Trump administration says Columbia violated civil rights of Jewish students

NEW YORK AP The Trump administration is accusing Columbia University of violating the civil rights of Jewish students by acting with deliberate indifference toward what it describes as rampant antisemitism on campus The finding was informed late Thursday by the Healthcare and Human Services Department marking the latest blow for an Ivy League school already shaken by federal cutbacks and sustained executive pressure to crack down on aspirant speech It comes hours after the Department of Homeland Guard declared it would revoke Harvard University s ability to enroll international students a major escalation in the administration s monthslong attack on higher mentoring The civil rights division of HHS disclosed it had located Columbia in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act which blocks federal funding recipients from discrimination based on race color or national origin That final category the press release notes includes discrimination against individuals that is based on their actual or perceived Israeli or Jewish identity or ancestry The announcement did not include new sanctions against Columbia which is already facing million in federal cuts by the Trump administration over its response to pro-Palestinian campus protests A spokesperson for Columbia disclosed the university is right now in negotiations with the establishment about resolving its proposes of antisemitism We understand this finding is part of our ongoing discussions with the governing body the spokesperson commented in an email Columbia is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism and all forms of harassment and discrimination on our campus The civil rights inspection into Columbia was based on witness interviews media reports and other sources according to HHS The findings were not made masses A spokesperson did not response to a request for further information The findings systematically document the hostile climate Jewish students at Columbia University have had to endure for over months disrupting their training safety and well-being Anthony Archeval acting director of the HHS civil rights office mentioned in a report Last spring Columbia became the epicenter of protests against the war in Gaza spurring a national movement of campus demonstrations that demanded universities cut ties with Israel At the time chosen Jewish students and faculty complained about being harassed during the demonstrations or ostracized because of their faith or their help of Israel Those who participated in Columbia s protests including certain Jewish students have mentioned they are protesting Israel s actions against Palestinians and have forcefully denied claims of antisemitism Various have also accused the university of capitulating to the Trump administration s demands including placing its Middle East studies department under new leadership at the expense of academic freedom and protecting foreign students At a commencement ceremony earlier this week a speech by Columbia s acting president Claire Shipman was met with loud boos by graduates and chants of free Palestine Source