From 9th Congressional District Democratic Party hopeful Bruce Leon:
Bruce Leon Responds to Northwestern Settlement
Calls Out Biss for Ignoring Jewish Student Safety
EVANSTON, IL — Northwestern University has reached a seventy five million dollar settlement with the United States Department of Justice after serious incidents on campus created a hostile environment for Jewish students.
Reports of harassment, intimidation, blocked access to campus spaces, and aggressive protest activity triggered a federal civil rights investigation.
The settlement restores frozen federal funding and requires Northwestern to adopt stronger protections against discrimination, including mandatory antisemitism training for all students, faculty, and staff.
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss responded to the agreement by denouncing the settlement and dismissing the federal investigation as political.
He accused the administration of blackmail and claimed the government was not genuinely concerned about antisemitism.
Bruce Leon issued the following statement:
“Jewish students at Northwestern did not feel safe. They were harassed, intimidated, and pushed out of campus spaces.
“That is the reality.
“Instead of acknowledging the harm done to these students,
“Mayor Biss chose to attack the settlement and frame the entire matter as a political conspiracy.
“That is not leadership.
“It is avoidance.
“The mayor of the city that hosts Northwestern refused to stand with Jewish students when they needed him most.
“Now he refuses to recognize a settlement that finally gives those students stronger protections and restores vital research funding.
“His approach has brought attention to himself but has offered nothing to the students who were actually harmed.
“This settlement requires Northwestern to adopt clear policies, mandatory antisemitism training, and stronger protections that will make the campus safer for every student.
“These steps are necessary.
“They are overdue. And they move the university forward.My commitment is simple. When Jewish students or any students face discrimination, you stand with them without hesitation.
“You do not ignore them. You do not minimize their experiences. You do not turn their safety into a political fight. You show up.”
According to the Department of Justice, federal funding will be restored within thirty days.
Northwestern will complete its payment through 2028 and implement measures designed to prevent harassment and discrimination and to ensure uninterrupted access to campus facilities and academic programs.
Leon added, “Real leadership means protecting students first and arguing politics second. Our community deserves leaders who understand that difference.”
