The United States Department of Education has opened investigations into six more colleges and universities amid complaints of antisemitism and Islamophobia on their campuses since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.
The department is currently investigating allegations of complaints at Rutgers University, Stanford, University of California Los Angeles, University of California San Diego, University of Washington — Seattle and Whitman College in Washington State after previously opening similar inquiries against Harvard, Cornell, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania.
Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Department of Education routinely investigates complaints that universities engage in discrimination based on ancestry or shared ethnic characteristics.
When announcing the investigation into the Ivy League school last month, the department described its actions as part of a larger directive to “take aggressive action to address alarming increases in antisemitism, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and other troubling forms of discrimination and harassment.” on college campuses and in K-12 schools since the October 7 Israel-Hamas conflict,” he said in a press release.
A Department of Education spokesperson told The Post it does not comment on pending investigations.
It remains unclear what incident prompted the agency to look into the six new schools, but the investigation comes after months of antisemitic incidents at each of these campuses, which have only increased as tensions rise in the Middle East following Hamas attacks on Israel and a military response. country in Gaza.
A pro-Palestinian protest held on the University of Washington campus in Seattle on Oct. 12. 2023. Photo by Chin Hei Leung/SOPA via ZUMA Press Wire
At Rutgers in New Jersey, which Hillel International says has the second largest Jewish population of any US college, the Newark chapter of the Student Bar Association at Rutgers Law School is moving to ban Orthodox Jews, the New York Times reported.
It also held an event on December 7 titled “Race, Liberation, and Palestine: A Conversation with Noura Erakat, Nick Estes, and Marc Lamont Hill,” which Congressman Josh Gottheimer blasted as “providing a platform” for “notorious antisemites. . “
He also alleged that in November, a student at the school was charged with biased threats, terroristic threats and false public alarm after threatening online to kill an Israeli student, Gottheimer wrote in a letter to school officials.
Later on Monday, when the school became aware of the investigation, the university suspended the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter on the New Brunswick campus “in response to complaints of disruptive behavior by the group and allegations of vandalism,” according to NorthJersey.com.
Associate Dean of Students Michelle Jefferson also informed the group faced allegations of harassing students during classes and meals, and vandalism at Rutgers Business School, the outlet reported.
The chapter later responded with a statement claiming the university failed to act on allegations of harassment and doxxing directed at Palestinian and Muslim students, and that the school used a “racist double standard” by suspending him.
Meanwhile, at Stanford, a lecturer was suspended for allegedly making Jewish students stand in the corner while branding them “occupiers” – while also downplaying the Holocaust and defending murderous Hamas terrorists as “freedom fighters.”
More than 2,000 alumni later signed an open letter to university leaders accusing them of failing to curb “growing expressions of hatred and persecution” against the Jewish community.
It claimed that in the wake of Hamas attacks on Israel, the medical school held classes declaring: “The revolution is alive.”
University officials have since publicly denounced calls for genocide on its campus.
Anti-Israel banners hung on buildings at Stanford University. Stanford study
“In the context of the national discourse, Stanford strongly condemns calls for the genocide of Jews or any people,” schools broadcast on X.
“That statement clearly violates Stanford’s Fundamental Standards, the code of conduct for all students at the university.”
In a statement to The Post, a spokesperson for the school also said it is “fully committed to a campus environment that is free from discrimination and harassment, and where students of all backgrounds, national origins and religions are supported and have the opportunity to thrive.
“We intend to cooperate with the Office of Civil Rights in the investigation of this complaint,” the spokesperson said.
A Jewish student at the University of Washington cries during a Palestinian “day of resistance” event. KOMO-TV
The University of Washington also came under fire after Jewish students were filmed breaking down in tears as hundreds of their peers held a “Day of Resistance” rally for Palestinians.
And at the University of California Los Angeles, pro-Palestinian students were captured on video hitting a piñata bearing an image of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, chanting “Beat that f—ing Jew!”
After that, Michael V. Drake, president of the University of California system, along with 10 chancellors of the network, issued a letter condemning antisemitism.
“We are writing today to condemn the alarming and deeply disappointing acts of bigotry, intolerance and intimidation that we have seen on our campus over the past few weeks,” they wrote.
But in response, hundreds of students and faculty members across the college system wrote their own letter calling for Richard Leib, chairman of the university chain’s Board of Regents, to resign over a social media post that the letter’s author described as “dangerously biased .” and alienating Arab students and Palestinian activist groups.
A protester hits a Benjamin Netanyahu piñata at UCLA on November 8, 2023. CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Among the posts they cited was one he “liked” on X, which likened a group of protesters holding “Queers for Palestine” signs to an image of a cow holding a sign reading “Cow for McDonald’s.”
“We strongly condemn this shameless display of pink, which maliciously uses queer identity as a tool to justify Israel’s genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine,” it read.
“Apart from equating queer people with cattle, it is undeniably racist and homophobic to suggest that state violence against Palestinians is somehow justified because homophobia exists in Palestinian society, as it does throughout the world.”
A spokeswoman for the university said it was “aware of the Office of Civil Rights’ investigation and will cooperate fully.
“UCLA is committed to maintaining an inclusive and supportive environment for all students, faculty and staff.”
A spokesperson for the University of California San Diego also said it is now “reviewing” the complaint and “will cooperate fully.”
“UC San Diego takes all allegations of discrimination seriously,” the spokesperson said.
The Post has also reached out to Rutgers, the University of Washington and UCLA for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
