Federal Judge Orders UPenn to Give Lists of Jewish Staff and Students to EEOC

The ruling comes despite protests from the university and civil liberties groups over privacy and constitutional concerns.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A dimly lit, empty university classroom with desks and chairs arranged in rows, the scene bathed in warm, golden light streaming through the windows, creating deep shadows and a sense of solemnity and institutional weight.The ruling over obtaining lists of Jewish students and staff raises concerns about privacy and civil liberties on college campuses.Philadelphia Today

A federal judge has ordered the University of Pennsylvania to turn over the names and personal contact information of faculty in the Jewish studies program and members of Jewish campus organizations to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is investigating a complaint that Penn's work environment is hostile toward Jewish staff.

Why it matters

The ruling raises concerns about privacy, civil liberties, and the potential for discrimination against Jewish individuals on college campuses, as the EEOC seeks to enforce its investigation into alleged antisemitism at the university.

The details

Judge Gerald Pappert gave Penn until May 1 to comply with the subpoenas, despite protests from the university and the American Civil Liberties Union that this violates constitutional rights. The ACLU argued the subpoenas were akin to the Nazis' compilation of lists of Jews, but the judge dismissed these claims as 'unfortunate and inappropriate'.

  • The judge's ruling was issued on March 31, 2026.
  • Penn has until May 1, 2026 to turn over the requested information.

The players

Judge Gerald Pappert

The federal judge who ordered the University of Pennsylvania to turn over the lists of Jewish staff and students to the EEOC.

University of Pennsylvania

The university that was ordered to provide the lists of Jewish staff and students to the EEOC, despite protests from the school.

American Civil Liberties Union

The civil liberties group that argued alongside the University of Pennsylvania that the EEOC subpoenas violated constitutional rights.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

The federal agency that issued the subpoenas and is investigating a complaint of a hostile work environment for Jewish staff at the University of Pennsylvania.

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What they’re saying

“Such allegations are unfortunate and inappropriate.”

— Judge Gerald Pappert, Federal Judge

What’s next

The University of Pennsylvania and the ACLU have said they are still studying the judge's opinion and have not indicated if they plan to appeal the ruling.

The takeaway

This case highlights the tension between civil liberties, privacy concerns, and the EEOC's efforts to investigate alleged discrimination, raising questions about how to balance these competing interests on college campuses.