In recent weeks, troubling reports have emerged from New Jersey, highlighting ongoing discrimination issues in educational institutions.
One case involves a transgender student in Bergen County whose family is suing the Demarest Board of Education, alleging years of harassment and neglect by school officials.
Meanwhile, Rowan University in Glassboro has been involved in a controversial suspension involving a student Palestinian advocacy group.
Both cases shed light on the complex intersection of student rights, discrimination, and institutional accountability in today’s educational environment.
The lawsuit filed by the family of a transgender girl against the Demarest Board of Education paints a disturbing picture of bullying and isolation that allegedly went unchecked for years.
The girl, who transitioned from male to female at a young age, endured relentless taunting and exclusion from her peers at County Roads School.
According to the lawsuit, the bullying began shortly after she enrolled as a first grader in September 2016 and escalated as she entered middle school.
It is claimed that students harassed her both in person and on social media, calling her derogatory names such as “freak” and “weird.”
Despite numerous reports from the family, school officials allegedly took no meaningful action to address the abuse.
The discrimination didn’t end with verbal harassment. The girl was reportedly pushed in hallways, isolated during lunch breaks, and excluded from group activities.
One of the most harrowing incidents involved a student throwing ice cream at her and calling her names in 2023.
On multiple occasions, school administrators and teachers reportedly failed to intervene or offer support.
The lawsuit claims that the middle school principal refused to help the girl when she was taunted during a volleyball game, and when she sang at a Christmas concert, students made faces and laughed at her.
The emotional toll of this sustained bullying was profound. The girl’s mental health reportedly deteriorated, with the lawsuit indicating that she was prescribed antidepressants due to the distress she experienced.
Her parents, frustrated by the lack of response from school officials, allege that they were met with indifference when they contacted the district’s superintendent.
They say the superintendent’s dismissive response was, “I don’t care.”
Nonetheless, the Demarest Board of Education denies any wrongdoing, asserting that the district follows New Jersey laws regarding harassment and bullying and takes necessary disciplinary actions when warranted.
The school board’s attorney has strongly refuted the claims made in the lawsuit, promising a vigorous defense.
However, the family’s attorney is adamant that the facts will demonstrate the school’s failure to protect their daughter.
Meanwhile, across the state, Rowan University has become embroiled in its own controversy after suspending Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a student group for Palestinian advocacy.
The incident began when the group circulated a poster for an upcoming event, which depicted a masked figure holding a slingshot, a symbol linked to Palestinian youth resistance.
The poster prompted outrage from some community members, particularly from a conservative group called Make NJ Red.
Thousands of complaints flooded Rowan University’s administration, with critics accusing the student group of promoting violence and terrorism.
Rowan officials, in response, placed the group under interim suspension, halting their access to campus space and university funding.
The university has cited an ongoing investigation into the matter, though SJP leaders argue the suspension was hasty and unwarranted.
They claim the poster’s imagery was a reference to Palestinian youth using slingshots against Israeli military tanks, not an endorsement of violence.
According to SJP, the complaint-driven suspension resulted from “malicious” opposition and baseless claims.
The suspension has sparked an outcry from the student group, which views it as an attempt to suppress free speech and silence its advocacy.
They argue that the university failed to properly investigate the complaints before making the decision, and they have vowed to fight the suspension.
Rowan University, nevertheless, has maintained that it must remain impartial during the investigation process, emphasizing its commitment to fairness and integrity.
Both cases underline the challenges that educational institutions face when navigating complex issues related to discrimination, harassment, and freedom of expression.
As both lawsuits unfold, the outcomes will likely set important precedents for how schools and universities handle allegations of discrimination and the rights of students to express themselves.
