Trump administration says Columbia violated civil rights of Jewish students
By JAKE OFFENHARTZ Associated Press 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 declared late Thursday by the Medical and Human Services Department marking the latest blow for an Ivy League school already shaken by federal cutbacks and sustained establishment pressure to crack down on pupil speech It comes hours after the Department of Homeland Shield commented it would revoke Harvard University s ability to enroll international students a major escalation in the administration s monthslong attack on higher development The civil rights division of HHS mentioned it had revealed 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 FILE Students with the Gaza solidarity encampment block the entrance of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University after taking over it on Tuesday April in New York Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine called for mobilization close to midnight Marco Postigo Storel via AP file 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 announced the university is right now in negotiations with the regime about resolving its states of antisemitism We understand this finding is part of our ongoing discussions with the authorities the spokesperson mentioned in an email Columbia is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism and all forms of harassment and discrimination on our campus The civil rights research into Columbia was based on witness interviews media reports and other sources according to HHS The findings were not made population A spokesperson did not response to a request for further information The findings thoroughly document the hostile context Jewish students at Columbia University have had to endure for over months disrupting their tuition safety and well-being Anthony Archeval acting director of the HHS civil rights office mentioned in a announcement Related Articles Wall Street European stocks and Apple fall following Trump s latest tariff threats Harvard sues the Trump administration over ban on enrolling foreign students Currently in History May outlaws Bonnie and Clyde killed in police ambush Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO s speech to protest AI tech for Israeli military Billion dollar pizza Bitcoin soars on key anniversary of crypto s enhancement 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 particular Jewish students and faculty complained about being harassed during the demonstrations or ostracized because of their faith or their promotion 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 charges of antisemitism Multiple 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
