Queens College is facing allegations of discrimination, including claims of antisemitism. Plaintiff Helen Schwalb filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging discriminatory practices targeting Jewish faculty members, particularly within the Accounting Department.
According to the complaint, Queens College has faced prior controversies concerning antisemitism, which intensified after an October 7, 2023, incident involving violence against Israelis by Hamas. Schwalb alleges that the college failed to adequately respond to hate speech and safety concerns affecting Jewish students and faculty. The complaint references a previous legal action brought by six professors against the college’s teaching staff union for its public statements regarding Israel and advocacy for a boycott.
Schwalb states that she was informed in May 2023 that her contract as a part-time adjunct professor would not be renewed despite having taught at Queens College for twelve years with positive evaluations. She alleges that her dismissal was part of a broader effort to remove Jewish faculty members from the department. The complaint asserts that non-Jewish colleagues with less seniority and lower performance ratings were retained, while she and five other Jewish adjunct professors were not.
The lawsuit claims violations of federal and state anti-discrimination laws, including 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and the New York State Human Rights Law (N.Y. Exec. Law § 296). Schwalb contends that her termination was not based on budgetary or enrollment issues, as her classes remained fully enrolled after her dismissal.
Schwalb seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress resulting from what she describes as intentional and malicious conduct by Queens College aimed at injuring her reputation and causing lasting humiliation. Additionally, she requests punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and costs associated with pursuing this legal action.
The plaintiff is represented by attorneys D. Maimon Kirschenbaum and Leah Seliger of Joseph & Kirschenbaum LLP. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID: 1:25-cv-2616.