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New York University

Also known as: NYU

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Private university founded in New York in 1831, with campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.

New York University is a US private university founded in 1831. It has faced criticism over construction labour conditions in Abu Dhabi, campus protest policing and discrimination policies, and settled several civil disputes. In 2026, further controversies concerned its NYU Langone healthcare affiliate. Allegations against the affiliate are distinguished from claims against the university itself.

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Profile No. 5839 · Updated on 5 November 2026

9Documented controversies

12Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 2 documented stages

2026: NYU Langone stops adolescent gender-transition treatment

Civil / administrative proceedings — against NYU Langone Health

February 2026

2026: NYU Langone stops adolescent gender-transition treatment

Civil / administrative proceedings — against NYU Langone Health

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

NYU Langone ended its medical transition programme for adolescents. Families, lawmakers and the New York attorney general criticised the decision and raised the hospital’s non-discrimination obligations.

State of the evidence: Hospital decision and New York State intervention documented.
Legal status — source text: Civil or regulatory matter; no resulting criminal conviction.
Attribution: Discontinuation of care challenged as discriminatory by patient advocates.
Person targeted by the proceedings: NYU Langone Health
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 1

[1]
New York Civil Liberties UnionNYCLU on NYU Langone Health Ending Medical Treatment for Trans Youth18 February 2026Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 5 November 2026

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September 2026

2026: $8.5 million DOJ settlement involving NYU Langone

Civil / administrative proceedings — against NYU Langone Hospitals

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

NYU Langone agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle a US Justice Department investigation into treatment for minors and related billing practices. The DOJ alleged potential irregularities and the hospital agreed to cease the specified interventions for minors.

State of the evidence: Settlement officially confirmed by both parties; no liability determination.
Legal status — source text: Civil or regulatory matter; no resulting criminal conviction.
Attribution: Disputed claims of improper billing by an affiliated health system.
Person targeted by the proceedings: NYU Langone Hospitals
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 2

[1]
NYU Langone HealthNYU Langone Statement on Settlement with DOJ18 September 2026Official documentHigh reliability
[2]
U.S. Department of JusticeDOJ Secures Agreements with NYU and UPMC to End Pediatric “Gender-Affirming Care”18 September 2026Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 5 November 2026

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June–September 2026

2026: NYU Langone hospital resolves workplace racial-bias complaints

Civil / administrative proceedings — against NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

New York City’s human-rights regulator published a settlement following two employees’ complaints of racially charged remarks and stereotypes at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital. The hospital agreed to $90,000 in emotional-distress damages and $15,000 in civil penalties.

State of the evidence: Settlement amounts and terms published by the city regulator.
Legal status — source text: Civil or regulatory matter; no resulting criminal conviction.
Attribution: Alleged racial discrimination at an affiliated hospital.
Person targeted by the proceedings: NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 1

[1]
NYC Commission on Human RightsNYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital Settles Employment Race Discrimination Claim30 September 2026Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 5 November 2026

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December 2024–January 2025

2024–2025: students sanctioned over Gaza protests

No legal proceedings

Following December 2024 library protests, NYU began disciplinary proceedings and suspended students in January 2025. Faculty members and activist groups called the sanctions disproportionate responses to peaceful protest.

State of the evidence: Sanctions corroborated by Duke’s database; proportionality remains disputed.
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings concerning this episode have been identified.
Attribution: Disciplinary treatment of student demonstrations.

Sources · 2

[1]
Duke Campus Speech DatabaseNew York University – Pro-Palestinian Activism, Student Discipline, and Commencement Speech RestrictionsOfficial documentHigh reliability
[2]
NYU Faculty and Staff for Justice in PalestineNew York University Launches Unprecedented Campaign of Collective Punishment Against Students Protesting Genocide8 January 2025Official documentMedium reliability

Last verified: 5 November 2026

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November 2023–July 2024

2023–2024: Jewish students’ antisemitism lawsuit and settlement

Civil / administrative proceedings

Jewish students sued NYU in federal court, alleging inadequate protection from antisemitic incidents after October 2023. NYU disputed the claims and described enhanced security and discipline. The case ended in a July 2024 settlement including anti-discrimination commitments.

State of the evidence: Federal complaint and July 2024 settlement confirmed.
Legal status — source text: Civil or regulatory matter; no resulting criminal conviction.
Attribution: Allegedly inadequate institutional response to antisemitic incidents.

Sources · 1

[1]
Civil Rights Litigation ClearinghouseIngber v. New York University 1:23-cv-10023 (S.D.N.Y.)27 December 2024Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 5 November 2026

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April–May 2024

2024: police clear pro-Palestinian campus encampments

No legal proceedings

NYU asked police to remove pro-Palestinian encampments. More than a hundred demonstrators were arrested during the April operation, with further arrests in early May. Students and civil-liberties advocates criticised police involvement.

State of the evidence: Operations and arrests confirmed by AP and local reporting.
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings concerning this episode have been identified.
Attribution: Contested decision to have police clear campus protests.

Sources · 2

[1]
Associated Press / KESQArrests of Israel-Hamas war protesters exceed 2,300 as police clear more US campus encampments3 May 2024News agencyHigh reliability
[2]
Spectrum News NY1More than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at NYU campus23 April 2024MediaHigh reliability

Last verified: 5 November 2026

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November 2022

2022: DOJ agreement over student-housing disability access

Civil / administrative proceedings

The US Justice Department identified accessibility barriers in NYU student housing under the Americans with Disabilities Act. NYU entered a voluntary agreement to survey and adapt residences and improve information and evacuation procedures.

State of the evidence: Federal compliance review and agreement published by the DOJ.
Legal status — source text: Civil or regulatory matter; no resulting criminal conviction.
Attribution: Disability-access shortcomings found in university housing.

Sources · 1

[1]
U.S. Department of JusticeNew York University15 January 2024Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 5 November 2026

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2013–2015

2013–2015: labour abuses reported at NYU Abu Dhabi construction site

No legal proceedings

Human Rights Watch collected testimony from subcontractor workers about recruitment fees, passport confiscation, low pay and the deportation of strikers. Allegations concerned contractors and Emirati authorities working on the campus construction project.

State of the evidence: HRW interviews and investigation; no individual liability adjudicated here.
Legal status — source text: No legal proceedings concerning this episode have been identified.
Attribution: Allegedly inadequate safeguards for campus construction workers.

Sources · 2

[1]
Human Rights WatchUAE: Abuses at NYU, Louvre, Guggenheim Project10 February 2015Investigative journalismHigh reliability
[2]
Human Rights WatchUAE: NYU to Compensate Migrant Workers21 April 2015Investigative journalismHigh reliability

Last verified: 5 November 2026

Add to this entry Any news?

April 2015

2015: compensation pledged for workers left outside protections

Civil / administrative proceedings

An audit commissioned in the UAE found that 30–35% of workers had been excluded from the construction project’s worker-protection scheme. NYU pledged compensation and said it would consider the report’s recommendations.

State of the evidence: Audit findings and the university’s compensation commitment reported by HRW.
Legal status — source text: Civil or regulatory matter; no resulting criminal conviction.
Attribution: Shortfalls in contract-worker protections and a corrective response.

Sources · 2

[1]
Human Rights WatchUAE: NYU to Compensate Migrant Workers21 April 2015Investigative journalismHigh reliability
[2]
Human Rights WatchUAE: Abuses at NYU, Louvre, Guggenheim Project10 February 2015Investigative journalismHigh reliability

Last verified: 5 November 2026

Add to this entry Any news?

II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

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Controversia profile, updated 5 November 2026. Latest version: https://controversia.info/en/fiche/new-york-university