In a letter addressed to the dean and faculty of the City University of New York (CUNY) Law School, members of its inaugural, graduating class of 1986 expressed their deep disappointment in and disgust with the current state of affairs at their alma mater.
The letter, signed by several alumni, including Dan Elias, Jill Stone, Anna Rumberg, Ann Nowak, and Karen Hochberg Tommer, accused the faculty and the administration of fostering a toxic and antisemitic environment at the institution.
Dan Elias, an attorney who drafted the letter, expressed dismay at CUNY Law’s departure from its original mission. He criticized the school for pushing a political agenda and questioned its effectiveness in preparing students for the legal profession.
Elias specifically referred to the controversial commencement address delivered by student Fatima Mousa Mohammed on May 12. Mohammed’s speech accused Israel of indiscriminate violence against Palestinians and expressed the hope that students’ rage would be “the fuel for the fight against capitalism, racism, imperialism and Zionism around the world.”
The alumni from the class of 1986 also highlighted that the CUNY Law faculty council and student government have both approved resolutions supporting the pro-Palestinian boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. “The fact that CUNY has become safe haven for BDS and utilized as a regular forum for raging antisemites encouraging ‘lynch mobs’ and lauding resistance to ‘Zionism around the world,’ is an unforgivable betrayal of the values upon which this institution was founded,” the alumni wrote.
The letter stated, further, that Mohammed’s speech celebrated “antisemitic hate” by championing the campaign against Zionism and advocating violence against Jews and the destruction of Israel. The alumni expressed their sadness and outrage at the erosion of the purpose and values of CUNY Law, as well as the loss of respect among its members.
New York City mayor Eric Adams also criticized Mohammed’s speech and the failure of CUNY Law officials to denounce it in real time. During a Jewish-heritage-month celebration at Gracie Mansion on Wednesday, Adams stated, “I will tell you, if I was on that stage when those comments were made, I would have stood up and denounced them immediately!” The mayor’s speech preceded Mohammed’s at the CUNY Law graduation. The mayor had also delivered a speech, well before Mohammed, at the CUNY Law graduation ceremony last month.
CUNY Law School dean Sudha Setty, who received the letter, and who was seen applauding Mohammed after her commencement address, withheld comment.