A Jewish student is suing Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) for more than $1.3 million, alleging the school created a 'poisoned environment' and disregarded several instances of antisemitism and harassment following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel.
Lawsuit Details
Liat Schwartz, a child and youth care student, filed a statement of claim in Ontario's Superior Court of Justice on March 13, seeking $1 million in punitive damages and $300,000 in general damages, as well as special damages to be determined by the court. The lawsuit also requests an order that the university apply its conduct policies in a complete and non-discriminatory manner to all conduct involving Schwartz and other Jewish TMU community members. Originally filed in October 2025, the lawsuit was updated following additional incidents.
'I think I need to be a voice for all Jewish students who otherwise feel isolated and alone,' Schwartz told National Post. '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.'
Allegations Against TMU
The lawsuit alleges that TMU failed to uphold its Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct, Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy, and other rules governing campus space and civility. It claims that TMU's self-proclaimed commitments and conduct policies are 'mere platitudes' and that the university's failure to apply rules equally has created a poisoned environment for Schwartz.
'Since October 7, 2023, there have been extensive, repeated and ongoing violations of the TMU Conduct Policies impacting Liat and other Jewish TMU community members with whom she engages, for which TMU ignored, condoned, justified or otherwise failed to adequately apply or inadequately applied the TMU Conduct Policies,' the statement of claim alleges.
TMU Response
The university told National Post in a written statement that TMU cannot comment on individual cases before the courts, other than to say it will vigorously defend itself against these allegations. The statement added: 'Any instances of antisemitism at TMU are not tolerated, allowed, or ignored. 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.' The university has not yet filed a statement of defence.
Incidents Cited
The lawsuit documents several incidents Schwartz experienced since she joined a local chapter of Students Supporting Israel (SSI) in September 2024. These include TMU allowing slogans such as 'From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free' and 'Only one solution, intifada revolution' in signs, graffiti, and at rallies, which Schwartz perceived as direct threats to her personal safety.
Many incidents involve Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), an official student group. After SSI hosted an off-campus event with two Israelis, SJP circulated a group photo with inverted red triangles over the heads of the guest speakers, a symbol used by Hamas to denote enemy combatants. The image received comments including 'maybe sjp tmu can bring in Hamas fighters to rape students! That would be fitting rejoinder,' the lawsuit alleges. Schwartz raised this conduct with TMU but no action has been taken.
Last November, protesters were arrested after disrupting an off-campus SSI event featuring two former Israeli soldiers. SJP TMU activists were allegedly among the protesters. After a glass door was broken, injuring attendees, Schwartz called Toronto police.
