The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into the University of Minnesota following complaints expressing concerns about anti-Semitism on campus.
Former regent Michael Hsu and law professor Richard Painter were sued by the Department of Education in December for failing to properly condemn anti-Semitism after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, according to reports. A complaint was filed with the authorities. star tribune.
Professor Hsu expressed considerable concern about a statement posted on the University of Minnesota's official website by a faculty member working in the College of Liberal Arts. Some of the comments expressed support for the Palestinians and criticized Israel.
After filing the complaint, Hsu said, “We hope that the university will agree to cease posting these statements on the university's official website, either before or after the investigation is concluded.” said.
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The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into the University of Minnesota. The institution is one of 99 schools currently under investigation. (Photo by Steven Maturen/Getty Images)
The Jewish Community Relations Council printed portions of statements made by teachers during a Dec. 12 screening about Hamas attacks on Israeli citizens. Certain phrases were highlighted and deemed anti-Semitic by the group.
Minnesota is one of 99 schools in the United States under investigation for “common ancestry discrimination,” which is prohibited under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the law announced. star tribune.
“The institutions named on this list are [the department’s Office for Civil Rights] has launched an investigation into the case involving the agency. “Inclusion on the list does not mean that OCR has made a decision regarding the case,” the Department of Education's website states.
A University of Minnesota spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the school “will fully respond to the Office of Civil Rights' investigation.”
“The University firmly supports speech and actions that create an atmosphere of mutual respect, without any form of bigotry or intolerance, as stated in the policy of the Board of Governors. We will continue to uphold these values. “We will continue to work every day to uphold our legal responsibility to respect freedom of speech,” the spokesperson added.
In the fall, the Department of Education announced it would take “aggressive action” to counter what it called an “alarming national increase” in reports of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. .
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona also spoke out on the issue of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in November, vowing to withdraw federal funding if schools did not oppose such discrimination.
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The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights recently launched an investigation into Brown University over allegations of discrimination against Jewish students. (Rick Friedman/Corbis/Robert Knopes/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“I want to provide support and guidance to these universities, and if there is egregious behavior, I want to make sure there is an investigation,” Cardona said. “Ultimately, if we have to withhold payments from campuses that refuse to comply, we will do so.”
Additionally, OCR sent a letter to the university stating that because the university receives federal funds, the university is “considered” or “perceived to be Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian.” The university has been informed that it has a legal obligation to provide all students with: An environment free of discrimination.
Weeks later, OCR launched an investigation into Harvard to determine whether the Ivy League school “failed to address allegations of harassment of students based on their national origin.”
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The accusation comes after first-year Israeli students at Harvard Business School made pro-Palestinian statements during a “die-in” demonstration on the Massachusetts campus in October in response to Israeli retaliatory attacks in the Gaza Strip. This was issued in response to people being shoved and yelled at by protesters. strip. According to the Washington Free Beacon, the FBI and Harvard University police received a complaint alleging that an Israeli student had his cell phone ripped from his hands and was “both physically and verbally assaulted.” .
Other institutions under investigation include Oberlin College, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Cornell University, Lafayette College, Brown University and Temple University.
OCR did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
