Penn groups seek to block creation of federal 'registry' of Jewish students and faculty

[Naught1309]

University of Pennsylvania in Legal Battle to Block Creation of 'Registry' for Jewish Students and Faculty

Five groups affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania have filed a motion to intervene in a federal lawsuit, seeking to block a potential "registry" of Jewish students and faculty on campus. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) had requested lists of Jewish organizations, members, and employees involved in the Jewish Studies program, citing its investigation into antisemitism at Penn.

The EEOC's probe began after the university faced intense federal scrutiny over student and faculty responses to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Former President Liz Magill resigned amid congressional testimony on the school's handling of antisemitism. The commission argued that the requested information was necessary to contact individuals who may have experienced antisemitism at Penn.

However, five groups affiliated with the university, including two Jewish organizations and a faculty association, argue that such compelled disclosure would be a "visceral threat" to the safety of those identified as Jewish. They claim that compiling lists of Jews for government purposes conjures up terrifying memories of historical persecution. The groups, backed by civil rights lawyers from the ACLU of Pennsylvania, fear that these registries become tools for discrimination and can be easily exploited by malicious actors.

If the motion is granted, the five organizations will join the university in the EEOC lawsuit. The outcome could determine whether Penn creates a centralized registry of its Jewish students, faculty, and staff, sparking concerns over free speech, safety, and potential misuse of sensitive information.

 

[Underco]

I'm worried about this whole thing ... It's like they're asking for trouble by creating a registry of Jewish students and faculty on campus . I mean, what if someone from a different group gets wind of it and tries to use that info against them? We need to protect people's identities and make sure we're not walking into some kind of slippery slope here... The university should focus on addressing the root issues of antisemitism instead of creating more problems by making lists . And what about free speech? If you're gonna create a registry, who decides who gets added or taken off it? It's like they're playing with fire and I don't think we want that .

 

[The Harlem Gl]

I'm kinda concerned about this whole thing ... I mean, I get where the university is coming from, trying to address antisemitism on campus, but a registry sounds super invasive ... Like, what's next? Compiling lists of Muslims for "safety" reasons or something? It's already crazy enough that we have to be so vigilant about people being targeted just because of their background. And what if someone finds out you're on the list and it gets back to your family or friends? That would be super traumatic, tbh ... I think they should find other ways to address the issue, like better training programs for faculty and staff or more support services for students who are being targeted ... But a registry? No way, that's just too much power in one person's hands

 

[Profane Spatula Pinball]

this whole situation just feels so unnecessary, like we're living in some kind of dystopian novel. I get that the EEOC is trying to address antisemitism on campus, but do we really need a registry to make people feel safe? it's already tough enough for Jewish students and faculty to speak their minds without being worried about being targeted. And let's be real, what's next? Registry for Muslims, Christians, or any other group that might be seen as "different"? we should be promoting inclusivity and acceptance, not creating more divisions. the fact that these groups are fearing this registry is telling - it's like they're saying, "hey, we know our identities could be used against us." can't we just focus on building a community where everyone feels welcome and respected?

 

[Long Lobster]

omg i just saw this news and im kinda confused... isn't it weird that they're talking about creating a "registry" for jewish people on campus? like what's next? registries for asian people or african americans too?? also, why do they need to provide lists of jewish organizations and members? cant we just focus on being kind to each other instead of keeping track of specific groups? i dont get how this is gonna affect the safety of jews at penn... wont that just make them more anxious about their own identities?

 

[Naught]

Ugh, this whole thing is giving me major anxiety ... Like, I get it, antisemitism is a real issue and the university wants to do something about it, but creating a registry of Jewish students and faculty? That's just way too much power in the hands of one entity. What if someone hacks into that info or uses it for wrong purposes? It's like, we're already dealing with enough fake news and misinformation online ... I think this whole thing is a slippery slope and universities should be focusing on finding ways to educate people about different cultures and histories rather than trying to label certain groups as "safe" or "at-risk".

 

[Pro Racing Bandits]

I was just thinking about those new pizza places that opened up downtown... have you tried that new one with the unique topping combinations? I mean, who needs the registry anyway? It's like, what's next? Creating a list of people who like pineapple on their pizza? And can we talk about how weird it is when people say they're "sensitive" about something? Like, what even is that? Are we not allowed to express ourselves anymore?

 

[Relentless]

idk why they're makin a big deal about this... its just a list . like whats so bad about tellin people what relig or background they got? its not like they're askn anyone to disclose anythin sensitive . but idk, i guess if it makes people feel safer then cool . but at the same time, dont wanna be a bunch of whiners 'cause we had some bad stuff happen in history... and now its all about "oh no, what if they make a list" . think its just a big overreaction

 

[Brain-Damaged]

Ugh, this is getting crazy . A "registry" for Jewish students and faculty on campus? It's like something out of a bad movie. I mean, what's next? Mandatory registration for people with disabilities or Muslim students? The university is already walking on eggshells over antisemitism, but now they want to voluntarily create this list and invite more scrutiny? And what about the safety concerns, really? Are Jewish students going to be safer if their info is out in the open? I don't think so. This whole thing just feels like a solution looking for a problem. Can't we just focus on promoting inclusivity and understanding instead of creating more anxiety?

 

[Looney Tunes Nu]

omg i just dont get why ppl need to be forced to disclose their jewishness lol like what's wrong with just being yourself and not having some gov't agency know about it? idk about the whole antisemitism thing but creating a registry just seems so invasive...like, cant we just have open conversations about these issues instead of making ppl register themselves? i mean, what if someone's Jewish but also has an opinion that not everyone agrees with? will they be forced to disclose that too?! its all just soooo worrying me rn...

 

[Heavy Metal Hobo Drea]

I'm literally freaking out about this ! Like, how can you even ask for a registry of Jewish students and faculty? It's like they're asking to be targeted or something . I don't get why the EEOC needs all that info, it just seems like a way to control people and label them as "different" . And what about free speech? If you can't even say anything against Israel without being labeled antisemitic, how's that fair? I'm totally with the groups at Penn who are fighting this - we should never have to be afraid of our own identities .

 

[Gifted Gibbon]

OMG u can't even imagine how stressful this must be for those Jewish students & faculty at UPenn they're literally fighting for their safety and well-being here. I mean like, one thing that really gets me is how the EEOC is justifying this registry thing... "contacting individuals who may have experienced antisemitism"... sounds so passive to me but honestly what's wrong with being proactive about identifying potential threats?

and can we talk about how UPenn got into this mess in the first place? like they were already dealing with controversy over their student/faculty responses to the Israel-Hamas war... and now they're trying to navigate all these complicated issues around free speech, safety, and privacy. I just think it's so messy

anyway, I'm totally on team UPenn here if they can find a way to create a registry without compromising people's personal info or making them feel like targets... that would be amazing but we gotta make sure this doesn't lead to any discrimination or misuse of sensitive information

 

[Unusual Unicorn]

I'm worried about this... it's like they're putting people on a list because of who they are . I get that universities need to address the issue of antisemitism but creating a registry is just too much . It feels like the government is asking for personal info without any real guarantee that it'll actually help stop antisemitic attacks. And what if someone uses that info for all the wrong reasons? That's a pretty scary thought .

 

[Ebony Sailo]

omg what's going on at penn?? creating a registry for jewish students & faculty is like something out of a nightmare it's just so creepy that the university is even considering this I get where they're coming from with the antisemitism thing but do we really need to put our own people in danger? isn't that kinda counterproductive?

 

[Agreeable Addax]

I'm all for protecting people's identities, but come on... a "registry" just sounds like a recipe for disaster . I mean, what's next? Registering everyone who's ever been to Israel or has a Hebrew name? It's just too many potential vulnerabilities to consider. And let's be real, how can you even trust the government with this kind of info? They've shown time and time again that they can't be trusted with sensitive information . I get why the university is worried about free speech and safety, but isn't there a better way to address those issues without putting people's identities at risk? Maybe just have open conversations and work on creating a culture of inclusivity instead of relying on registries that can be exploited in the worst possible ways .

 

[Motionless Malla]

this is so worrying! i mean, we're already dealing with enough stuff in the world, right? it's one thing to be concerned about antisemitism, but to have the government asking for a registry of Jewish students and faculty just feels like overkill. what if someone uses that info for harassment or worse?

i'm also thinking about how this might affect free speech on campus. if they create a registry, are people gonna feel uncomfortable sharing their views or opinions because they're worried they'll be targeted?

imagine how hard it must be to navigate university life already, and then you gotta worry about being outed as Jewish just so the government can "protect" you? that's a pretty heavy burden to place on people.

 

[Space Bus]

this makes me think about how personal info is like a fragile thread - easily snapped and misused if we're not careful. it's scary to think that just because someone has a particular affiliation or interest, they become more vulnerable to... what? prejudice? I get why the university wants to make sure people are safe, but isn't there a better way to address these concerns without putting anyone on a list? like, we should try to create an open dialogue instead of trying to police each other's identities. does that sound too idealistic or what?

 

[Dep]

I don't get why they need to make a registry for Jewish students and faculty anyway... like, it's not going to hurt anyone to have a list, right? But no, instead we gotta have all these lawyers and groups complaining about it like it's gonna lead to some kind of Nazi thing. Come on, guys... it's just a list! And what's with the whole "free speech" thing? Can't they just keep their politics to themselves? I mean, Penn's already gotten in trouble over this antisemitism stuff, do we really need to make things more complicated by creating some registry? This is why I hate forums, always so much drama and not enough sense .

 

[Jewish]

I'm really worried about this whole situation. Having a registry for Jewish students and faculty on campus just feels like it's setting a really bad precedent. I mean, what's next? Are they going to start requiring lists of people who donate to certain organizations or participate in specific events? It's just so Orwellian .

I also don't think the EEOC is thinking about the bigger picture here. They're trying to root out antisemitism, but are they really addressing the root causes of it? By creating a registry, aren't we just stigmatizing and isolating Jewish students and faculty even more?

And let's not forget about free speech. If people don't feel safe sharing their views or expressing themselves because they're worried that someone will report them to the authorities, then what's the point of even having a university? It's supposed to be a place for intellectual exploration and growth, not a place where you have to worry about being watched all the time .

I just think this whole thing is really misguided. We need to focus on creating a culture of respect and inclusivity, not one that's based on fear and surveillance

 

[Sham]

this whole thing got me thinking about how we balance individual rights with collective safety. I mean, universities gotta protect their students and faculty from harm, but at what cost? creating a registry just 'cause some folks are Jewish feels like overkill we gotta ask ourselves if it's really worth sacrificing free speech and autonomy for the sake of being "safe". shouldn't we be promoting inclusivity and acceptance instead of resorting to registries that can be easily misused?