Department of Education Investigating Anti-Semitism at 5 Colleges, Including Columbia

The Epoch Times Header

The Department of Education announced the investigations on Feb. 3.

The U.S. Department of Education said in a Feb. 3 statement that it is investigating allegations of anti-Semitism at five colleges, including Columbia University and the University of Californiaโ€“Berkeley.

The departmentโ€™s Office for Civil Rights is launching the investigations in response to what it described as an explosion of anti-Semitism on American university campuses following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist attack against Israel.

Officials are probing Northwestern University, Portland State University, and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, in addition to Columbia and Berkeley.

โ€œToo many universities have tolerated widespread antisemitic harassment and the illegal encampments that paralyzed campus life last year, driving Jewish life and religious expression underground,โ€ Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said in a statement.

โ€œToday, 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.โ€

A U.S. House of Representatives committee concluded in a 2024 report that administrators at universities made concessions to organizers of illegal encampments, which were often full of people protesting against Israel, and withheld support from Jewish students.

At some schools, such as Columbia, faculty members โ€œworked to prevent disciplinary action from being taken against students who violated official policies and even the law,โ€ the panel found.

Minouche Shafik, who was Columbiaโ€™s president at the time, stepped down in 2024.

Columbiaโ€™s interim president and her team have taken action since then to address anti-Semitism, including strengthening the schoolโ€™s disciplinary process, Columbia said in a statement on Monday

Columbia said that school officials are reviewing communication it received from the Department of Education.

โ€œColumbia strongly condemns antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, and we are resolute that calling for, promoting, or glorifying violence or terror has no place at our University,โ€ the school said, adding that it looks forward to working with the Trump administration โ€œto combat antisemitism and ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff.โ€

A Northwestern spokesperson told The Epoch Times that the school plans to comply with the investigation.

Byย Zachary Stieber

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

More Proof, the Democratic Party is Imploding!

Jason Pizzo, the leading Democrat in the Florida Senate announced his departure from the Democratic Party saying he sees the party as dead in Florida.

American Psychiatric Association vs. MAHA: Shots Fired

When Trump formed the MAHA Commission, the parameters were so reasonable that it was hard to imagine how the biomedical establishment could object.

Evaluating Foreign Affairsโ€™ Warning About The Risks Of An Emboldened & Remilitarized Germany

Foreign Affairs warned earlier this month that an emboldened...

9 Things to Know About UK Supreme Court Ruling on Sex, Gender

Britainโ€™s highest court has ruled that the words โ€œwomanโ€ and โ€œsexโ€ refer to โ€œa biological woman and biological sex,โ€ in a landmark decision.

Chinese Exporters Begin to Feel Pain of Tariffs as Containers Stack Up

Chinaโ€™s exporters are scrambling to find domestic buyers for their consumer goods as orders from the U.S. have dried up during an escalating trade war.

News

ICE Backtracks on Revoking More Than 1,200 Student Visas

ICE reversed decision to automatically revoke student visas, after State Dept said it would use AI to review foreign studentsโ€™ records for criminal activity or arrests.

Court Ruling Limits Ozempic Copies in Favor of FDA, Novo Nordisk

Federal court ruled against trade group representing compounding pharmacies, siding with FDA and Novo Nordisk in dispute over copies of Ozempic and Wegovy.

Judge Blocks Removal of Potential Deportees From Texas District

Federal judge temporarily restrained Trump admin from removing individuals from Southern District of Texas in attempt to deport Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act.

Former Rep. George Santos Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Prison

Former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) was sentenced on April 25 to more than 7 years in federal prison on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges.

FBI Arrests Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan Over Obstructing, Kash Patel Says

FBI arrested a Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, circuit judge for allegedly assisting an illegal immigrant in evading arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel said.

Former New Mexico Judge, Wife Arrested Over Alleged Evidence Tampering

Inmate bookingreports released by Doรฑa Ana County Detention Center show Judge Cano and his wife were arrested for evidence tampering.

Prosecutors File Notice to Seek Death Penalty for Luigi Mangione

Prosecutors filed notice of intent to seek the death penalty for Luigi Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in NY in Dec 2024.

Judge Blocks Trump Admin Effort to Remove DEI From Public Schools

Before deadline for states to certify DEI programs have ended in public schools, a federal court halted Trump adminโ€™s requirement, siding with NEA teachersโ€™ union.
spot_img

Related Articles