Jewish Student Sues The New School Over Alleged Antisemitic Harassment

The Lawfare Project announced it has filed a lawsuit against The New School on behalf of a Jewish Israeli-American student who alleges she endured "relentless antisemitic harassment, intimidation, and physical assault" during her time at the university's Parsons School of Design. The suit was filed on the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

According to the legal group, the student, Sophie Shabot, experienced numerous incidents of verbal abuse, intimidation, and obstruction due to her religion and support for Israel. The lawsuit details alleged name-calling, including being called "Zio b----" and "baby killer," and claims she was prevented from entering the University Center.

In one instance cited in the lawsuit, protesters allegedly vandalized and disrupted a Hillel event featuring an Israeli speaker in 2024. Shabot and other Jewish students were reportedly trapped in a dean's office while protesters attempted to confront them.

The Lawfare Project asserts that university officials failed to adequately address the harassment faced by Shabot and other Jewish students, and at times allegedly "rewarded those responsible." Ziporah Reich, director of litigation for The Lawfare Project, stated that the New School violated its Title VI obligations and other legal duties by not intervening to stop the harassment.

Reich also noted that Jewish students often bear the consequences when antisemitic actions occur on campus, citing instances where events were moved or shut down for their safety, effectively penalizing them for the actions of offenders.

The lawsuit includes claims under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, New York state and city civil rights laws, breach of contract, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. It seeks damages, statutory penalties, attorneys' fees, and a jury trial.

The New School has faced similar allegations previously. In 2025, the university was sued by the Dhillon Law Group on behalf of a graduate who claimed he was investigated after reporting harassment, while his alleged assailants faced no repercussions. The New School was also the site of anti-Israel protests and occupations in 2024, with faculty and students demanding divestment from companies supporting Israel.