Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
This week, employees of Barnard College received unexpected text messages from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on their personal devices. The messages, reviewed by the Guardian, contained links to a voluntary survey that inquired about recipients’ Jewish or Israeli identities and any experiences of harassment or antisemitism they may have faced.
The EEOC, a federal agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws, explained in the text that they are “currently reviewing the employment practices at Barnard College.” While the precise number of employees who received the messages remains unclear, it seems that a significant portion of the faculty and staff were targeted.
The initiative appears to be part of a broader investigation into claims of antisemitism in U.S. colleges linked to allegations regarding pro-Palestinian protests. This has stirred anxiety among several recipients of the text.
Elizabeth Bauer, chair of the biology department at Barnard, expressed concern over the implications of the survey, stating, “Regardless of the stated intent, this survey effectively creates a list of Jewish faculty, staff, and students at Barnard.” She further cautioned against government overreach, drawing parallels to past instances where vulnerable populations were tracked.
The survey included questions such as current employment status at Barnard and offered response options like “I am Jewish,” “I practice Judaism,” and “Other.” It also probed into experiences of harassment or pressure regarding their Jewish identity or association with Jewish individuals.
In reaction to the message, Elizabeth Hutchinson, an associate professor at Barnard, initially thought it was a scam, questioning how the EEOC obtained her personal contact information. Upon finally reviewing the survey, Hutchinson described it as “utterly shocking,” highlighting her concerns that it seemed to presume guilt and sought specific evidence in a way that felt intrusive.
Celia Naylor, a professor in Africana studies, reported that the text was circulating widely among faculty and staff, prompting discussions about the legitimacy of the outreach. Barnard’s general counsel, Serena Longley, later confirmed to employees that the college was not informed beforehand about the EEOC’s messages and reiterated that participation in the survey was entirely voluntary.
In subsequent communications, Longley mentioned that the EEOC had initiated an investigation last summer regarding potential discrimination against Jewish employees at Barnard. She assured faculty and staff that any sharing of personal information was done lawfully and committed to providing advance notice for future requests unless legally constrained from doing so.
A spokesperson for the EEOC stated that they could not comment on ongoing investigations due to federal regulations. Meanwhile, Barnard has faced criticism over how employees’ personal details may have been shared.
Concerns regarding privacy and the use of personal data were echoed by several faculty members. Debbie Becher, a sociology professor, called the federal interest “terrifying,” emphasizing unease over the government’s methods of collecting sensitive information via text messages.
Some faculty members noticed discrepancies in who received the messages, adding to the confusion about the process. Colin Wayne Leach, a professor of psychology, voiced frustration over the EEOC’s choice to initiate such an important and sensitive inquiry through informal and unexpected means.
The Columbia University paper, The Spectator, reported that colleagues at Columbia also received similar messages from the EEOC, widening the scope of concern across affiliated institutions.
This situation raises significant questions about the balance between investigation and privacy, as faculty and staff grapple with the implications of governmental inquiries into personal identities and experiences within their workplace.
Source
www.theguardian.com