Federal Court Denies Carnegie Mellon University’s Motion to Dismiss in Landmark Antisemitism Case
The Lawfare Project is thrilled to announce that we secured a significant legal victory in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which has denied Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) motion to dismiss in a lawsuit filed by The Lawfare Project on behalf of Yael Canaan, a brave Jewish student who was discriminated and retaliated against while enrolled at the university. This ruling allows the case to move forward.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleges that CMU discriminated against Yael, ignored her repeated complaints, and retaliated against her. The case also shines a spotlight on the troubling lack of transparency and accountability at universities that receive significant foreign funding, including over half a billion dollars from Qatar as of 2021. The Lawfare Project has been at the forefront of exposing these issues and advocating for reforms to protect Jewish students and other minority communities.
CMU attempted to avoid liability by advancing a number of baseless arguments, which the Court rejected:
The Court held that the student, Yael Canaan, presented sufficient allegations to show that CMU failed to meaningfully respond to antisemitic discrimination and harassment. Despite being aware of multiple incidents, including offensive comments made by a professor, CMU officials, including the Dean of Students, Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and the Title IX Coordinator, took inadequate or dismissive actions. This pattern of inaction, the court determined, plausibly constituted deliberate indifference to Yael's federally protected rights.
The Court rejected CMU's unfounded arguments that it had not breached its contractual obligations to Yael, including those outlined in the university's Title IX Resource Guide and Policy Against Retaliation. CMU contended that the Title IX Resource Guide applies exclusively to cases of sex discrimination and that the Policy Against Retaliation does not contain enforceable promises to students. However, the Court found these claims unpersuasive, noting that CMU administrators explicitly directed Yael to the Title IX office to address her complaints of antisemitism and that the Policy Against Retaliation clearly commits to holding violators accountable through appropriate disciplinary measures.
The court dismissed CMU’s argument that Yael's claims did not meet the standard for a hostile educational environment. Instead, it found that the allegations, including a professor’s offensive remark that Yael should study “what Jews do to make themselves such a hated group,” were sufficiently severe or pervasive to deprive Yael of educational opportunities.
“This ruling is a pivotal moment for Jewish students and their civil rights,” said Ziporah Reich, Director of Litigation at The Lawfare Project. “The court’s decision to allow this case to proceed sends a clear message: universities that fail to address antisemitism and tolerate discriminatory behavior will be held accountable. CMU’s failure to act not only violated the law but also betrayed the trust of its students.”
The court highlighted CMU’s pattern of inaction, including dismissive responses from high-level administrators and delayed meetings that failed to result in meaningful action. These failures occurred even as the university’s policies promised to protect students from discrimination. The student, who has since graduated, endured retaliation, exclusion, and emotional harm that left lasting effects on her educational experience and career aspirations.
The Lawfare Project remains committed to holding CMU accountable and ensuring justice for the courageous student who brought this case forward. As the lawsuit proceeds to discovery, The Lawfare Project will seek to uncover additional evidence of the university’s mishandling of complaints and systemic issues related to foreign funding and antisemitism on campus.