III.STATEMENTOFSUPPORTINGFACTS
A. InitialInstancesofAntisemitismWithintheProgram
1. Diversity Sequence I
GraduatestudentsintheProgramarerequiredtotakeasequenceofdiversityclassestaughtby ProfessorSheehi.Thefirst-yearcourseisdesignedtoallowstudentsto:7
1. identify, read, and synthesize information from psychological and psychoanalyticliteratures,andtheliteraturesofsisterdisciplines,related todiversityanddiversityawareness;
2. begin to draw on their own experiences as members of majority and/or minorityculturalgroups,ormixturesofgroups,andhowtheiridentities and experiences (e.g., gender, sexual orientation, religion/spirituality, age,socioeconomicstatus,ability/disabilitystatus)intersect;
3. begin to develop comfort in self-disclosure and self-exploration, in serviceofprofessionalandclinicaldevelopment.
Thecourseisintendedtoincrease“diversityawareness”andsensitizefuturetherapiststobiases experiencedbyindividualsofvariousidentities.Unfortunately,inFall2022,theclass repeatedly—viaclassmaterialsanddiscussions—demeaned,disparaged,andfosteredhostility towardstudentswithonlyonespecificidentity:theJewishidentity.
ThedisparagementofJewsbeganonthefirstdayofclass(August29,2022),whenProfessor Sheehiaskedeachofthe[REDACTED]studentsintheclasstointroducethemselves,including wheretheywerefrom andhowtheyidentify.Aseachstudentspoke,ProfessorSheehiresponded byvalidatingthestudent’sidentity.WhenaJewishIsraelistudentintroducedherselfandsaidthat shewasfromIsrael,however,ProfessorSheehi’sresponsewas,“It’snotyourfaultyouwereborn inIsrael,”therebyimplyingthestudent’sIsraelinationalidentityissomethingofwhichshe shouldbeashamed.8
2. September 30, 2022, Brown Bag Lecture
OnFriday,September30,2022,betweentheJewishNewYear(RoshHashana,whichfellon September26and27)andtheJewishDayofAtonement(YomKippur,whichfellonOctober 5)—theholiesttimeoftheyearforJews—ProfessorSheehiinvitedaguestlecturertodelivera “brownbag”presentationaspartofthe“PsychoanalysisandtheArabWorld”labthatProfessor Sheehihadnewlyfounded.Psychologystudentswereencouragedtoattendtheevent,whichwas coordinatedandintroducedbyProfessorSheehi.Thespeaker,Dr.NaderaShalhoub-Kevorkian,is knownformakingpatentlyfalseaccusationsreminiscentofhistoricantisemiticbloodlibels, includingclaiming(withoutanyfactualsupport)thatIsraeltestsitsweaponssystemson
7 ExcerptedfromthesyllabusforProfessorSheehi’sDiversitySequenceIcourse 8 Dr.Sheehi’sdisdainforIsraeliandZionistidentitiesiswelldocumented;shehasmaderemarkssuchas“Israelis aresof****ingracist,”“Israeliscanandwillbecruel,”“Zionistsareunhinged,”“youcan’tbeaZionistandalsoa feminist”“F***Zionism,Zionists…”“F***everypersonwhoisnotyetananti-Zionist,”and“Zionistsaresofarup theirowna****”(Twitteraccount@blackflaghag).
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Palestinianchildren.9 Throughoutherlecture,Dr.Shalhoub-KevorkiandemonizedIsrael,and Israelisingeneral,whilealsoreferringto“Jews.” ShesuggestedthatgooddeedsdonebyJews andIsraelisaredonetomasksinisteractivity.Invokingage-oldantisemitictropesaboutJews usingmoneyfornefariouspurposes,Dr.Shalhoub-Kevorkianclaimedthathumanitarianand philanthropiceffortsbyJewsandIsraelismustbeseenassuspect.ShedenigratedIsrael’sdisaster reliefworkaroundtheworld,andstatedthatIsrael“use[s] tikkun olam [theJewishvalueof betteringtheworld]tocamouflage[Israel’s]oppressivepower.”
ThespeakeralsodenigratedJewishcitizensofIsraelbyreferringduringherpresentationto “whiteIsraeliracism,”ignoringthatthemajorityofIsrael’spopulationareJewsofNorthAfrican orMiddleEasterndescentandarenot“white.”Atonepoint,Dr.Shalhoub-Kevorkiansuggested thatoneofthecorrectresponsestothisactivityofJewsandIsraelisisviolentresistance. Specifically,shenotedthatappropriateresistanceincludesthrowingstones.Alongtheselines,Dr. Shalhoub-KevorkianlionizedAhmedManasra,aPalestinianteenagerwhoiscurrentlyinprison inIsraelforhavingparticipatedin2015,asa13-year-old,togetherwithhis15-year-oldcousin,in theunprovokedstabbingofaJewish13-year-oldchildwhowasleavingacandystoreinPisgat Ze’ev.10
[REDACTED]Jewishstudentsinthefirst-yeardiversitycoursereportedthatduringtheweekend followingthislecturetheywereunabletoeatorsleepduetoanxiety.Theyspokeamong themselvesaboutthepainandalienationtheywereexperiencingandgrappledwithhowto conveytotheteacherandtheclassthewayinwhichtheyfelttargetedbytheprogrambasedon theirJewishancestralandethnicand Israeliidentities.TheJewishstudentsdecidedtheywould raisetheissueatthebeginningofclassonthefollowingMonday.
3. October 3, 2022, Class Session
ProfessorSheehitraditionallybeganeachclasssessionbyaskingtotakethe“pulse”oftheclass andbygivingstudentstheopportunitytodiscusscurrentevents,thereadings,oranyotheritem relatedtodiversitythatimpactedthemthatweek.OnMonday,October3,2022,theJewish studentstookthatopportunitytoexplaintotheprofessorandtheclasshowtheyhadbeenharmed bytheinformationconveyedduringthebrownbagpresentationthepreviousweek.OneJewish studentexplainedthatshewasfeeling“vulnerableandunsafe”becausethetalkhadbeenatwohourdiatribeagainstonegroup—namely,Jews.SheexplainedthattotargetonlytheJewishstate, whenthere areregimesaroundtheworld,includingChina,Russia,andIran,thatengagein humanrightsabuses,constitutedtheapplicationofanantisemiticdoublestandard.11 Thestudent expresseddoubtthatthedepartmentwouldhavesubjectedanyotheridentitygrouptothattypeof hostilepresentation.
9 https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/02/18/hebrew-university-distances-itself-from-lecturer-who-said-palestiniankids-face-death-machine-in-jerusalem/.
10 https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/indictment-13-year-old-from-pisgat-zeev-attack-influenced-by-hamaswanted-to-be-a-martyr-430553
11 TheIHRADefinitionofAntisemitismincludesasacontemporaryexampleofantisemitism,“Applyingdouble standardsbyrequiringofit[Israel]abehaviornotexpectedordemandedofanyotherdemocraticnation.”See https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism
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AnotherJewishstudentechoedthesecomments,sayingthatshetoofelt“incrediblyunsafeinthis programrightnow.”Shesaidthebrownbaglecture“feltlike[it]wasanexcusetobashJews.” Thestudentsaid,“I’mshaking.”Sheaddedthatshereallyhadnotwantedtocometoclass,but shethoughtitimportantfortheclasstoknowthatjustbecausethelecturewasgivenbya professorwhoiseducated“doesn’tmeanit’sfact.”Bothstudentsstressedthatjustasthereisno roomintheProgramforracismorhomophobia,thereshouldbenoroomforantisemitism.
Inresponse,ProfessorSheehideniedthatwhatthesestudentshadexperiencedwasantisemitism anddismissedtheirconcerns.Sheexpressedher(erroneous)viewthat“innouncertainterms, anti-Zionismisnotantisemitism,”assertingthatherpositionwasnotmerelyheropinionbuta “non-negotiabletruth”likea“historicalfact.”Thensheadded,“Zionisminandofitselfindicates thatJewishfolksaredifferent.TherearemanypeoplewhosaythatZionisminandofitselfisan antisemiticmovement.Why?BecauseitlocatesthatJewishfolksarethatmuchmoredifferent thattheyneedtohaveaspaceuntothemselves.”
ByclaimingthatwhattheJewishstudentshadexperiencedwasnotantisemitism,Professor Sheehiherselfengagedinerasiveantisemitism,denyingtheJewishstudentstherighttodefine theirownidentity,aswellaswhatconstitutesanoppressiveattackagainstthatidentity.In addition,hercommentsdemonstratedhostilitytowardJewishZionists.Asexplainedabove, Zionism—celebrationoftheJews’ancestral,historicandethnic connectiontotheLandofIsrael andsupportforJewishself-determinationintheJews’ancestralhomeland—isformostJews,an integralcomponentoftheirJewishidentity.12 WhenProfessorSheehisaidthatZionistsbelieve that“Jewishfolksaredifferent”andthatJews“needaspaceuntothemselves,”shedenigrated ZionistsandfalselyimpliedthatJewswhoviewZionismasintegraltotheirJewishidentityare supremacistswhoarenotpreparedtolivewithothers.Inaddition,ratherthanacceptingthe students’owndescriptionoftheirexperiencesofantisemitism,ProfessorSheehiturnedtheir experienceagainstthem,accusing the students ofbeingantisemiticbecauseoftheirZionism.
Inresponsetothestudents’claimthattheyhadfelttargetedonthebasisoftheirJewishidentity bytheinformationconveyedduringthebrownbagpresentation,ProfessorSheehisuggestedtheir experiencewasagoodthing.Sheclaimedthatitwasinkeepingwiththeclassapproachof “disrupting.”SheurgedtheJewishstudentsto“leaninto”thespacesthatfeeldisruptiveand destabilizingand“sitwith”thediscomfort.TheJewishstudentsneverobservedProfessorSheehi tellanyotherstudentsto“leaninto”or“sitwith”discomfortabouttheiridentity.Tothecontrary, ifstudentsofanotheridentitydescribedoppression,harassment,ordiscriminationtowardtheir identitygroups,ProfessorSheehivalidatedboththeidentityandtheexperienceasdescribed.
AthirdJewishstudentpostedinthechatthatshewas“sittingherecrying,”feeling“deeply unsettledandunsafe.”Shecontinuedthat“thefactofthematteristhataspeakerwasbroughtin thatadvocatedviolenceagainstIsraelis—andbyextensionJews—andthatisantisemitic,yetis beingexplainedaway.”Pertinenttothegoalsofthecourse,andtheProgramoverall,shesaidthat thetalkseemedto“havelittletodowithbeingastrongerclinician.”
12 81%ofallJewsand76.6%ofmillennialsfindaconnectiontoIsraeltobepartoftheirJewishidentityaccordingto theserecentstudiesbyAJC:https://www.ajc.org/news/survey2021,https://www.ajc.org/Jewish-Millennial-Survey2022/American-Jewish-Millennials
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AfourthJewishstudentspokeupandexplainedthatIsraelishercountry,herhome,andher identityandthatasanIsraeli,shewasfeelingunsafe.Sheaskedthestudentstoimaginewhatitis liketogoouttoabaronaFridaynightinTelAvivwhenthereissuddenlyaterroristattackwith peopleshooting.Thestudentsoughttoexplaintoherclassmatestherealityisthatshehastolive throughinhercountry.Sheexplainedthatithurtherthatthetwo-hourtalkdemonizedonlyher homecountrywithoutprovidinganyotherperspective.
Inresponse,ProfessorSheehisaidthatitwasnotpossibletoseparatethestudent’sidentityfrom thepolitical,andshetookoffenseatthestudent’suseoftheterm“terroristattack.”Professor Sheehiassertedthatwhenthestudentsaid“terroristattack,”shewasreferringtoPalestiniansand Arabs.Theprofessorthenclaimedthatthestudent’scommentinvokedIslamophobia–even thoughthestudentnevermentionedPalestinians,Arabs,orMuslimsinhercomment.Professor SheehidistortedtheIsraelistudent’sremark,puttingwordsintothestudent’smouthandmaking thestudent’sgood-faithattempttodescribeherlivedrealitysoundracist. Indoingso,Professor Sheehicreatedanenvironmentwherethenon-JewishstudentswereledtoviewtheIsraeliand Jewishstudentsasracist.
Afterseveralotherstudentshadspoken,thefirstJewishstudentspokeupagain.Shenotedthat oneofthebooksthatthecohorthadreadsaidthatitisimportanttounderstandthatwhenpeople ofcolorexplainthatanissueisaboutrace,itisaboutrace.Thestudentrequestedthatthesame courtesybeextendedtoallgroupswhentheysaytheyhaveexperiencedharassmentand discrimination.SheaskedtheclasstoacceptwithequalvalidityclaimsbyJewswhodescribe theirexperiencesofJew-hatred.ThestudentalsonotedthatitisimportantnottotokenizeJews whoholdopinionsthatareoutsidethemajorityconsensus.MostJews,sheexplained,disagree withthepositionthatanti-Zionismneverconstitutesantisemitism.Finally,thestudentsaidshe feltunsafeinaprogramthatwouldinviteaspeakerwhoendorsedviolenceagainst Israeli civiliansandwho,therefore,maycelebratethemurderofherIsraelirelatives.Inresponse, ProfessorSheehicalledthestudent’scommenta“damagingIslamophobicanti-Palestinian” commentandaddedthat“astoneisnothingcomparedtoanarmy.”13
Inall,duringtheOctober 3classsession,[REDACTED]Jewishstudentsraisedconcernsabout antisemitismintheProgram.AtnopointdidProfessorSheehivalidateanyofthestudents’ experiences,eventhougheachstudentprefacedherremarkbydescribinghowvulnerable,upset, andanxiousshefelt.Instead,ProfessorSheehideniedthatwhatthestudentshadexperiencedwas antisemitism,aggressivelyrebuttedeverypointthestudentsraised,accusedtwoofthestudentsof engaginginIslamophobicrhetoric,andimpliedthatthestudentswhowerecomplainingabout antisemitismwerethemselvesracistandantisemitic.ProfessorSheehineverdeniedordismissed theconcernsofanyotheridentitygroupintheclass,muchlessinsuchanaggressivefashion. ProfessorSheehididnotsubjectmembersofanyotheridentitygrouptosuchpublicvilification. Duringthecourseofthesemester,sheneverinvitedanyotherspeakerorencouragedstudent attendanceatanyotherprogramfocusingsolelyononenationalorethnicgroup,asshehad invitedattendanceattheSeptember30programwhichdisparagedIsraelisandJews.
13 ProfessorSheehi’sresponse appearedtotheJewishstudentstocondonestonethrowing,whichhasbeenalethal formof “resistance”usedagainstIsraelis. See https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-killed-in-jerusalem-rockthrowing-attack-named-as-alexander-levlovitz/,orhttps://www.jta.org/2015/02/17/obituaries/adele-biton-4-dies-twoyears-after-palestinian-rock-attack
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B. NoticetoAdministrationandFailuretoRemedyHostileAntisemiticEnvironment
1. Meetings with Department [REDACTED]
AfterclassonOctober3,2022,[REDACTED]JewishstudentsfromProfessorSheehi’sdiversity course(outofacohortof[REDACTED]students)metwithDr.[REDACTED]ofthe DepartmentofProfessionalPsychology,andreportedtohimtheirconcernsaboutthe antisemitismtheyexperiencedinthediversitycourse.Thestudentsexplainedtheyfelttargetedon thebasisoftheirJewishidentityby(a)theprofessor’sendorsementoftheguestlecturer’s antisemiticpresentation,(b)theprofessor’semphaticdenialthatwhattheywereexperiencingwas antisemitism,and(c)commentsmadebytheprofessorbothinclassandoutsideofclassthat singledoutJewishandIsraeliidentityfordisparagementanddemonstratedtheprofessor’sdisdain forIsraelicitizensandforJewswhofeelconnectedtoIsraelaspartoftheirJewishidentity. 14
Thestudentsnotedthatalthoughthecoursewasintendedtoteach“diversityawareness,”there werenoreadingsinthesyllabusandnoclasstimedesignatedinthecurriculumforthetopicof antisemitism.TheclassadvancednegativeperceptionsofJewsandIsraelis,whichwerewere reinforcedbynegativeportrayalsofJewsintheinstructionalmaterials.Nootheridentitygroup wastreatedinsuchanegativefashionintheclass.
Inaddition,thestudentsexplainedtoDr.[REDACTED]thatitwasnotpossibleforthemtofully participateintheclassinlightoftheprofessor’shostilitytowardtheirJewishandIsraeli identities.Accordingtothesyllabus,oneofthegoalsofthecourseisto“allowstudentstobegin todevelopcomfortinself-disclosureandself-exploration,inserviceofprofessionalandclinical development.”Thecoursefacilitatesthatdevelopmentbyrequiringstudentstosubmitweekly privatejournalentriestoProfessorSheehi,inwhichstudentssharetheirpersonalthoughts, feelings,andreactionstodiversity-relatedmaterialandexperiences.TheJewishstudents explainedtoDr.[REDACTED]thattheydidnotfeelsafeexpressingsuchdeeplypersonal thoughtstoProfessorSheehibasedonthehostilityshehadexpressedtowardJewswhofelt connectedtoIsrael aspartoftheirJewishancestralandethnicidentity.15 Thestudentsexplained thatProfessorSheehihadexpressedclearhostilitytowardIsraelis,vehementlyrejectedtheJewish students’describedexperiencesofantisemitism,andlabeledthemantisemiticbasedontheir Zionistidentities.ThestudentsalsoinformedDr.[REDACTED]thattheywereconcernedthey couldsufferretaliationforhavingcomplainedaboutProfessorSheehi'santisemitism.
14 ProfessorSheehico-authoredabookwithherhusband, Psychoanalysis Under Occupation,thatmakesthecasethat ZionismisaformofpsychosisbecausetheJewishconnectiontoIsraelisimagined.Ininterviewsaboutthebook and othertopics,shehasconsistentlyattackedJewswhoidentifywithIsrael.Inoneinterview (https://prisonskill.wordpress.com/2022/05/24/against-alienation-lara-sheehi-and-stephen-sheehi-on-their-bookpsychoanalysis-under-occupation-practicing-resistance-in-palestine%ef%bf%bc/),shepromotedthrowingrocksand violenceagainstcivilianswhilealsoindicatingthatherclinicalworkis“partofthe[same]struggle.”
15 ProfessorSheehiappearswithherhusband,StephenSheehi,inavideotitled“RU185:DrsLara&StephenSheehi onPalestine:PsychoanalysisUnderOccupationRenderingUnconscious.”Inthatvideo,ProfessorSheehinodsin agreementasStephenSheehicallstheJewish/IsraelirelationshiptoIsrael“apsychoticrelationshiptotheland.The connectiontoPalestineisonebuiltonpsychosis.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A7k6UXw1i8 fromabout 39:00to 42:00).
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ThestudentsrequestedthatDr.[REDACTED]identifyanalternatemethodforthemtosatisfythe diversityrequirement.Theyasked,forexample,foradifferentprofessorto reviewtheirjournal entries.Thiswouldhaveenabledthestudentstoopenlysharetheirfeelingswithasupportive professorand,thereby,derivethefullbenefitofthe“self-exploration”processofthiscomponent oftheProgram.
Dr.[REDACTED]sharedthathetoohadbeentroubledbythebrownbagpresentation’sfocuson justonecountry,andheacknowledgedthatsaying“anti-Zionismisnotantisemitism”isa contentiousstatement.Dr.[REDACTED]alsosaidhefeltitwasinsensitivetoschedulealecture onthistopicrightinthemiddleoftheJewishHighHolidays.Hetoldthestudentsthathewould arrangetositinonProfessorSheehi’sclassinthefuturetoobservetheclassandthathewould arrangeforthestudentstosubmittheirjournalentriestohim.Thestudentsalsorequestedthatthe departmentbringinabrownbagspeakerwhocouldeducatethecommunityonantisemitism,and Dr.[REDACTED]agreedthatthedepartmentwouldbringinsuchaspeaker.Theuniversity, however,failedtofollowthroughonanyoftheseagreed-uponremedies.
OnOctober13,2022,thestudentsmetagainwithDr.[REDACTED].Thistimehetoldthe studentsthatProfessorSheehihaddeniedthatshehadengagedinorcondonedantisemitism.He informedthestudentsthattheProgramwaslimitedinwhatitcoulddo.Hesuggestedthestudents speakwiththe[REDACTED]intheCollegeofArtsandSciences.Atthesametime,Dr. [REDACTED]refusedtoexcusethestudentsfromProfessorSheehi’sclass.Healsorenegedon hiscommitmenttoallowthemtosubmittheirpersonalreflectionjournalentriestohim,requiring insteadthattheycontinuesubmittingentriestoProfessorSheehi.Lastly,hesaidhewouldnotbe sittinginonProfessorSheehi’sclassestoobserve.
2. Community-Wide Email from Vice Dean [REDACTED]
OnSaturday,October22,2022(ontheJewishSabbath),theColumbianCollegeofArtsand Sciences(CCAS)Dean’sOfficesentoutanemail toallstudentsandfacultyintheProfessional PsychologyProgram,whichispartoftheCCAS.TheemailnotedthattheCCASDean’sOffice wasawareofconcernsthatwereraisedfollowingthebrownbagprogram.Theemailexplained, “Asaninstitutionofhigherlearning,weencouragerobustdebateonissuesthatimpactourglobal society,butitisourexpectationthatallcommunitymembersengagerespectfullywithone another,evenwhendiscussingissuesthatimplicatedeeplyheldbeliefs.”
RatherthanexpressingsupportfortheJewishstudentsoraddressingtheantisemitic,identitybasedattacksthattheJewishstudentshadexperienced,theemailerroneouslytreatedthesituation asthoughtheJewishstudentshadbeenengagedinapoliticaldebate.TheCCASDean’sOffice ignoredthatProfessorSheehi(a)broughttocampusaspeakerwhosepresentationtargetedJews andIsraelisonthebasisoftheiridentity,(b)endorsedinclassthespeaker’santisemiticnarrative, (c)deniedtheJewishstudentstherighttodefinetheirownidentityandtodescribefortheclass howtheinformationconveyedduringthebrownbaglectureconstitutedanattackagainstthat identity,and(d)denigratedtheJewishandIsraelistudentsinfrontoftheirclassmatesby distortingtheJewishstudents’commentsandcallingthestudentsIslamophobicand/orracist.
TheCCASemailnotedthattheuniversitywasconsideringbringinginan“externalexpert”to facilitateadiscussionamongtheProgram’sstudentsandfacultybutprovidednoindicationasto
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whethertheexpertwouldhaveanyexpertiseinantisemitism.Inaddition,theemailinvited studentsandfacultytoreachouttotheCCASDeantoexpresstheiropinions.
3. Meeting and Communication with George Washington University Dean
OnOctober26,2022,inresponsetotheCCASemail,oneoftheJewishstudentsmetwith [REDACTED],aDeanintheCollegeofArtsandSciences,tosharethegrievancesoftheJewish students.[REDACTED]otherJewishstudentssignedajointlettertoDean[REDACTED] informinghimthattheysharedtheopinionsandperspectivesreportedtohimbythestudentwith whomhemet.
DuringthediscussionwithDean[REDACTED],thestudentreportedalloftheinformation previouslyreportedtoDr.[REDACTED].ThestudentalsoadvisedDean[REDACTED]thatthe problemswithProfessorSheehi’scoursewerenothingnew,andthatstudentsinpriorcohortshad informedfirst-yearstudentsthattheytoohadexperiencedantisemitisminthecourse.Thesenior studentsadvisedthefirst-yearstudentstorefrainfromaddressingJewishidentityinthediversity class.TheJewishstudentwhometwithDean[REDACTED]emphasizedthattheuniversity appearedtobeapplyingadoublestandard—takingtheconcernsofotherminoritygroups seriouslywhiledismissingtheconcernsoftheJewishstudents.
TheDeanrefusedtoacknowledgethattherehadbeenanyantisemitismexperiencedbystudents intheclassorProgram.Hereferredtotheproblemasaconflictbetween“deeplyheldbeliefs,” andhesaidthestudentscouldfileabiascomplaint.
Fourdayslater,onOctober30,2022,Dean[REDACTED]emailedtheJewishstudentwhohad metwithhiminformingthemthattheCCASDean’sOffice,inconsultationwiththeProgram, haddeterminednottomakeavailableanyalternativearrangementsforthestudentswhohad reportedantisemitism.Dean[REDACTED]statedthattheJewishstudentscomplainingof antisemitisminProfessorSheehi’scoursecouldopteithertoremainenrolledinthecourseor withdrawfromthecourse.Ifthestudentschosetowithdraw,theywouldhavea“W”ontheir permanentrecordandwouldberequiredtotakethecoursewhenitisnextofferedbytheProgram intheFallof2023,withnoguaranteethatthecoursewouldbetaughtbyadifferentfaculty memberatthattime.
Theuniversitytooknostepstoinvestigatethestudents’complaintsorprotectthestudentsfrom theantisemiticharassmenttheywereexperiencinginthediversitycourse.
C. FurtherAttacksonJewishIdentityWithintheProgram
1. October 31, 2022, Class Discussion
SeveraldayspriortotheOctober31,2022,diversityclasssession,oneoftheJewishstudentssent anemailtoProfessorSheehirequestingpermissiontotakeamentalhealthdayonOctober31due tothestressthestudentwasexperiencingfromattacksonherJewishidentity.ProfessorSheehi neverrespondedtothestudent’semail.Inaddition,ProfessorSheehiignoredthatstudent’s weeklyjournalentryand thejournalentrysubmittedbyanotherJewishstudentthatweek.Upon
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informationandbelief,ProfessorSheehirepliedtoandcommentedonthejournalentriesofthe remainingstudentsintheclass.
TheJewishstudentswhosejournalentrieshadbeenignoredbelievedtheywerebeingsingledout andretaliatedagainstbecausetheyhadcomplainedtothedepartment[REDACTED]andthedean abouttheantisemitisminProfessorSheehi’scourse.Thedeanhadinstructedthestudentsto continuesubmittingtheirjournalentriestotheprofessor,buttheywerebeingdeniedfeedback thatwasbeingprovidedtootherstudents.
Inaddition,theJewishstudentsfeltthatoneoftheessaysincludedalongsidethatweek’sreading materialswasantisemitic.Thiswasthethirdweekthatthestudentshadencounterednegative portrayals ofJewsinclassmaterials.16 Whentheytriedtoraisetheirconcernsaboutthisreading withinthegreatercontextofantisemitismintheclass,ProfessorSheehisilencedtheJewish studentsandrefusedtodiscusstheirconcerns.By denyingtheJewishstudentstheopportunityto explaintotheclasshowelementsofthecourseweretargetingJewswhoexpressedprideintheir Jewishancestralheritage,ProfessorSheehicreatedintheclassroomanatmospherethatwas hostiletotheJewishstudents.Thisledonestudenttoclaim,inaraisedvoice,thattheJewish students’“whitefragility”was“reallykickingin”andanothertoclaimthattheJewishstudents
16 Inthefirsttwoinstances,thereadingswithnegativeportrayalsweremandatoryreading.Inthethird,theportion disparagingaJewwasincludedinthesame packetin whichmandatoryreadingwasshared.
Inoneassignedreading,anaspiringpsychoanalystdescribedherownexperienceasapatient.Becausethetherapist hadahardtimeunderstandingthepatient’sperspectiveaboutthenaturaldisasterhappeninginthepatient’shomeof PuertoRico,thetherapistwaspeggedasaviolentaggressor.TheLatinXpatientsaid,“YoutreatmelikeI’mfucking stupid.LikeI’mstupidandcrazy.ThesituationinbetweenPuertoRicoandtheU.S.islikethatofIsraeland Palestine.”Thetherapistreplied,“YouthinkIamWhite,butI’vegotnewsforyou.I’mJewish,”towhichthepatient responded,“[y]ouareJewish,butinthecontextofthisrelationshipyouareWhite.YouareRiverdale,Iam Kingsbridge.YouaretheUnitedStates,IamPuertoRico.YouareTexas,IamMexico.YouareIsraelandIam Palestine.”ThereadingthusportrayedtheJewishtherapistasaglobalaggressor,thesymbolofallills,bothlocaland international.(Haddock-Lazala,C.M.(2020).X’ingPsychoanalysis:BeingLatinXinPsychoanalysis. Studies in Gender and Sexuality, 21(2), 88-93.)
Asecondreading,authoredbyProfessorSheehi,discusseda“Jewish,non-zionist”psychoanalystworkingwitha Lebanesewoman.Thepatientdescribedaviolentdreamofhers,stating“it’saboutterrorism,”afterwhichtheanalyst wondershowtodeal“withtheterroristinher.”Sheehitakesissuewiththeword“terrorist,”linkingtheanalyst’s thoughtswith“anti-Muslimandanti-Arabideology.”(SheehiL.(2019)TheIslamophobicNormativeUnconscious: PsychoanalyticConsiderations.InH.StevenMoffic,JohnPeteet,AhmedHankir,RaniaAwaad(Eds.), Islamophobia and Psychiatry: Recognition, Prevention and Treatment. NewYork:Springer.)
ThethirdreadingdescribedawhiteJewishmalepsychoanalystwhodeliveredapresentationataconferencethat includedareferencetotheWayfarer’sPrayerfor safetravel(aprayerwhichpredatestheIsrael-Palestineconflictby millennia)andtoaversefromtheOld TestamentbookofNehemiahregardingtheprophet’sreturntoJerusalem.The readingincludedwrittencommentarybyanumberofrespondents,includingProfessorSheehi.ProfessorSheehi criticizedtheJewish analyst’sremarks,claimingitwasnotpossibletohearaboutJerusaleminthecontextofthe Jewish analyst’spresentation“withoutinvokingPalestine”andthe“deafeningcrushofZionismanditssettler colonialproject.”ProfessorSheehialsosuggestedthatthereferencesintheWayfarer’sPrayerto“robbersand enemies”couldbeheard,inlightofthereferencetoJerusalem,asaveiledreferencetoPalestinians. (https://www.academia.edu/40670627/What_Can_I_Say_Contested_Words_and_Contested_Thoughts_in_the_Conte mporary_Moment)
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were ruiningHalloweenandshould“pleasejustgo[leavetheclassroom].” WhentheJewish studentstriedtodiscusstheantisemitismtheyhadexperiencedintheclass,ProfessorSheehi refusedtodiscussthematter,toldthemthatthematterwasnowoutofherhands,andthatitwas beinghandledbythedeananddean’soffice.ItwasclearfromProfessorSheehi’sremarksthat shewasawarethatstudentshadcomplainedtouniversityadministratorsaboutantisemitismin herclassandwasnotpleased.WhenmembersoftheclassaccusedtheJewishstudentsof“white fragility”andtoldthemto“justgo,”ProfessorSheehisaidnothingtosupportordefendthe Jewishstudents,insteadofferingthemtheoptionsimplytoleavetheclass.Atthatpoint,the Jewishstudentswhohadspokenupfeltcompelledtoleavetheclassroom.17
ProfessorSheehi’streatmentoftheJewishstudentsstandsinmarkedcontrasttohertreatmentof otherstudents.ProfessorSheehitraditionallystartedeachclassbyaskinghowthestudentswere feelingandentertainingcommentsonanytopicrelatedtodiversity.Studentshavediscussed currentevents,naturaldisasters,andtheirownhesitationsordiscomfortwithidentityissues. ProfessorSheehiregularlyvalidatedtheemotionsofstudentswhoraisedconcerns.Incontrast, whenevertheJewishstudentsattemptedtodiscussattacksthattargetedtheirJewishorIsraeli identities,ProfessorSheehisilencedthestudentsordistortedtheircommentssoastomakethe studentsappearracist,aggressive,self-centered,andintolerant,anddeniedthattheJewish studentshadevenexperiencedantisemitism.Therestofthestudentsintheclasswereinfluenced bytheprofessor’sbehavior.
2. First-Year Cohort “restorative circle” Exacerbates the Hostile Environment
Inresponsetotheclass-relatedeventsdescribedabove,thestudentsinthefirst-yearcohortwere invitedtoparticipateina“restorativecircle”listeningsessionorganizedbytwooutside facilitators,Dr.[REDACTED]andDr.[REDACTED].Uponinformationandbelief,these facilitatorshavenoknowledgeorexpertiseinaddressingantisemitism.Asdescribedmorefully below,byselectingfacilitatorswholackedexperienceaddressingantisemitism,George Washingtonexacerbated,ratherthanameliorated,thehostileenvironmentJewishstudentswere experiencing.
Priortothegroup“restorativecircle,”thefacilitatorsreachedouttospeakindividuallywith severalstudentsinthecohort.TheyspokeprivatelywithatleasttwooftheJewishstudents,a Palestinianstudent,andaminoritystudentwhohadraisedconcernstothedean.AftertheJewish studentsmetprivatelywiththefacilitators,theywereinformedthatbecausethefacilitatorswere notgoingtohavetimetospeakindividuallywitheverystudentinthecohort,thefacilitatorswere planningtoinvitethestudentswithwhomtheyhadnotyetmettoagrouplisteningsession.
ThetwoJewishstudentswithwhomthefacilitatorshadalreadymetwere expressly told not to attend thegrouplisteningsession.Bycontrast,thePalestinianstudentand minoritystudentwith whomthefacilitatorshadmetwereapparentlygiventheoptionofattendingthesession.Both studentsattended.HadtheJewishstudentsbeenprovidedthesameoption,theywouldalsohave attended.
17 Aftertheylefttheclass,thestudentsreportedthislatestattackontheirJewishidentitytotheCCASDean, includingProfessorSheehi’srefusaltoreplytotheiremailsorgradetheirjournalentries.Onlyafterreportingthis informationtotheDeandidProfessorSheehiresumegradingthestudents’journalentries.
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ThegroupsessionwasheldonFriday,November18,2022.Duringthesession,numerous studentsexpressedangerandfrustrationthatthetwoJewishstudents(whohadbeenamongthe studentswhohadraisedtheissueofantisemitismintheearlierclasses)werenotinattendancefor the“restorativecircle.”Theabsentstudentswerecriticizedforfailingtodothe“work”necessary torestorethecohort. The facilitators did not explain to the group that the students who were not in attendance had been told by the facilitators not to attend.OneoftheJewishstudentswhowas inattendanceexplainedinthechatthattheabsentstudentshadbeentoldnottoattendandasked thefacilitatorstoconfirmthis.Afterthefacilitatorsdidso,thePalestinianstudentaskedwhether thefacilitatorshadofferedthetwostudentstheoptiontoattend,notingthatthiswastheoption thefacilitatorshadpresentedtohim.Uponinformationandbelief,thefacilitatorssaidtheirgoal wastohearfromstudentsfromwhomtheyhadnotpreviouslyheardbutneveransweredthe Palestinianstudent’squestiondirectly.
Thestatedgoalofthesessionwastoprovide“restoration”tothecohort.However,upon informationandbelief,mostofthestudentspresentneveraddressedtheantisemitismexperienced bytheJewishstudentsandinstead,criticizedtheJewishstudentsfornotattending,accusedthem of“whitefragility,”ofbeing“racist,”andofdeflectingtheclass’attentionawayfrommore pressingtopics.ThefacilitatorsthusexacerbatedthehostileenvironmenttheJewishstudents were experiencingbyexcludingthetwoJewishstudentsandcreatinganopportunityfortherest oftheclasstogathertogetherandcondemntheJewishstudents.Theattitudesdisplayedbythe non-Jewishstudentsinthe“restorativecircle”reflectedtheviewstheyhadheardProfessor SheehiexpressinclasswhenshedeniedtheJewishstudents’experiencesofantisemitismand accusedthemofIslamophobiaandracism.
ThefacilitatorstooknostepstosupporttheJewishstudentswhowereatthesession,orthetwo whohadbeenexcludedfromthesession,fromthehostileremarksoftheirfellowcohort members.InsteadofreducingthehostileenvironmentthattheJewishstudentshadbeen experiencingintheProgram,the“restorativecircle”exacerbatedtheproblem.
3. November 30, 2022, “harm circle” Preparation Causes Further Harm
OnNovember30,2022,oneoftheJewishstudentsmetwithfacilitatorsDrs.[REDACTED]and [REDACTED]inpreparationfora“harmcircle”forthetwoJewishstudentswhohadbeen excludedfromthe“restorativecircle”listeningsessionandthePalestinianstudentintheclass. (ThePalestinianstudentultimatelydeclinedtoparticipateinthe“harmcircle”asscheduled;itis notclearwhetheritwillberescheduled.)Duringthepreparationsession,Dr.[REDACTED] perpetuatedantisemitictropesregardingJewsandperceivedpowerimbalances,further exacerbatingtheharmexperiencedbytheJewishstudents.Specifically,shesuggestedtothe studentthatthePalestinianstudentcouldlegitimatelyclaimduringthe“harmcircle”thatthere wasaninherentpowerimbalancebetweenhimandtheJewishstudentbecausetheJewishstudent possessedapowerandprivilegethatthePalestinianpeoplelack.Withthiscomment,Dr. [REDACTED]suggestedthataJewishstudentinWashington,D.C.,representsIsrael,and, consequently,haspoweroverPalestinians.Dr.[REDACTED]remarkwasantisemiticbecauseit
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treatedJewseverywhereasresponsiblefortheconductofthegovernmentofIsraeland perpetuatedtheantisemiticmythofJewsasexcessivelypowerfulandprivileged.18
D. ProfessorSheehiRetaliatesAgainstStudentsWhoComplainedAboutAntisemitism
1. Professor Sheehi Openly Retaliates Against Jewish Students.
OnoraroundNovember14,2022,theJewishstudentswhohadbeenmostvocalincomplaining abouttheantisemitismtheywereexperiencinginthediversitycoursefirstlearnedthatProfessor Sheehihadbeguntomakefalseallegationsaboutthemduringfacultymeetings.Forexample,on informationandbelief,ProfessorSheehiallegedthatthestudentshadcalledthebrownbag speakera“terrorist,”thatthestudents’journalentrieswere“combative,”andthatthestudents were racist.Eachallegationisfalse.
ProfessorSheehithenfurtherretaliatedagainstthestudentsbyusingthemanufacturedclaimsas pretexttojustifyinitiatingdisciplinaryproceedingsagainstthestudents.
Uponinformationandbelief,thefabricatedjustificationsforsubjectingthestudentsto disciplinaryactionhavecontinuouslyandrepeatedlychanged.Thestudentshavebeeninformed thatthefacultyvotedtoinitiatedisciplinaryproceedingsagainstthem,buttodate,neitherthe studentsnortheirfacultyadvisorshavebeentoldwhatthestudentsdidtowarrantthedisciplinary action.Ratherthanprovidethestudentswithastatementoftheiroffense,facultyhaveinstead askedthestudentstodescribetothefacultywhattheydidwrongandwhatharmtheycaused.
FailurebytheJewishstudentstoacknowledgetheirallegedwrongdoingandsuccessfully completethecurrentdisciplinaryprocesswillresultinfurtherdisciplinaryactionandapermanent disciplinarynotationonthestudents’academicrecords.Similarly,ifthestudentsrepeatthe “offense”andagainraiseconcernsaboutantisemitism,theyriskreceivingapermanentnegative markontheirrecord.Asaresult,thestudentsfacingretaliationhaveeffectivelybeensilenced.
2. The Students Report the Retaliation to the [REDACTED] of the Department.
OnDecember6,2022,oneoftheJewishstudentsmetwithDr.[REDACTED]oftheDepartment ofProfessionalPsychology,todiscussthedisciplinaryproceedingtowhichthestudentwasbeing subjected.ThestudentinformedDr.[REDACTED]thattheybelievedthedisciplinary proceedingswerebaseless,defamatory,andwerebeingimposedinretaliationforthestudents havingcomplainedaboutantisemitismintheProgram.Thestudentdescribedforthe [REDACTED](again)howJewishandIsraelistudentswerebeingdeniedanequaleducational opportunityandwere facingahostileenvironmentintheProgram.Inaddition,theyinformedDr.
18 AccordingtotheIHRADefinitionofAnti-Semitism,“HoldingJewscollectivelyresponsibleforactionsofthe stateofIsrael”and“Making...stereotypicalallegationsaboutJewsassuchorthepowerofJewsascollective... “arebothexamplesofcontemporaryanti-Semitism. See https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/workingdefinitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism
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[REDACTED]aboutthephysicalandemotionaltraumatheywereexperiencingduetoDr. Sheehi’spersistentantisemitismandretaliation.Thestudentalsoexpressedconcernthatfaculty andadministratorswereacceptingwholesaletheprofessor’sslanderofthe Jewishstudents.The studentaskedtopromptlyappealthedisciplinaryprocedures.The[REDACTED],however,told thestudentthatitwasnotpossibletoappealatsuchanearlystageinthedisciplinaryprocess.
3. Dr. Sheehi Continues to Retaliate Against the Students by Deliberately Distorting the Students’ Expressions of Jewish Identity and Issuing Defamatory, Baseless Conclusions about the Students’ Fitness to Serve as Clinicians.
Dr.SheehicontinuedtoretaliateagainsttheJewishstudentswhoaccusedherofantisemitic discriminationinherclassroombydistortingtheirexpressionsoftheirJewishidentitysoasto malignthestudentsandchallengetheirfitnesstoserveasclinicians.Asaresult,mostofthe JewishstudentsinDr.Sheehi’sclassstoppedwritingabouttheirJewishidentitiesintheirjournals andavoidedmentioningtheirJewishidentitiesinclass.OneoftheJewishstudents,however, chosetowriteafinalpaperaboutapodcastbytheAssociationforJewishStudiesentitled Are Jews White? ThestudentreceivedDr.Sheehi’sapprovalinadvanceforboththetopicandthe podcast.Beforesubmittingthefinalpaper,thestudentshowedtheworkto thestudent’sfaculty advisorandtothedirectorofthedepartmenttogettheirassurancethatthetonewasappropriate. Dr.SheehioftenincludesArabicquotes(writteninArabic,withouttranslation)inherworkasa waytonormalizetheArabiclanguage.Inspiredbythismodel,theJewishstudentincluded Hebrewquotesinthestudent’spaper.Thestudent’sfacultyadvisor,however,raisedconcerns thattheuseofHebrewquotescouldbeseenasinflammatorybyDr.Sheehi.Inordertoavoid antagonizingDr.Sheehi,thestudentchosetoremoveallHebrewquotesfromthepaper.Thata JewishstudentisunabletoincludeHebrewquotesintheirfinalpaperwithoutfearofbeing penalizedordemeanedindicatesthehostileenvironmentJewishstudentsareexperiencinginthe Program.
WhenDr.Sheehigradedthestudent’spaper,sheincludedalengthycommentaboutthestudent’s “lackofempathyandmisattunement.”Shedistortedthestudent’sanalysisofthestructural oppressionofJewsandturneditintoanopportunitytodisparagethestudent’scharacterandraise unfoundedconcernsaboutthestudent’sreadinessforclinicalwork.
Inclinicalpsychology,anindividual’scharacter,empathy,andinterpersonalconductaredirectly linkedtotheirprofessionalacumen.Dr.Sheehihasweaponizedthisrealityanddistorted expressionsandanalysisofJewishidentitytoharmtheJewishstudentsbydefamingtheir character.Thisdistortionmakesitimpossibleforstudentstoasserttheiridentities—orconduct academicanalysisofJewishhistoryandidentity.Ifthestudentsarriveatconclusionswithwhich Dr.Sheehidisagrees,shequestionstheirclinicalfitness,judgment,andprofessionalism.19 When
19 ProfessorSheehihaspubliclyexpressedtheviewthatitisnotpossibletobebothaZionistandagoodclinician.In oneappearancefromJune22,2022,ProfessorSheehistates,“Thisismyownurgentcalltothecliniciansamong us…fromtherivertothesea…wemustcenterPalestineineveryeffort.Andwemustsupportboycott,divestment, andsanctioneffortsdespitethreatsandeffortstoderailsolidarity.Thisneedstobedonenotasanoffshootofour clinicalwork,butasacentralworkingtenetofanyclinicalpraxisthatpurportstobeinterestedinalleviatingthe sufferingofothers.”These remarksdemonstrateDr.Sheehi’spositionthatanti-Zionismmustbepartandparcelof anygoodclinician’spracticeandthat,definitionally,aZionistcannotbeastrongandcompassionateclinician (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JFqgJr9iJ4).
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thestudentsexperiencesuchidentity-basedhostility,theybecomesilencedandunabletospeak upaboutthehostility,lesttheirempathyandself-awarenessbecalledfurtherintoquestion.20
IV.GEORGEWASHINGTONUNIVERSITY’STITLEVIOBLIGATIONS
TitleVIprohibitsdiscriminationbasedonrace,color,andnationalorigininprogramsand activitiesreceivingfederalfinancialassistance,whichincludesGeorgeWashingtonandthe Program.21 TheOfficeforCivilRights(“OCR”)hasexplainedthatuniversities“violate[Title VI]andtheDepartment’s implementingregulationswhenpeerharassmentbasedonrace, color,[or]nationalorigin...issufficientlyseriousthatitcreatesahostileenvironmentand suchharassmentisencouraged,tolerated,notadequatelyaddressed,orignoredbyschool employees.”22 Theviolationis,ofcourse,allthemoreegregiousifitiscommittedbyschool employeesthemselves—andadministratorsfailtoadequatelyrespond.AstheDepartmentof Education’simplementingregulationsforTitleVIexpresslyprovide,itisprohibitedforaTitle VIrecipientto,interalia:
(i)Denyanindividualanyservice,financialaid,orotherbenefitprovidedundertheprogram;
(ii)Provideanyservice,financialaid,orotherbenefittoanindividualwhichisdifferent,oris providedinadifferentmanner,fromthatprovidedtoothersundertheprogram;
(iii)Subjectanindividualtosegregationorseparatetreatmentinanymatterrelatedtohis receiptofanyservice,financialaid,orotherbenefitundertheprogram;or
(iv)Restrictanindividualinanywayintheenjoymentofanyadvantageorprivilegeenjoyedby othersreceivinganyservice,financialaid,orotherbenefitundertheprogram.23
Importantlyforpurposesoftheinstantcomplaint,OCRhasclarifiedthatJewishstudentsare amongthoseentitledtoprotectionfromthetypeofdiscriminationprohibitedbyTitleVI, includingharassmentthatcreatesahostileenvironment,and,consequently,tohaveschool administratorstakeappropriateremedialactionifandwhensuchconductoccurs.24
20 DespiteDr.Sheehi’scriticalcommentsonthestudent’spaper,Dr.Sheehiawardedthestudent’spapera gradeof “A.”ThisindicatesthatDr.Sheehiunderstoodthathercommentswereunwarranted,andthatalowergradewould haveentitledthestudenttocomplaintotheuniversityaboutcapriciousgrading.Dr.Sheehi,however,hasusedher extendedcommentstocontinueherretaliationagainstthestudent.Shestatedherintentiontodiscusshercomments withthefacultymemberswhowillbeoverseeingthestudent’sdisciplinaryproceeding.Inthisway,itappearsthat Dr.Sheehiintendstobiastheoutcomeofthedisciplinaryproceedingandharmthestudent’sfuturesuccessinthe Program.
21 Forexample,GeorgeWashingtonUniversityreceivedFederalGovernmentCoronavirusemergencyfinancialaid relief,seehttps://studentsuccess.gwu.edu/coronavirus-aid-relief-and-economic-security-cares-act-higher-educationemergency-relief-funds.Inaddition,GeorgeWashingtonUniversity’sColumbianCollegeofArtsandSciences receivesresearchfundingfrom theNationalInstitutesofHealth,theNationalInstituteofMentalHealthandthe NationalInstituteofDrugAbuse,andtheNationalScienceFoundation.See https://psychology.columbian.gwu.edu/research-funding
22 U.S.DepartmentofEducation,OfficeforCivilRights,OfficeoftheAssistantSecretary,“DearColleagueLetter,” Oct.26,2010,page1,availableathttps://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201010.html
23 34C.F.R.§100.3(b).
24 DearColleagueLetter,supranote1,availableat
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AccordingtoOCR,“[h]arassingconduct[thatviolatesTitleVI]maytakemanyforms,... does nothavetoincludeintenttoharm,bedirectedataspecifictarget,orinvolverepeated incidents [and]...createsahostileenvironmentwhentheconductissufficientlysevere, pervasive,or persistentsoastointerferewithorlimitastudent’sabilitytoparticipateinor benefitfromthe services,activities,oropportunitiesofferedbyaschool.”25 Crucially,itisthe responsibilityofa universitytoproceedwithimmediateandappropriateactionto“address[]harassmentincidents aboutwhichitknowsorreasonablyshouldhaveknown,”26 and,where discriminatory harassmenthasoccurred,to“takepromptandeffectivestepsreasonably calculatedtoendthe harassment,eliminateanyhostileenvironment and its effects,andpreventtheharassment from recurring.”27
Inaddition,asOCRhasrecognized,pursuanttoTitleVI,universitiesthatreceivefederalfunds areprohibitedfromretaliatingagainstindividualswhoasserttheirrights.28 TitleVIstates(34 CFR100.7(e)):
“Intimidatoryorretaliatoryactsprohibited.Norecipientorotherpersonshallintimidate, threaten,coerce,ordiscriminateagainstanyindividualforthepurposeofinterferingwithany rightorprivilegesecuredbysection601oftheActorthispart,orbecausehehasmade a complaint,testified,assisted,orparticipatedinanymannerinaninvestigation,proceedingor hearingunderthispart.”
GeorgeWashington’sownEqualOpportunity,Nondiscrimination,Anti-HarassmentandNonRetaliationPolicy,29 applicabletofaculty,staff,andstudentsandcoveringallGeorgeWashington programs,includingparticipationineducationprograms,prohibitsdiscrimination“againstany persononthebasisofprotectedcharacteristicsoranyotherbasisprohibitedbyfederallaw,the DistrictofColumbiaHumanRightsAct,orotherapplicablelaw.”Religionandnationalorigin arebothidentifiedasprotectedcharacteristicstowhichthepolicycovers.Thepolicydefines unlawfuldiscriminationas:
[A]dversetreatmentofanindividualbasedonaprotectedcharacteristic,ratherthan individualmerit.Examplesofconductthatcanconstituteunlawfuldiscriminationif basedonanindividual’sprotectedcharacteristicincludebutarenotlimitedto: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201010.pdf (clarifyingthat“groupsthatface discriminationonthebasisofactualorperceivedsharedancestryorethniccharacteristicsmaynotbedenied protectionunderTitleVIonthegroundthattheyalsoshareacommonfaith. Theseprinciplesapplynotjustto Jewish students,butalsotostudentsfromanydiscretereligiousgroupthatshares,orisperceivedto share,ancestry orethniccharacteristics(e.g.,MuslimsorSikhs).Thus,harassmentagainststudentswhoaremembersofany religiousgrouptriggersaschool’sTitleVIresponsibilitieswhentheharassmentisbasedon thegroup’sactualor perceivedsharedancestryorethniccharacteristics,ratherthansolelyonitsmembers’religiouspractices.” 25 Id. 26 Id.
27 Id.,pages2-3(emphasisadded),availableathttps://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague201010_pg2.htmlandhttps://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201010_pg3.html 28 https://www2.ed.gov/policy/rights/guid/ocr/retaliationoverview.html
29 See https://compliance.gwu.edu/equal-opportunity-nondiscrimination-anti-harassment-and-non-retaliation
17
Singlingoutortargetinganindividualfordifferentorlessfavorabletreatment(e.g., more severe discipline, denial of promotion) because of their protected characteristic.
Failingorrefusingtohireanindividualbecauseoftheirprotectedcharacteristic.
Failing or refusing to allow an individual to participate in an activity, program, or organizationbasedontheirprotectedcharacteristic.
Terminating an individual from employment or an educational program based on theirprotectedcharacteristic.
Asdemonstratedabove,despitebeingonnoticeoftheantisemitismandhavingample opportunitiestorectifythesituation,theGeorgeWashingtonadministrationfailedtorespond adequatelyoreffectivelytoapatternofantisemiticincidentsstemmingfromProfessorSheehi’s mandatorydiversityclass.Theuniversityalsofailedtoprotectfromretaliationthestudentswho complainedabouttheantisemiticharassment.ThefailureoftheGeorgeWashington administrationtotakeanystepsatalltoaddresstheantisemitism,preventtheretaliation,or respondwithadequateandeffectivecorrectivemeasures,violatesTitleVI.
V. GEORGEWASHINGTONUNIVERSITY’SVIOLATIONSOFTITLEVI
A. George Washington has failed to address or rectify the hostile environment created against Jewish and Israeli students, who were denied an equal educational opportunity in violation of Title VI.
Jewishand IsraelistudentsintheProfessionalPsychologyProgramatGeorgeWashington Universityhavebeensubjectedtoharassmentsosevere,persistent,andpervasivethatithas deniedthemanequaleducationalopportunity.Theinstructorintheirmandatorydiversitycourse, ProfessorSheehi,hasdisplayedanimositytoward JewsandIsraelis,treatedtheJewishandIsraeli studentsinherclassinadiscriminatoryfashion,andmadeitimpossibleforthesestudentstofully engageintheclassandderivethefullbenefitoftheeducationalprogram.
WhenJewishstudentsintheclassraisedconcerns aboutantisemitismtheyhadexperienced,Dr. Sheehinotonlydeniedthatwhattheyhadexperiencedwasantisemitism,shedistortedtheJewish students’statementsandfalselyaccusedthemofattackingotheridentitygroups.Inthismanner, ProfessorSheehiturnedtheotherstudentsintheclassagainsttheJewishandIsraelistudentsand madenoefforttodefendorprotecttheJewishstudentswhentheywereaskedbytheirclassmates toleaveclass.OnlyJewishstudentsweremadetofeelsounwelcomeintheclassroomthatthey hadtoleave.
WhereasDr.Sheehiregularlyinvitedstudentsatthebeginningofherclasstodiscussconcerns relatingtodiversityanddiscrimination,shesilencedanddemeanedonlytheJewishstudents whentheyraisedconcernsaboutattacksontheirJewishidentity.AsaresultofDr.Sheehi’s harassment,itbecameimpossiblefortheJewishstudentstoengageinthe“self-exploration”of identitythatisakeycomponentofthemandatorydiversityclass.AfterDr.Sheehidemonstrated inclassherhostilitytowardtheiridentity,theJewishstudentscouldnolonger,withoutfearof retribution,expresstheirpersonalthoughtsandfeelingsaboutidentityissuesintheprivatejournal entriestheywererequiredtosubmittotheprofessor.
18
ProfessorSheehialsodisparagedtheJewishstudentsandspreadfalseallegationsaboutthemto otherfacultymembersin ordertobiasthefacultyagainsttheJewishstudents.Thefacultythen furtheredthediscriminationbyvotingtoinitiatebaselessdisciplinaryproceedingsagainstthe Jewishstudents.
Facilitatorshiredbythe universityfurtherexacerbatedthehostileenvironmentbyexcludingonly Jewishstudentsfroma“restorativecircle”listeningsession.
Jewishstudentsinformedtheuniversityabouttheharassmentanddiscriminationtheywere experiencing.GeorgeWashington,however,failedtotakepromptandeffectivestepstoendthe harassmentandeliminatethehostileenvironment,therebyviolatingTitleVI.
B. George Washington University Violated Title VI’s Prohibition Against Retaliation.
AsoutlinedinOCR’sApril24,2013“DearColleagueLetter,”“onceastudent...complains formallyorinformallytoaschoolaboutapotentialcivilrightsviolation,”the“recipientis prohibitedfromretaliating...becauseoftheindividual’scomplaint,”“includingintimidating, threatening,coercing,orinanywaydiscriminatingagainsttheindividual.”OCRhasmadeclear thatitintendsto“vigorouslyenforcethisprohibitionagainstretaliation.”30 Aftercomplaining aboutantisemitisminthediversityclass,Jewishstudentsinthefirst-yearcohorthavebeen discriminatedagainst,disciplined,andintimidatedintosilencebyavindictiveprofessorandthe university.
Inaddition,astheDepartmentofJusticenotedinarecentdistrictcourtfiled“Statementof Interest,”31 (attachedasAppendixB),federallyfundedprivateuniversitiesmaybeheldliablefor theirfailuretorespondappropriatelytothird-partyretaliatoryactionsincaseswhereaplaintiff demonstratesthat(a)theplaintiffhasengagedinaprotectedactivity;(b)theretaliatoryconduct hada“materiallyadverse”impactonthem;(c)thereisacausalconnectionbetweentheadverse actionandtheprotectedactivity;(d)theuniversityreceivednoticeoftheretaliationand(e)the universityrespondedwithdeliberateindifference,citing Feminist Majority Foundation v. Hurley, 911F.3d674,694-96(4thCir.2018).32
TheJewishstudentsatGeorgeWashingtonhaveestablishedeachoftheseelements:(a)The studentsengagedinaprotectedactivitywhentheycomplainedtotheprofessor,Department [REDACTED],andCCASDeanabouttheantisemitismtheywereexperiencingintheProgram; (b)thestudentshavebeenharmedbythedisparagementoftheircharacterandtheimpositionof disciplinaryproceedingsthatcouldleaveapermanentnegativedisciplinarymarkontheirrecord;
30 SethM.Galanter,ActingAssistantSecretaryofEducationforCivilRights,DearColleagueLetter(April24, 2013),https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201304.html
31 Czerwienski et al v. Harvard University (CivilActionNo1:22-cv-10202,USDistrictCourtfortheDistrictof Massachusetts)at https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.242149/gov.uscourts.mad.242149.78.0.pdf
32 Seealso OCRGuidanceonRetaliationathttps://www2.ed.gov/policy/rights/guid/ocr/retaliationoverview.html; TitleVI--34CFR100.7(e)(retaliationprovision);andSethM.Galanter,ActingAssistantSecretaryofEducation for CivilRights,DearColleagueLetter(April24,2013), https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague201304.html
19
(c)ProfessorSheehiinstigatedthedisciplinaryproceedingsinretaliationforthestudents reportingonantisemitisminherclassroom;33 (d)The[REDACTED]oftheDepartmentwas notifiedoftheretaliation;(e)neitherthe[REDACTED]northeCCASDeantookanystepsto addresstheretaliation—tothecontrary,theyparticipatedinit.
Universitiesareliablenotonlyfortheirownactsofretaliation,butforfailingtoreigninthe retaliatoryactsofthirdparties,includingtheiremployees.AsnotedintheDOJ“Statementof Interest,”34 auniversitymaybefoundliablefortheretaliationifit(a)amountstoanofficialactof theuniversityor(b)if anofficialwithsufficientauthoritytoaddresstheharassmenthasnoticeof theretaliatoryconductbutdemonstratesdeliberateindifference.35
GeorgeWashingtonUniversityisliablefortheretaliationsufferedbyJewishstudentsinits ProfessionalPsychologyProgramunderbothprongs.First,thedisciplinaryactionstowhichthe studentshavebeensubjectedare“officialacts”oftheuniversity.Second,GeorgeWashington administratorswithauthoritytoeffectivelyhalttheretaliatorydisciplinaryproceedingshave demonstrateddeliberateindifferenceandtakennostepstoaddresstheretaliatoryconductofDr. Sheehiorotherfacultymembers.
V. SUGGESTEDREMEDIES
Thecampusenvironmentisrecognizedandappreciatedasaplacefordivergingviewpointsand discourse,andthefundamentalpillarsofacademicfreedomandfreeexpressionareessentialto institutionsofhigherlearning.However,rhetoricandactionsthatharassandmarginalizestudents basedonprotectedcomponentsoftheiridentity,suchastheJewishreligion,Jewishethnicityor ancestry,and Israelinationaloriginarenotwithintheboundariesofacademicfreedom. Demandingacessationofsuchdiscriminatoryharassmentinnowayinterfereswiththeacademic freedomrightsaffordedtofacultymembers.Ifanything,theantisemiticharassmentexperienced bytheJewishandIsraeli students,asdescribedherein,infringeduponthe students’ rightsto academicfreedombydenyingthemanequaleducationalopportunitywithintheProgram.
Inlightoftheforegoingfacts,werespectfullyrequestthatOCRcompeltheGeorgeWashington administrationtotakethefollowingsteps(ataminimum)toensuretheprotectionofitsJewish andIsraelistudents,bothwithintheProgramspecificallyandoncampusgenerally:
(1) Reverseandceaseallfurtherpunitiveandretaliatorymeasures,includinganyremedialor disciplinary actions, taken against the Jewish students who expressed concern about a hostile educationalenvironmentcreatedandfosteredbyProfessorSheehi;
(2) OfferstudentsanalternativeprofessortoProfessorSheehiinanymandatorycourses
33 Specifically,Dr.Sheehitoldastudent,“Itisnotasecretthatthisisinthedean’shands.Itisnotinmyhands.That isnothowI’dlikeittobehandled.”
34 Czerwienski et al v. Harvard University (CivilActionNo1:22-cv-10202,USDistrictCourtfortheDistrictof Massachusetts)at https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.242149/gov.uscourts.mad.242149.78.0.pdf.
35 TheStatementofInterestinvolvedTitleIX.However,asnotedin footnote3oftheStatementofInterest,TitleIX incorporatestheanti-retaliationprovisionfromtheTitleVIregulations.Hencetheretaliationanalysisincludedinthe StatementofInterestappliesequallytoTitle VI.
20
requiredforadegreeintheProgram,includingbutnotlimitedtothethreemandatory diversitycoursesProfessorSheehicurrentlyteaches.Ifnosuchalternativeprofessoris practicable,offerJewishstudentswhofeeltargetedbyProfessorSheehi’sidentity-based attacksalternativeaccommodationstofulfillallprogramrequirements;
(3) Fullyinvestigateallcomplaintsandtakeactionasappropriate,includingdisciplinary action,withregardtoProfessorSheehi.
(4) Review,withJewishstudents,theProgram’sexistingDiversityEquityandInclusion (“DEI”)curriculumandwaysinwhichthiscurriculumerasesantisemitismanddemonizes Jews.AllowJewishstudentstodefinetheirownoppressionandinsertaffirmativemeasures, includingprotectionforantisemiticactivities,insubsequentDEIcurriculum;
(5) Institutemandatorybiasandsensitivitytrainingforallstudents,faculty,andstaff (includingteachingassistants)intheProgramthatspecificallyincludestoolsfordefining, identifying,andworkingtocombatantisemitismincampuslife.Suchmandatorytrainingmust includetheIHRAWorkingDefinitionofAntisemitism,aswellasidentificationofapplicable proceduresforrespondingtoincidentsofantisemitismandreportingsuchconducttoGeorge Washington;36
(6) Reviewandimproveuniversitypoliciesandinternalproceduresforfacultyregarding disciplinaryprocessesintheProgramtoincorporatestudenttestimonyandpreventsimilaracts ofretaliationmasqueradingasstudentdisciplineinthefuture;
(7) Adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism37 and be guided by this definition whenaddressingpotentialincidentsofantisemiticdiscrimination. 36 TheConstitutionoftheAssociatedStudentsoftheUniversityofCaliforniaSantaBarbara,forexample,requires thatthePresident,ExternalVPforLocalAffairs,ExternalVPforStatewideAffairs,theStudentAdvocateGeneral, andallSenatemembers"[s]hallattendatrainingonunderstandingunconsciousbiasandtherootsofanti-Semitism bythesixth(6)weekofFallQuarter...." See https://www.as.ucsb.edu/files/2016/01/15-16-LEGAL-CODE.pdf,pp. 48,50-52,72.Interestingly,UCSBistheonlyUCschoolthatmandatessuchtrainingandtheonlyUCschoolthat hasnotpassedapro-BDSresolution. See https://forward.com/fast-forward/422455/university-of-california-santabarbara-bds-ucsb/ Asindividualsholdingpositionsofauthoritywithinthecampuscommunity,facultyandstaff shouldundergosimilartraining.
37 TheIHRAWorkingDefinitionofAntisemitismhasbeenadoptedbytheU.S.DepartmentofState, see https://www.state.gov/defining-anti-semitism/andrecognizedbytheU.S.DepartmentofEducation, see https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/news/wjc-us-supports-department-of-education-decision-to-use-ihradefinition-of-antisemitism-9-5-2018. TheUnitedNations’ SpecialRapporteuronfreedomofreligionorbeliefhas alsoissuedarecentreportinwhichhecallsupongovernmententitiesto“adopt[theIHRAWorkingDefinitionof Antisemitism]foruseineducation,awareness-raisingandformonitoringandrespondingtomanifestationsof antisemitism.”“Eliminationofallformsofreligiousintolerance,”Sep.23,2019,availableonlineat https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Religion/A_74_47921ADV.pdf
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Respectfullysubmitted,
RozRothstein
YaelLerman CEO&Co-Founder Director
StandWithUs StandWithUsSaidoffLegalDepartment
F.Gammill Director
Carly
StandWithUsCenterforCombatingAntisemitism
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