Jewish Faculty Support University of Pennsylvania’s Legal Challenge

News Summary

Over 150 Jewish faculty members at the University of Pennsylvania have filed an amicus brief supporting the university’s challenge to an EEOC subpoena demanding personal information. The brief raises concerns about historical persecution and risks to personal security for individuals listed in the subpoena. While the university has cooperated with the EEOC’s investigation into workplace antisemitism, it has refused to provide confidential information without consent. The case highlights ongoing issues of antisemitism on college campuses.

PHILADELPHIA

Over 150 Jewish faculty members at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) have filed an amicus brief in support of the university’s efforts to challenge a federal subpoena from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The brief, submitted on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, emphasizes profound concerns regarding the EEOC’s request for extensive personal information about Jewish individuals affiliated with Penn, arguing that such demands evoke historical persecution and pose a threat to personal security. This action comes as the university continues to push back against the EEOC’s demands as part of an ongoing federal investigation into alleged workplace antisemitism on campus.

The faculty alliance, representing 11 of Penn’s 12 schools, urged the court to deny the EEOC’s request that the university be compelled to prove why the subpoena should not be enforced. They stated that while supporting the EEOC’s goal to combat antisemitism, the breadth of the subpoena, which seeks “full lists of Jewish individuals at Penn and their personal information,” is deeply troubling. Penn itself submitted its own filing on January 20, 2026, describing the EEOC’s demands as “disconcerting but also entirely unnecessary” and indicating its commitment to protecting the privacy, safety, and First Amendment rights of its employees.

Concerns Over Data Collection

The core of the dispute centers on the EEOC’s subpoena, initially issued in July 2025, which mandated that Penn provide a list of received antisemitism complaints, names of members of Jewish-related campus groups, and employees in its Jewish Studies Program. Furthermore, the commission sought names, home addresses, phone numbers, and emails for individuals to further its investigation into alleged workplace antisemitism. The faculty alliance’s brief highlights that if such sensitive personal data were to be leaked, the individuals on these lists could face a “real risk of antisemitic harm,” linking the request to “troubling historical persecution of Jews.” This concern is amplified by the fact that “anti-Jewish hate and violence are serious threats to Jews” in the United States today.

Penn has maintained that it has cooperated extensively with the EEOC’s investigation, providing hundreds of pages of documents, but has consistently refused to hand over personal and confidential information of students and employees without their consent. The university has offered to notify all its employees about the EEOC’s investigation, inviting those interested to contact the agency directly, but the EEOC has deemed this insufficient. The university argued that the EEOC’s “intrusive” approach effectively “asserts a hostile work environment for Jewish employees” and has “engendered fear and opposition across Penn’s Jewish community.”

Background of the Investigation and Lawsuit

The EEOC’s investigation began in 2023, stemming from a complaint filed by EEOC Commissioner Andrea Lucas in December 2023, alleging that Penn was subjecting Jewish faculty, staff, and other employees to an unlawful hostile work environment based on national origin, religion, or race. This initial complaint followed the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which led to significant unrest on college campuses across the U.S. and increased charges of antisemitism. In November 2025, the EEOC escalated the matter by filing a lawsuit alleging that Penn had failed to comply with its subpoena requirements.

This federal action is distinct from an earlier federal lawsuit filed in December 2023 by current and former Penn students Eyal Yakoby, Jordan Davis, and Noah Rubin, along with the group Students Against Antisemitism Inc. That lawsuit accused Penn of mishandling antisemitism complaints and fostering a hostile educational environment for Jewish students on campus. A federal judge dismissed this student-led lawsuit in June 2025, although the plaintiffs were granted an opportunity to refile an amended complaint on two of the counts. The judge noted that the original complaint contained “sweeping allegations of ideological, philosophical, religious, and political concerns and grievances, that have nothing to do with a federal lawsuit.”

Broader Campus Climate and Institutional Responses

The filing of the amicus brief by Jewish faculty underscores the complex and sensitive nature of addressing antisemitism on college campuses, particularly in the wake of global events. The faculty alliance itself was formed after the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and the subsequent rise in acts of antisemitism on U.S. college campuses (Nationwide).

Further complicating the legal landscape, five additional Penn-affiliated groups, including the national and Penn chapters of the American Association of University Professors and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Jewish Law Students Association, filed a motion on January 13, 2026, to intervene as defendants in the EEOC lawsuit. These groups similarly expressed strong opposition to the EEOC mandating the production of blanket lists of Jewish individuals, citing concerns over First Amendment freedoms and the potential “chilling effect” on participation in campus activities. The EEOC has since filed a memo opposing this motion to intervene, stating that the intervention is “unwarranted.” Penn has previously established a University Task Force on Antisemitism and a Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community in November 2024 to address the concerns about antisemitism on its campus.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the main news event?

Over 150 Jewish faculty members at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) have filed an amicus brief in support of the university’s challenge to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) subpoena.

When did the Penn Jewish faculty file their brief?

The brief was submitted on Tuesday, January 21, 2026.

What did the EEOC subpoena request?

The EEOC subpoena requested personal information about Jewish students, faculty, and groups, including full lists of Jewish individuals at Penn, their home addresses, and phone numbers.

What are the Penn Jewish faculty’s main concerns regarding the subpoena?

The faculty members are gravely concerned that the scope of the EEOC subpoena “invokes the troubling historical persecution of Jews, and threatens the personal security” of their members. They also believe that if the information were leaked, individuals could face a “real risk of antisemitic harm.”

What is Penn’s stance on the EEOC’s demands?

Penn has described the EEOC’s demands as “disconcerting but also entirely unnecessary” and has refused to provide personal and confidential information without consent, citing concerns for privacy, safety, and First Amendment rights.

When did the EEOC’s investigation into Penn begin?

The EEOC’s investigation began in 2023, following an initial complaint by EEOC Commissioner Andrea Lucas in December 2023.

Have other groups also intervened in this lawsuit?

Yes, five other Penn-affiliated groups, including chapters of the American Association of University Professors, filed a motion on January 13, 2026, to intervene as defendants, also expressing concerns about privacy and First Amendment freedoms.

Key Features of the Penn Antisemitism Lawsuit and Faculty Brief

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Penn Museum Hosts 45th Annual CultureFest for Lunar New Year
Governor Shapiro Refuses Apology Over Gaza Protest Comments
Yale Men’s Fencing Team Dominates at Dave Micahnik Invitational
Philadelphia Hosts 31st Annual King Day of Service
Central York School Leads Pennsylvania High School Basketball Rankings
Ohio State Buckeyes Shine in Fencing and Wrestling
Harvard Swimming Teams Maintain Undefeated Streaks
Student Anxiety from Career Choices at University of Pennsylvania
Volunteer Opportunities in Philadelphia for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Philadelphia High Schools Gear Up for Intense Basketball Matchup

Author: STAFF HERE PHILADELPHIA WRITER

The PHILADELPHIA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREPhiladelphia.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Mummers Parade, Philadelphia Flower Show, and Thanksgiving Day Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Philadelphia, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, food services, and healthcare that power the local economy such as Comcast, Aramark, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Pennsylvania's dynamic landscape.