The Department of Education announced Thursday that it has resolved several complaints about Rutgers University’s handling of harassment against Jewish students.
The department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) did not adequately address reports of harassment and disclosure of personal information against Jewish students amid a wave of anti-Semitic protests that have swept college campuses since October 7. investigated three allegations that Rutgers University discriminated against students on the basis of national origin. 2023. this is According to Department press release. The university agreed to address the complaint and update its policy on investigating harassment claims.
Rutgers professors received nearly 300 reports alleging harassment against Jewish students from July 2023 to June 2024, and an additional 147 alleging discrimination against Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students. received the report.
The report included allegations of vandalism to the university’s Islamic Life Center and dorm room doors, which had swastikas and defaced mezuzahs painted on them, the press release said. There is. Another report said an Israeli student was exposed on social media by another student who also encouraged violence against Israelis.
The statement said several Jewish students “feeling in fear for their safety” due to threats against them and chants of protest such as “Say it loud and say it clearly: We don’t want Zionists here.” “There is,” he reported. One of the encampments reportedly blocked Jewish students from accessing parts of the campus.
Rutgers University’s Bildner Center for Jewish Studies was also apparently directed, the agency said.
Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway testifies during a hearing called “Call for Accountability: Stopping Anti-Semitic University Chaos” before the House Education and Labor Committee on May 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. Dr. (Photo by Michael A. McCoy/Getty Images)
The university agreed to review its complaint investigation and response policies and issue a statement saying it does not tolerate harassment and will appropriately investigate all current complaints, the statement said. Rutgers University also provides training on discrimination to university employees and campus police officers and conducts “a joint dialogue between relevant university administrators and representatives of relevant affinity groups to identify any additional university responses that may be needed.” A hearing session will be held.
“Rutgers University appears to have committed serious violations of Title VI demonstrated in the record regarding disparate treatment of students based on stereotypes about the students’ and their families’ national origins, and unremedied harassment of students and faculty.” We have committed to resolution provisions that address the problem. Hostile environments on college campuses are inconsistent with universities’ federal civil rights obligations,” Katherine E. Ramon, assistant secretary for civil rights at the Department of Education, said in a statement. Ta. “OCR looks forward to the changes that will occur at Rutgers University as a result of this agreement and our continued work with the university to ensure compliance.”
Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway has been called to testify before Congress, along with presidents of several other prominent universities, over perceived failures to protect Jewish students when pro-Palestinian activists occupied the campus. . Holloway joins many of these leaders in resign He was removed from his post in September following testimony that many of the students involved in the destructive protests had gone unpunished. (Related: House Republicans accuse Biden administration of withholding documents regarding anti-Israel demonstrators’ possible ties to terrorism)
The House Education and Labor Committee has launched investigations into several universities, finding administrators often indifferent to allegations of harassment against Jewish students and sometimes expressing support for anti-Semitism on campus. It turns out that even happened. Across the country, protesters have camped out for weeks and clashed with police. In the end, several hundred people were arrested.
Rutgers did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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