Cooper Union Tackles Campus Harassment

Cooper Union, a well-known school in New York, has agreed to make changes to address antisemitism and other forms of harassment on its campus. This decision comes after a legal battle with ten Jewish students who claimed the school did not protect them during a protest. The students said they were locked in a library to stay safe from pro-Palestinian demonstrators. They felt the school did not do enough to help them. The school has now promised to create a new role to handle discrimination issues, train staff and students on policies, and ban masks at protests to keep everyone identifiable.The school will also pay compensation to the students involved. This case is part of a bigger issue in the U. S. , where many colleges are facing lawsuits over antisemitism since the conflict between Israel and Hamas started in October 2023. The protest at Cooper Union happened on October 25, 2023. Demonstrators banged on doors and windows, chanting slogans. Students inside felt unsafe and said the school did not stop the protest or accept police help. A judge later ruled that free speech did not excuse the school's actions. Cooper Union offers degrees in art, architecture, and engineering. The school is located in Manhattan's East Village. This case highlights the ongoing struggle to balance free speech and safety on college campuses.