BROOKLYN COLLEGE’S ‘INDEPENDENT’ PROBE INTO ANTI-SEMITISM WASN'T SO INDEPENDENT

It appears that CUNY is attempting to white-wash accusations of anti-Semitism at Brooklyn College in its recently released report on allegations of discrimination. To recap, I was joined by twenty New York State lawmakers in requesting an independent investigation into allegations of racism made by Brooklyn College faculty and staff after numerous incidents were reported involving Provost William Tramontano. And I was assured by CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein that there would be an investigation. Sadly, it was far from independent.

That being the case, the report that CUNY issued comes as a shocking non-surprise. It seems clear to the faculty and staff who were questioned that the attorney hired by CUNY was working too closely with CUNY’s own internal attorney. Their findings were a foregone conclusion.

The accusations of anti-Semitism following the conduct of Provost William Tramontano were not leveled by an individual but by many individuals; they were made not in relation to an isolated incident but after a pattern of behavior was established.

There are obvious holes in the CUNY report that I intend to point out to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.