Ex-student body president sues California college over alleged antisemitism

The former student body president at the University of California, Santa Barbara is suing her college, alleging it failed to protect her from antisemitic attacks and harassment.

Jewish student Tessa Veksler filed the lawsuit last week, claiming she was doxxed and called a “Zionist dog,” court documents show.

“UCSB refused to assist Tessa in protecting herself from these ongoing attacks and harassment, choosing instead to leave her to face the anti-Semitic mob alone — and increasingly vulnerable — for months on end,” the suit says.

The university has not issued a public statement since the lawsuit was filed. The school did not immediately return a request for comment from The Post.

The alleged harassment began within days of an October 8, 2023, Instagram post by Veksler condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. She wrote that the “murder of civilians, raping of women, kidnapping of children, is not and never will be justifiable” and expressed solidarity with her “Jewish community/neighbors” and “the people of Israel,” according to the suit.

The complaint states she was quickly accused online of supporting genocide and subjected to antisemitic tropes.

The abuse escalated in late February 2024 at the Multicultural Center on the UCSB campus, where her student government office was located, the suit continues.

On Feb. 25 and 26, students allegedly posted signs throughout the building reading, “Zionists are not welcome,” “Ziofascists GTFO,” “You can run but you can’t hide, Tessa Veksler supports genocide,” and “Zionists not welcome here,” making clear she was “unwelcome on campus,” according to the complaint.

“Tessa suffered this nightmare despite having repeatedly pleaded for help from UCSB administrators and representatives,” the suit adds. “But her pleas fell on deaf ears. And the assaults and abuse intensified, all with the full knowledge, consent, and even the active participation of one of the University’s representatives.”

The university is expected to respond to the lawsuit by April 7.

The University of California was also sued Tuesday by the Trump administration over alleged antisemitism at its Los Angeles campus.

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