PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The University of Pennsylvania will not have to turn over lists of Jewish students and staff to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, under terms of an agreement filed Thursday in court.
The EEOC and Penn filed a resolution agreement, ending Penn’s appeal of a federal court ruling that said Penn had to comply with an EEOC subpoena demanding the names and personal information about members of Jewish organizations on campus.
Last year, the commission initiated an investigation into antisemitism on Penn’s campus, and issued the university a subpoena for all Jewish organizations on campus, including names and personal contact information for their members, and for Jewish studies faculty. The EEOC said it was looking for potential victims of discrimination, but the faculty itself balked and Penn declined to comply. In March of this year, a federal judge ordered Penn to turn over the information.
The EEOC agreed not to take any further action on the subpoena, and declined to add anything beyond the filing, which does not explain why the EEOC changed its mind.
In a statement to KYW Newsradio, a Penn spokesperson said “the university has been able to protect its employees’ rights… with the support of many members of the community who have stood with Penn throughout.” She added that “Penn remains committed to fighting antisemitism and all other forms of discrimination.”
