August 1, 2024, (Washington, D.C.): Brandeis Center lauds settlement under which North Carolina State University agrees to take meaningful action to combat anti-Semitism Washington, D.C., (August 1, 2024): Today, Kenneth L. Marcus, founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center, and Robin Pick, Senior Counsel at the Brandeis Center, issued the following statements in response to a recent settlement the Brandeis Center reached with North Carolina State University (NCSU) through the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Right’s (OCR) early mediation process. The settlement arises from a complaint filed with OCR alleging that NC State violated Title VI when it failed to address a hostile environment resulting from multiple incidents of harassment of a student based on her shared Jewish ancestry. Allegations by the complainant against NCSU include the following: During the complainant’s first week at school, she walked through a campus tunnel covered with swastikas. When she complained to the administration, they told her there was nothing they could do. The complainant was doxxed and harassed on social media for being Jewish and supporting Israel, with her name and face posted publicly. Classmates who knew that the complainant was Jewish, harassed and threatened her with violence as they sped past her, screaming out of a car window “Death to Jews! Death to Zionists!” In the face of a hostile anti-Semitic campus climate, the University has demonstrated a willingness to change course and combat anti-Semitism by implementing its non-discrimination policy in accordance with Executive Order 13899 and North Carolina General Statutes (including the new North Carolina House Bill 942 known as the SHALOM Act) which refer to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (“IHRA”) definition and its contemporary examples for identifying and combating ant-Semitism. Said Kenneth L. Marcus, founder and Chairman of the Brandeis Center: The Brandeis Center’s settlement with NCSU represents a significant step forward in our efforts to combat anti-Semitism on college campuses. This settlement paves the way for meaningful change on both NCSU’s campus and on college campuses throughout the country. The settlement agreement includes a commitment to abide by Executive Order 13899 and North Carolina Statutes, including North Carolina House Bill 942, which explicitly reference the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism and its contemporary examples for combating anti-Semitism. We commend the University for its commitment to include references to these important tools in the settlement agreement and in their revised anti-discrimination policy. Said Robin Pick, Senior Counsel at the Brandeis Center: By committing to combat anti-Semitism in accordance with Executive Order 13899 and North Carolina House Bill 942, which apply to training, education, recognizing, identifying and combating anti-Semitic hate and discrimination, NC State has the opportunity to be a leader and a model for other universities in the fight against anti-Semitism. The Resolution Agreement includes the following obligations: The University will revise, implement and disseminate its Non-Discrimination Policy in accordance with Title VI, Executive Order 13899, and North Carolina General Statutes (which include the newly passed SHALOM Act) and include language reflective thereof.Executive Order 13899 requires that both the IHRA definition and its contemporary examples be considered when identifying discrimination based on national origin and combating anti-Semitism; The SHALOM Act states that North Carolina adopts the Working Definition of Antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on May 26, 2016, including the contemporary examples of antisemitism set forth therein, as a tool and guide for training, education, recognizing, and combating antisemitic hate crimes or discrimination. The University will take a firm stand against anti-Semitism by issuing a non-discrimination statement to the campus community that includes links to Executive Order 13899, North Carolina House Bill 942, OCR’s May 7, 2024 Dear Colleague Letter which contains examples of anti-Semitic harassment, along with other resources to combat discrimination on campus. The University will revise its trainings for students, faculty and staff and include example(s) from Executive Order 13899 or OCR guidance of the different ways Jewish students may experience discrimination and harassment. The University will conduct a campus climate survey and assess whether additional engagement, communication, resources and/or training are needed to improve the campus climate, including for the University’s Jewish community. Additionally, NCSU leadership will meet with students and leaders of Jewish organizations each semester to discuss community needs and concerns for Jewish students.