U.S. Department of Education Now Investigating Antisemitism at Five Colleges

Antisemitic protests erupted on many college campuses after the Hamas terror attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The U.S. Department of Education this week announced that it is investigating antisemitism allegations at Columbia University, the University of California-Berkeley, Northwestern University, Portland State University, and the University of Minnesota.

“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,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, according to “The Epoch Times.” “Today, the department is putting universities, colleges and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the well-being 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.”

A House committee concluded in a 2024 report that administrators at universities made concessions to organizers of illegal encampments, which often were full of people protesting against Israel, and withheld support from Jewish students. At some schools, such as Columbia, faculty members “worked to prevent disciplinary action from being taken against students who violated official policies and even the law,” the panel found.

A Northwestern spokesperson said the school plans to comply with the investigation.

“There is no place for antisemitism or any form of identity-based discrimination or hate at Northwestern University,” the spokesperson said. “Free expression and academic freedom are among our core values, but we have made clear that these values provide no excuse for behavior that threatens the well-being of others. We are confident in the actions we have taken to address antisemitism on our campus, including updating our Student Code of Conduct, our disciplinary procedures and making investments in public safety. We continue to work tirelessly to make our university a safe and non-discriminatory educational institution.”

–The Epoch Times