A Jewish Columbia University student claims he was improperly suspended for discharging two “novelty fart sprays” during a campus anti-Israel rally — arguing the substances were “non-toxic” and his actions were harmless, a lawsuit says.
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The student, named “John Doe” in court papers, sprayed gag gifts called “Liquid Ass” and “Wet Farts” that he bought on Amazon for $10.99 into the air and not at any particular person during the Jan. 19 protest, the lawsuit, obtained by The Post, claims.
“[The] plaintiff’s actions were a harmless expression of speech to demonstrate discontent with the pro-Hamas pro-Palestine message through the use of a gag gift, and nothing further,” the lawsuit, filed Tuesday by the student in Manhattan federal court, says.
Following the rally, members ofthe suspended university groupsStudents for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace claimed that two unknown men approached them outside the Low Library and sprayed an unknown, smelly chemical that caused them to experience headaches, fatigue, and nausea, according to reports.
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Students then described the scent as “raw sewage” and “dead mouse” and said the two men responsible seemed “especially aggressive” toward students holding up signs saying “Jews for ceasefire,” whom they called “self-hating Jews.”
The student, who is a former member of the Israeli military, was suspended for a year and a half following the smelly stunt, his lawyer Jeff Lichtman said in a statement to The Post.
“As a result of Columbia’s flawed and biased investigation and adjudication process, Plaintiff was found responsible for disruptive behavior, harassment, and endangerment, and sanctioned to suspension from the University, forever marring his educational file with an improper finding of responsibility,” the lawsuit reads.
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Columbia charged the plaintiff with disruptive behavior, harassment, and endangerment and suspended them for a year and a half, the lawsuit, first reported by Columbia’s student newspaper, reads.
The lawsuit accuses Columbia of a breach of contract, claiming the university violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, New York Executive Law, and New York Civil Rights Law, and New York City Administrative Code.
What to know about the antisemitism controversy at Columbia University:
- Columbia University president Minouche Shafikwas accused of “gross negligence” while testifying before the House Education and Workforce Committeeabout antisemitic incidents at the school and pro-Palestinian indoctrination. Shafik defended the school’s response after Oct. 7, but refused to tell lawmakers at the hearing if the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is antisemitic.
- A report from the Ivy League school’s Task Force on Antisemitism found “repeated violations by student groups”at Columbia after the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel.
- Ahead of the hearing, Jewish students told The Post that they have been targeted and witnessed antisemitism at the Morningside Heights campus. The Columbia University Jewish Alumni Association told The Post that the college’s administrators must “do their job” in reining in unauthorized student protests.
- Shortly after the Oct. 7 attacks, more than 100 Columbia professors signed a letter defending students who support the “military action” by Hamas.
- In February, an antisemitic poster depicting Israel as a skunk appeared on campus — which experts liken to a propaganda poster used by the Nazis in World War II.
- An unsanctioned “Resistance 101” event was held on campus in March by a Palestinian activist with alleged ties to a group labeled a terror organization by the US. Four students who participated were later suspended by Columbia.
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- While the congressional hearing was in progress, Columbia students erected 60 tents on campus to demand that the university divest from Israel. One of the leaders of the protests, Ilhan Omar’s daughter, Isra Hirsi, was suspended from Barnard College — a women’s college affiliated with Columbia.
- Shocking video footage captured a protester near the university declare, “We’re all Hamas” and “Long live Hamas” Wednesday. Another protester was arrested Wednesday night for repeatedly hitting and scratching an NYPD cop, according to law enforcement officials.
- On Thursday, more than 100 other protesters were arrested after Shafik announced the campus’s closure.
The suit was filed one day before Columbia President Minouche Shafik was expected in Washington DC for a hearing on the university’s troubles combatting antisemitism on campus.
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The filing alleges that the student received death threats on social media and was forced to leave his apartment and “distance himself from loved ones.”
“Students have doxed Plaintiff on social media and also created fake FBI ‘wanted’ posters with Plaintiff’s face stating Plaintiff is ‘armed and dangerous,’ creating a hostile environment for Plaintiff and creating a grave safety risk if Plaintiff were to return to campus,” the lawsuit claims.
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Students who filed reports with campus public safety following the incident allegedly declined medical evaluation, counseling, and psychological services, according to the lawsuit.
“To date, there has been no medical or physical evidence to support the assertions of any of the students that claimed they were harmed and/or impacted by the spray,” the lawsuit reads. “Indeed, the spray is harmless, non-toxic, and can be purchased by anyone on Amazon.”
In the wake of the alleged attack, Columbia’s student newspaper spoke to dozens of students and found 18 reported the sour smell during or after the protest, 10 reported symptoms including burning eyes, headaches, and nausea — with three having sought medical attention — and eight reported damage to their personal belongings.
