According to a New York Times report, dozens of current and former Barnard College employees received unanticipated text messages asking whether they were Hebrew or Jewish. This has sparked common concern, distress, and disturbing comparisons to traditional perils.
The messages, which were sent to personal mobile phones, were allegedly from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ( EEOC ) and included information for a survey that was part of a federal investigation into alleged discrimination against Jewish employees at Barnard. The school confirmed on Wednesday that the texts were genuine and were component of an EEOC investigation that was launched last summer.
Serena Longley, Barnard’s general counsel, informed instructors via email that the school had provided the EEOC with employee contact information to allow them to join in the investigation. Participation in the poll is voluntary, she wrote.
The questionnaire asked directly about racism and anti-Israeli sentiments at work, including whether employees had experienced “unwelcome remarks, gags, or discussions” or “antisemitic or anti-Israeli protests” that had impacted their work environment.
Some students on campus were alarmed by the approach of mentoring. All was frightened, according to Debbie Becher, a Hebrew professor of sociology, who said,” Evidently, it made everyone feel that way.” I’ve been receiving texts from my original graduate students and other university people asking what they should do.
Becher referred to the president’s methods as” a little terrifying,” saying,” The federal government wants to know who the Jews are through some text messages and Microsoft Office forms.”
A terrifying parallel was drawn between totalitarian regimes by Barnard record professor Nara Milanich. We’ve seen this film before, and it ends with golden stars, she said, drawing inspiration from studies on Italian in the 1930s. She criticized the federal government’s strategy as “fishing” for information. They “have to go shake the plants to find people,” as they are known to say,” Evidently, they don’t have enough people to file claims.”
The Trump presidency has been pursuing top institutions, claiming that they tolerate hatred. Barnard is affiliated with Columbia University, which has hosted pro-Palestinian presentations on college. The university is now facing receiving more than$ 400 million in federal research money until it addresses issues about racism. Additionally, federal immigration officers have detained a number of pro-Palestinian activists for potential deportation.
The university has apparently been “robustly defending” itself against the EEOC investigation, despite Barnard leaders ‘ representatives having not made any public comments. The organization has never responded to press inquiries.
Longley assured instructors that Barnard did, unless prohibited by law, provide advance notice before giving personal information to government organizations in the future.
