The U.S. Department of Education opened five investigations of alleged Jew-hatred on Monday at Columbia University, Northwestern University, Portland State University, the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
The investigations, under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, come shortly after U.S. President Trump told the federal government to respond to Jew-hatred “vigorously.”
“Too many universities have tolerated widespread antisemitic harassment and the illegal encampments that paralyzed campus life last year, driving Jewish life and religious expression underground,” stated Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary of education for civil rights.
“The Biden Administration’s toothless resolution agreements did shamefully little to hold those institutions accountable,” Trainor said. “Today, the department is putting universities, colleges and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses, nor will it stand by idly if universities fail to combat Jew-hatred and the unlawful harassment and violence it animates.”
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, said “for the past two years, our committee has uncovered an appalling amount of antisemitism taking place on college campuses.”
“We’ve also heard heartbreaking testimony from Jewish college students who were excited to attend their dream university only to face threats and harassment from their own classmates and teachers,” he said. “I’m glad that we finally have an administration who is taking action to protect Jewish students and hold schools like Columbia, Northwestern, and UC Berkeley accountable for their failures.”
Columbia responded to the news of the investigation on Monday saying that its interim president Katrina Armstrong had “taken decisive actions to address issues of antisemitism” since she assumed her role in August.
“We are resolute that calling for, promoting or glorifying violence or terror has no place at our university,” the university stated. “We look forward to ongoing work with the new federal administration to combat antisemitism and ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty and staff.”
As of Monday evening, none of the other universities had issued a response to the Department of Education probe.
On Tuesday, Berkeley stated that the public school “has an unwavering commitment to confronting antisemitism as part of our support for a campus community where all can feel safe, respected and welcome regardless of their origins, identities, beliefs or perspectives.”
Berkeley is also “committed to compliance with, and enforcement of the rules, laws and policies that prohibit identity-based harassment and discrimination on the campus,” it stated. “We will readily comply and cooperate with any requests for documents or information that may arise from the investigation that has been announced.”
Kenneth L. Marcus, founder and chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, said the investigation was “exactly the right step to be taking and the right time to be taking it.”
“The administration is sending a clear message to the higher education community that the U.S. Department of Education is prioritizing the current antisemitism crisis,” stated Marcus, a former U.S. assistant secretary of education for civil rights.
“Rather than sitting back and waiting for complaints to pile up, federal investigators are finally doing their jobs: identifying colleges that need to be investigated and taking firm, public measures where needed. The cavalry has arrived,” he added. “The Brandeis Center has been urging this approach since Oct. 7, 2023, and we were repeatedly disappointed that the prior administration failed to accept our recommendation.”
The Trump administration is sending a “clear sign” that it will “respond to campus antisemitism with the boldness, vigor and seriousness it deserves,” Marcus stated.
“This announcement is a win for anyone who cares about civil rights,” he added. “The Department of Education is showing us today that it can, and will, build on the White House’s bold executive orders with enforcement and action around the country.”
