The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has unanimously approved a bipartisan report examining how U.S. colleges and universities and the federal government have responded to antisemitism on campus.
The report, The Federal Response to Antisemitism on American College and University Campuses, is expected to be finalized and released in September. It is the product of an investigation led by commissioners Peter Kirsanow, a Republican, and Mondaire Jones, a Democrat. The commission voted to approve it on July 21.
The investigation examined how higher-education institutions and federal agencies responded to allegations of antisemitism in violation of federal civil-rights protections, with a focus on developments since the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. It included a review of a representative sample of colleges and universities, as well as the responses of the U.S. departments of Education, Justice and Health and Human Services.
As part of the investigation, the commission held a Feb. 19 briefing featuring current and former federal officials, students, university representatives, advocacy organizations and legal and policy experts. The following day, it held a public-comment session at which students, educators, university officials and community members shared their experiences. The commission received 37 public comments that informed the report.
Rochelle Garza, chair of the commission, said the report will provide an “important factual record” for the president, Congress, universities and the public. She emphasized the need to protect Jewish students from discrimination and harassment while respecting constitutional protections for free speech and expression.
Jones said the investigation examined the intersection of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in federally funded programs and activities, with First Amendment protections and academic freedom.
Kirsanow said the investigation provided evidence of the “scale and breadth” of antisemitism on college campuses and offered insights into ways to address the problem.
Once finalized, the report will be formally transmitted to the president and Congress.
