Education Secretary Miguel A. Cardona said Tuesday that threats reported against Jewish students at Columbia University and other universities are “abhorrent” and the Education Department will continue to investigate more than 130 complaints of harassment. .
Testifying before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the Department of Education's budget request, Cardona faced pointed questions about campus protests over the Gaza war.
“Hate has no place on our campus, and I am deeply concerned about reports of anti-Semitism,” he said. “I spoke with Jewish students who were afraid to go to class because of the harassment they were experiencing on campus.”
“That's unacceptable,” he added.
Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Department of Education is responsible for enforcing prohibitions on discrimination on the basis of “race, color, or national origin” in educational institutions receiving federal assistance. Cardona stressed Tuesday that the department's Office of Civil Rights is investigating complaints received.
But some Republicans on the subcommittee complained that the pace of the investigation, which required extensive questioning and could take months to resolve, was unduly slow and urged Mr. Cardona to take punitive action. did.
“I mean, that's a good thing. I'm glad they did that,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the subcommittee's top Republican. “But there are more immediate measures at their disposal, such as removing federal funds.”
Cardona responded, “Ultimately, if schools refuse to comply with Title VI, then yes, we will eliminate federal funding.”
The department does not comment on open Title VI investigations, and the 137 investigations Cardona cited Tuesday include a variety of investigations into anti-Semitism, anti-Arab or anti-Muslim harassment at various agencies. It almost certainly contains complaints.
But as campus protests have erupted across the country in recent days, how do we enforce campus regulations, issue penalties, and balance student freedom of expression and assembly with considerations for campus safety? It is largely up to university administrators to make that difficult decision.
And while Republicans in Congress have repeatedly emphasized the threat of anti-Semitism and demanded answers from presidents and government officials at Columbia University, Harvard University and other schools, the Department of Education has warned that the fiery rhetoric has led to violence and discrimination against all students. We have repeatedly warned that this will develop. Students from backgrounds including Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students.