Student sues The New School over alleged tolerance of antisemitic harassment

Right · 2The Lawfare Project filed a federal lawsuit against The New School on 7 October 2026, the third anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, on behalf of student Sophie Shabot. 1 2 Right · 2Shabot is a Jewish American with Israeli citizenship who studied at the Parsons School of Design, part of The New School; the suit alleges "relentless antisemitic harassment, intimidation, and physical assault." 2 3 Right · 1According to her lawyer, Ziporah Reich of the Lawfare Project, the harassment included verbal abuse, being chased, pushed, spat on and blocked from entering a building, and her desk was vandalized. 2

Right · 2The complaint describes an event with an Israeli speaker, hosted by Hillel, where protesters allegedly seized the space and Shabot and other Jewish students were trapped in a dean's office for 20 minutes while a crowd pounded on the door demanding the speaker. 3 1 Right · 1Just the News, relaying the Lawfare Project's account, reports further allegations: that she was shoved out of the University Center and spat on in December 2023, and that a protester threw a bottle at her head in fall 2024, missing by inches. 3 Right · 1Shabot says she repeatedly reported incidents to professors, security, the student conduct office and senior administrators without result; the suit says two administrators suggested she seek therapy. 3

Right · 2The complaint also alleges the school told students it had not contacted police about an unauthorized encampment and called them only after the situation had deteriorated, and that then-President Donna Shalala gave encampment participants $300 for dinner and posed for a photo. 3 2 Right · 2The suit brings claims under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, New York state and city civil and human rights laws, breach of contract and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and seeks damages, penalties, fees and a jury trial. 1 3 Right · 1Reich said the school sacrifices Jewish students' rights under pressure over Israel, and that a settlement would require compensation and significant policy change. 2

Right · 1Shabot said she hopes the school will be forced to confront what went wrong and change how it responds when Jewish students are targeted. 3 Right · 1Context reported includes an "F" grade from the Anti-Defamation League in March 2026, a US Education Department civil rights probe opened in March 2024, and an earlier suit by Parsons graduate Brandon White that a judge dismissed with leave to refile, which White did in September. 2 Right · 1Fox News said it asked The New School for comment and had not immediately received a response; none of the three reports includes a school response to the allegations. 1