The Department of Education announced Monday the launch of its first civil rights investigations into five universities following reports of antisemitism, according to a release from the Department.
The Department's Office of Civil Rights opened the investigations under Title VI, which protects students from discrimination based on national origin, including shared ancestry, the release said.
The schools under investigation are Columbia University, Northwestern University, Portland State University, The University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
“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. The Biden Administration’s toothless resolution agreements did shamefully little to hold those institutions accountable,” Craig Trainor, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, said in the release.
The Department said it built the investigations based on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce's late October report on campus antisemitism, which found that universities overwhelmingly failed to protect Jewish students after October 7.
“Today, 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," Trainor said.
The Department opened three Title VI investigations into Columbia under the Biden administration between November 2023 and May 2024.
According to the Columbia Spectator, the Department opened an investigation on May 2, 2024 following a complaint filed by Palestine Legal alleging a pattern of anti-Palestinian discrimination.
The Department also opened an investigation into Portland State University on August 15, 2024 after reports of anti-Palestinian discrimination, according to the Department's website and reporting from Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Unclear whether investigations will be dismissed
According to the Department's website and The Minnesota Daily, an investigation following complaints of antisemitism at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, was launched on January 16.
It's unclear if the Department will dismiss the pending investigations into these universities.
Monday's announcement of the investigations comes as the Department of Justice announced the formation of its task force to combat antisemitism.
In a statement, Columbia said the university is reviewing the communication from the Department of Education.
“Columbia 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,” the statement said.
According to the statement, Interim President Armstrong and her leadership team have taken decisive actions to address issues of antisemitism since Armstrong assumed the role in August.
The university said it established a centralized Office of Institutional Equity to address all reports of discrimination and harassment, appointed a new Rules Administrator, and strengthened the capabilities of its Public Safety Office.
“We look forward to ongoing work with the new federal administration to combat antisemitism and ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff,” the statement said.