Dr. Sarah Valente, Director of Baruch’s Wasserman Jewish Studies Center.
Baruch College has launched The Antisemitism Studies Laboratory (The AS Lab) at the Weissman School of Arts & Sciences—the first antisemitism research center within the CUNY system. Under the guidance of Baruch’s Sandra Kahn Wasserman Jewish Studies Center and thanks to an annual $50,000 gift from the Laterman Family Foundation, the laboratory will advance research, pedagogy, and community engagement to fight against local and global antisemitism.
The Laterman Family Foundation, led by Joshua Laterman, who chairs the AddressHate Initiative, emphasizes the need for a lab that explores the spread of antisemitism and provides students and researchers with tools to address hate through data science, public policy, journalism, and political science. Laterman has a strong connection to Baruch, serving as a trustee on the Baruch College Fund just like his father, the late Bernard Laterman (’52).
“We are excited to partner with Baruch College on this effort,” said Laterman. “Education and research are key to combating intolerance, and an urban academic hub like Baruch is well-positioned to shape the next generation of leaders in the fight against antisemitism.”
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez praised the initiative.
“It’s a welcome reminder of why higher education remains an invaluable resource in the movement against hate.”
Baruch College President S. David Wu explained the significance of the Laterman Family Foundation’s gift.
“At a moment when combating antisemitism requires bold ideas, rigorous scholarship, and collaborative actions, this support will make a meaningful difference,” he said.
Elected officials praise the laboratory’s goal to increase campus solidarity and inclusion.
“The AS Lab at Baruch College will pioneer groundbreaking research and analysis that will foster cutting-edge approaches to the age-old hatred that is antisemitism, all while developing and attracting world-class experts to our extraordinary Manhattan community,” said U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler.
“Students deserve to feel safe on their college campus,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. “The Antisemitism Studies Lab is an important step towards addressing those concerns and promoting campus unity.”
The AS Lab positions Baruch College as a national leader in conversations against hate, both on and off campus.
— Erin McLaughlin-Davis