Investigation clears Brooklyn College of discrimination charges

(JTA) — A City University of New York investigation cleared Brooklyn College and its provost of discriminating against Orthodox Jewish faculty in hiring and promotion.

“We conclude that the evidence does not support the allegations of a pattern of discrimination against Orthodox Jews at Brooklyn College,” said the 24-page report prepared by CUNY counsel Frederick Schaffer and Bettina Plevan, a labor lawyer from the firm Proskauer Rose, the New York Post reported late Tuesday.

“Each of the cases involved a decision based on a good faith application of academic judgment or employment procedures unrelated to any prejudice or bias,” according to the report.

The investigation was launched last month following allegations that Brooklyn College provost William Tramontano engaged in discrimination regarding faculty hiring and promotion.

Twenty elected New York officials sent a letter to CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein calling for the investigation. The letter said that “numerous accusations have been voiced regarding Provost Tramontano’s racial, anti-female and blatantly illegal actions.”