California State University, Northridge, is facing a wrongful termination lawsuit from an employee who alleges he was fired “because of his political views against antisemitism and advocacy on behalf of Jewish students and faculty.”
Sam Lingrosso, the university’s former Director of Academic Employees Relations, says in a complaint that his December 2024 firing was the result of his efforts to assist Jewish faculty who raised safety concerns related to on-campus antisemitism in the wake of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, especially near its one-year anniversary. According to a news release, Lingrosso is seeking damages under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.
“CSUN had a duty to protect their Jewish faculty members and ensure a safe learning environment, free of threats and harassment,” Eyal Farahan, an attorney with the Peter Law Group, which filed the complaint, said in a statement. “Sam’s work should have been celebrated but, instead, he was unlawfully terminated in violation of multiple California statutes that protect employees from harassment.”
The 2023 attacks led to a surge in anti-Israel activism and antisemitic incidents on college campuses throughout the United States. The demonstrations, which ranged from encampments to protests, raised major red flags for Jewish students and staff on those campuses.
In the complaint, it outlines how Lingrosso asked campus police to “facilitate a safety plan” for a professor who raised concerns about “unsettling remarks written on posters he had displayed outside his office depicting American hostages in Israel” and voiced concerns that Jewish students had of “harassment or violence” in the wake of “pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.”
Attorneys for the plaintiff wrote in the complaint that Interim Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs Christina L. Von Mayrhauser had given “unwarranted criticism” and undermined Lingrosso, saying it was “a direct consequence of Plaintiff’s proactive efforts to protect the safety and well-being of Jewish faculty and students.” In one incident, the aforementioned professor sent an email to “Jewish faculty and allies” thanking Lingrosso for his efforts to improve address safety concerns, but Von Mayrhauser allegedly took issue with a line in the professor’s message.
“The contrast between Plaintiff’s decisive actions and others’ inaction — particularly in Professor Katz’s statement that Plaintiff ‘has been focused on DOING things rather than talking about them’ — was interpreted by Von Mayrhauser as a direct affront to her leadership. Her reaction was marked by visible displeasure and indignation, as she viewed the email as an attack on her authority and an attempt to undermine her credibility within the institution,” the complaint states.
Farahan added that campus leadership “failed to take meaningful action to confront hate and ultimately fostered a climate of indifference and fear” amid serious antisemitism woes at universities nationwide.
The university disagreed with the claims made in the lawsuit in a statement to The Daily Wire on Monday afternoon.
“California State University, Northridge is aware of a legal complaint filed by a former at-will employee. These spurious allegations are completely unfounded and the University will vigorously defend against them. The University remains committed to maintaining an inclusive and supportive environment for our entire campus community,” the university said in a statement.
.png)
.png)
