defy oppose resist fight battle struggle strive endeavor attempt try strive seek pursue chase hunt track trail follow shadow stalk spy observe watch monitor survey scrutinize examine inspect analyze study research investigate explore probe delve dig unearth excavate uncover discover find detect identify locate pinpoint target mark map chart plot graph diagram sketch draw paint portray depict illustrate represent symbolize signify denote indicate suggest imply hint infer presume suppose assume guess surmise conjecture speculate hypothesize theorize postulate posit propose consider ponder reflect contemplate meditate think reason rationalize justify explain clarify elucidate expound elaborate interpret translate decode decipher solve resolve settle decide determine conclude infer deduce derive ascertain establish confirm verify validate substantiate prove demonstrate evidence attest testify witness swear affirm declare state assert claim maintain contend argue allege avow profess vow pledge promise guarantee warrant assure secure ensure safeguard protect shield defend guard preserve conserve save rescue spare salvage retrieve reclaim recover restore rehabilitate reform renew revive revitalize rejuvenate reinvigorate refresh replenish refill replace repair mend fix correct rectify remedy resolve settle solve address tackle deal handle manage cope contend face confront brave dare challenge defy oppose resist fight battle struggle strive endeavor attempt try strive seek pursue chase hunt track trail follow shadow stalk spy observe watch monitor survey scrutinize examine inspect analyze study research investigate explore probe delve dig unearth excavate uncover discover find detect identify locate pinpoint target mark map chart plot graph diagram sketch draw paint portray depict illustrate represent symbolize signify denote indicate suggest imply hint infer presume suppose assume guess surmise conjecture speculate hypothesize theorize postulate posit propose consider ponder reflect contemplate meditate think reason rationalize justify explain clarify elucidate expound elaborate interpret translate decode decipher solve resolve settle decide determine conclude infer deduce derive ascertain establish confirm verify validate substantiate prove demonstrate evidence attest testify witness swear affirm declare state assert claim maintain contend argue allege avow profess vow pledge promise guarantee warrant assure secure ensure safeguard protect shield defend guard preserve conserve save rescue spare salvage retrieve reclaim recover restore rehabilitate reform renew revive revitalize rejuvenate reinvigorate refresh replenish refill replace repair mend fix correct rectify remedy resolve settle solve address tackle deal handle manage cope contend face confront brave dare challenge defy oppose resist fight battle struggle strive endeavor attempt try strive seek pursue chase hunt track trail follow shadow stalk spy observe watch monitor survey scrutinize examine inspect analyze study research investigate explore probe delve dig unearth excavate uncover discover find detect identify locate pinpoint target mark map chart plot graph diagram sketch draw paint portray depict illustrate represent symbolize signify denote indicate suggest imply hint infer presume suppose assume guess surmise conjecture speculate hypothesize theorize postulate posit propose consider ponder reflect contemplate meditate think reason rationalize justify explain clarify elucid

###