Israeli student sues art school for severe anti-Semitic harassment
An Israeli Student Files Lawsuit Against School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Alleging Anti-Semitic Harassment
An Israeli student pursuing a masters degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has filed a lawsuit, claiming she faced severe anti-Semitic harassment by peers and a faculty member. The plaintiff, Shiran, accuses assistant professor Chun-Shan (Sandie) Yi of retaliating against her for filing an anti-Semitic harassment complaint by issuing a new final assignment just 10 days before it was due.
Targeted Assignment and Discrimination
The new assignment required Shiran and her classmates to respond to a collection of images allegedly drawn by Palestinian children that depicted Israeli soldiers engaged in brutal violence. The prompt for the assignment questioned if students could deal with their own “complicated feelings, internalized racism/ableism/homophobia/supremacy and countertransference” and remain professional while working with clients.
Lawyers for Shiran argue that she is the only student in the course from either Israel or territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority, indicating that the prompt was clearly aimed at her. They state, “In other words, she is the only student for whom the images could be described as ‘too close to home.’ The other students did not receive a corresponding assignment asking them to respond to images that might ‘upset’ or ‘trigger’ them.”
A image shared in the lawsuit that Shiran was asked to reflect on during her final assignment. It is from the A Child’s View from Gaza exhibit.ld’
After Shiran reported the assignment, Yi allegedly continued her targeted harassment through class-wide emails and changing grading standards. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, accuses the school of violating Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and seeks injunctive relief to prevent further discrimination, as well as compensation for damages and legal fees.
A spokesperson for SAIC declined to comment on the specifics of the complaint, but stated that the school strongly condemns antisemitism and is committed to providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students, faculty, and staff.
History of Anti-Semitism On Campus
The lawsuit claims that SAIC has cultivated an atmosphere of hostility towards Jews and Israelis. It cites incidents such as the school’s response to a student’s inquiry about kosher food availability in the cafeteria, where the school indicated that advertising kosher food may make some students uncomfortable. It also describes a teacher in a “Philosophies of Sex” class citing examples of problematic BDSM scenarios involving Nazis and Jews.
More recently, the suit mentions anti-Semitic incidents following Hamas’s massacre against Israeli civilians, including a letter signed by faculty members expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. Mika Tosca, an associate professor, was also named in the lawsuit for posting an anti-Semitic message on social media.
Assistant Professor Mika Tosca calls Israelis “pigs” and “very very bad people” in a social media post. Source: micktosca.com
Facing Anti-Semitism Before Day One
Shiran’s experience with anti-Semitism began before she even started at SAIC. She was initially rejected from the school’s Art Therapy and Counseling program, but an independent investigation found that the admission process did not follow the school’s policy or expectations. During her admissions interview, she faced discriminatory treatment from a single faculty interviewer.
After seeing hateful social media posts from a professor, Shiran sent emails seeking reassurance about her safety on campus, which were ignored by SAIC’s administrators and faculty members. The lawsuit claims that in various classes, including Yi’s, professors facilitated one-sided conversations expressing hostility towards Israelis.
The Final Assignment
On December 5th, Shiran expressed her intention to initiate a formal investigation into her claims against Yi. Just two days later, Yi created a new final assignment that the lawsuit alleges targeted Shiran. The assignment included images depicting abuse and violence towards children, as well as Israeli soldiers being violent to Gazan families.
A photo included in the lawsuit that a SAIC class was asked to respond to.
Although the second set of images was withdrawn from the assignment after Shiran threatened legal action, she claims that she continued to face harassment and retaliation from Yi. The lawsuit also accuses Yi of adjusting grading standards to harm Shiran’s grades.
Another image Shiran was asked to respond to for her final assignment, according to the lawsuit.
Shiran plans to continue studying at SAIC, as it offers a world-class education in art therapy. Her lawyers declined to comment further, and requests for comment from Yi and SAIC’s administrators went unanswered.
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What legal protections exist for individuals facing discrimination and harassment based on their religious or ethnic identity?
And discriminatory comments about Israelis and Jews on social media, Shiran realized that the negative treatment she experienced during her admissions process may have been influenced by anti-Semitism. This prompted her to pursue legal action against the school, hoping to hold them accountable for their blatant discrimination and harassment.
The Importance of Addressing Anti-Semitism in Education
This case highlights the urgent need to address and combat anti-Semitism in educational institutions. Schools have a responsibility to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their religious or ethnic background. Discrimination and harassment based on religious or ethnic identity is not only morally wrong, but it goes against the principles of equality and fairness that form the foundation of educational institutions.
By allowing anti-Semitic incidents to occur and by not taking swift and decisive action to address them, educational institutions perpetuate a culture of intolerance and discrimination. This not only harms students directly affected by the discrimination, but it also creates an environment that is hostile and unwelcoming for all students.
It is crucial that schools implement clear policies and procedures to prevent and address instances of discrimination and harassment. This includes providing appropriate training to faculty and staff on identifying and addressing anti-Semitism, establishing mechanisms for reporting and addressing complaints, and taking swift and appropriate action when incidents occur.
Legal Protections Against Anti-Semitism
Shiran’s lawsuit is not just about seeking justice for herself, but also about setting a precedent and raising awareness about the legal protections in place to combat anti-Semitism. Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. This includes educational institutions like SAIC.
By filing this lawsuit, Shiran hopes to not only bring attention to her own experience, but also to highlight the legal protections available to individuals who face discrimination and harassment based on their religious or ethnic identity. It is crucial that these protections are upheld and enforced, as they play a significant role in promoting equality, tolerance, and inclusivity in our society.
Conclusion
Shiran’s lawsuit against the School of the Art Institute of Chicago sheds light on the disturbing prevalence of anti-Semitism in educational institutions. It is essential that schools take proactive measures to address and prevent discrimination and harassment, and that legal protections against anti-Semitism are enforced.
No student should be subjected to discrimination, harassment, or a hostile learning environment based on their religious or ethnic identity. By standing up against anti-Semitism and seeking justice, Shiran is not only fighting for herself, but for all students who have been victims of this form of discrimination. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that educational institutions provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their background.
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