PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Department of Education (DOE) is looking into antisemitic and anti-Muslim discrimination at several universities along the East Coast.
The investigations into the University of Pennsylvania, Lafayette College, Cornell, Columbia University, Cooper Union and Wellesley College are the first of their kind by the DOE since Hamas’ attack on Israel last month. A school district in Kansas is also being investigated.
The schools are being investigated for possible discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, which violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Five of the investigations are in response to allegations of antisemitic harassment. The other two are in response to allegations of anti-Muslim harassment. The department has not yet disclosed which schools face which allegations.
A worker in Penn’s graduate program who chose to remain anonymous says he wasn’t surprised when he learned about the inquiry, though he hasn’t seen any hateful acts play out.
“Not firsthand, but I keep hearing reports of it, so it doesn’t seem impossible to me,” he said. “Also, with issues like this, it’s very normal for it to escalate so I can easily imagine it happening.”
Penn President Liz Magill announced a new action plan earlier this month to combat antisemitism after a string of antisemitic incidents on campus, including hateful graffiti and “vile, disturbing antisemitic emails that threatened violence against members of [their] Jewish community.”
That plan, which includes reviewing existing security measures and how external groups reserve spaces and host events on campus, as well as expanding antisemitism awareness through training and education programs got mixed reactions from students — many of them saying Magill was pressured by donors.
Penn says it will continue to fight all forms of hate and will cooperate with the investigation.
An official with Lafayette College says he doesn't know why the college is included in the investigation, but says it will fully cooperate.
Schools found to have violated civil rights law can face penalties up to a total loss of federal money.
AP News contributed to this report.