Monday, June 17, 2024
Probe finds two universities failed to protect Jewish students
The federal Education Department said Monday that two universities failed to adequately protect both Jewish and Muslim students in the heated days after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and during the war in Gaza that followed.
Both the University of Michigan and the City University of New York (CUNY) and several of its affiliated colleges agreed to reexamine some past cases and to conduct training, among other actions, to resolve federal investigations into student complaints amid the Middle East conflict. Jewish and Palestinian students have described harassment and other incidents of discrimination, with reports of hostile language, disrupted classes, vandalism and more.
"Hate has no place on our college campuses — ever," Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement. He called the resolutions a positive step forward but said, "Sadly, we have witnessed a series of deeply concerning incidents in recent months."
The cases are the first since Oct. 7 to be resolved by the Education Department. Some department investigations related to antisemitism and Islamophobia were pending before the war, but the number has spiked as campuses across the country have become engulfed by pro-Palestinian protests. An additional 106 cases are pending at the Office for Civil Rights at the Education Department, involving both universities and K-12 school districts, a spokeswoman said.
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said the university was grateful to the Office for Civil Rights for collaborating on a holistic plan to ensure that all students are safe on its campuses. "CUNY is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and hate, and these new steps will ensure that there is consistency and transparency in how complaints are investigated and resolved," he said.
University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono said in a statement that the university condemns "all forms of discrimination, racism and bias." He added: "Since October 7, we have been deeply troubled by the statements and actions of some members of our community." The university is required to uphold free speech principles, including reprehensible speech, but it works to ensure that "debate does not tip over into targeted harassment or bullying," Ono said.
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