A Jewish student is suing Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) for more than $1.3 million, alleging the school has cultivated a “poisoned environment” by Condoning antisemitism and failing to protect its Jewish students since the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel.
Liat Schwartz, a child and youth care student, filed a statement of claim in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on March 13. The lawsuit, which was initially filed in October 2025 and later updated to include subsequent incidents, seeks $1 million in punitive damages, $300,000 in general damages, and a court order compelling the university to enforce its own conduct policies in a non-discriminatory way for its Jewish community members.
The lawsuit alleges that since the attacks, there have been "extensive, repeated and ongoing violations" of TMU's conduct policies that have been ignored, condoned, or inadequately handled by the administration. It argues that the university’s commitments to safety and non-discrimination are "mere platitudes" and that its failure to apply the rules equally has created a toxic atmosphere for Jewish students.
Details of the lawsuit
The core of Schwartz's legal challenge rests on the argument that TMU has failed to uphold its own stated rules, including the Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct and its Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy. The claim asserts this failure has directly led to a "poisoned environment" for her and other Jewish students on the downtown Toronto campus.
I think I need to be a voice for all Jewish students who otherwise feel isolated and alone. I have a very powerful voice, and I think I can make change, or hopefully make change, because (Jewish) students can’t go on living like this. It’s not fair. And the schools need to wake up.
The legal filing represents one of the most significant challenges to a Canadian university’s handling of campus discourse and safety following the October 7 attacks. The use of the court system, with its potential for uncovering evidence and compelling testimony, signals a new front in the struggle over antisemitism on campus. The process of litigation and document discovery could bring more transparency to how university administrations handle such complaints, an area where digital tools are slowly transforming public access to information.
In a written statement to the National Post, the university said it “cannot comment on individual cases before the courts, other than to say it will vigorously defend itself against these allegations.” The school has not yet filed a statement of defence.
“Any instances of antisemitism at TMU are not tolerated, allowed, or ignored,” the university's statement continued. “The university takes antisemitism seriously and addresses complaints through a structured and consistent process, including strong policies. Every single reported complaint of inappropriate behaviour is thoroughly reviewed, and where appropriate, investigated by relevant teams.”
Incidents cited in the claim
The lawsuit details several incidents that Schwartz says have occurred since she joined a chapter of Students Supporting Israel (SSI) in September 2024, which made her a more visible advocate for Israel on campus. The statement of claim alleges that the university has permitted the use of slogans at rallies and in graffiti that Jewish students perceive as threatening, such as “From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free” and “Only one solution, intifada revolution.” These phrases, the lawsuit argues, are not political speech but direct threats to the safety of Jewish community members.
One specific incident cited involves the campus group Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The lawsuit claims that after SSI hosted an off-campus event, the SJP group circulated a photo of SSI members, including Schwartz, with inverted red triangles placed over the heads of the Israeli guest speakers. The red triangle is a symbol used in Hamas propaganda videos to identify enemy targets for attack. Although the triangles were later removed when the image was reposted, the lawsuit notes that the post attracted comments such as, “maybe sjp tmu can bring in Hamas fighters to rape students! That would be fitting rejoinder.” Schwartz alleges that despite reporting the conduct to TMU, “no action has been taken.”
Another incident occurred last November, when protestors, allegedly including SJP activists, disrupted an off-campus SSI event featuring two former Israeli soldiers. According to the source material, a glass door was broken, injuring attendees, and police were called, leading to arrests.
A pattern on Canadian campuses
The allegations at TMU are not occurring in a vacuum. Since last fall, universities across Canada and the United States have become flashpoints for conflict related to the war between Israel and Hamas. Student groups have clashed, and administrations have struggled to balance commitments to free speech with the duty to provide a safe and non-discriminatory learning environment for all students. Similar issues have surfaced in Los Angeles, where the US department is reopening an investigation into a local school district's Black student program.
Jewish students at many institutions have reported a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents, from hateful graffiti to verbal and physical harassment. A recent report from the CBC detailed a rise in both antisemitism and Islamophobia on Canadian university campuses, forcing administrators to navigate a deeply polarized environment. This lawsuit against TMU could set a precedent for how such conflicts are handled by educational institutions in the province, which have recently been the subject of other governance debates, such as the provincial proposal for the Toronto District School Board.
Schwartz's lawsuit asks the court to not only provide financial compensation for the damages she has allegedly suffered but also to issue an order that forces TMU to apply its own rules consistently. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for how universities are held accountable for the climate on their campuses and the safety of their students.
